Guide to Bond Loans and Rental Grants
Check your eligibility for Bond Loans and Rental Grants
Eligibility for a Bond Loan
To be eligible for a Bond Loan, you must meet all of these conditions:
- You’re not currently living in the property you need bond for.
- You’re an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or have a temporary protection or bridging visa.
- You don’t own or part-own:
- a residential property
- a caravan, mobile home or live-aboard boat permanently connected to household utilities.
- You have less than $5,500 in cash or savings between all the Bond Loan applicants (not including dependents).
- You don’t have outstanding debts with the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works.
- You choose a property where the rent isn’t more than 60% of the total gross weekly income of all applicants listed on the application.
- You meet the income limits for your household (see below for details).
Bond Loans are automatically approved for people experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence, who have provided information about their circumstances.
Eligibility for a Rental Grant
To be eligible for a Rental Grant, you must both:
- meet all the conditions for a Bond Loan
- not have received a Rental Grant before.
Additionally, you must meet at least 1 of these conditions:
- You stayed more than 28 continuous days in a homelessness service (e.g. emergency housing or a women's shelter), or in accommodation arranged by a homelessness service, and apply for the Rental Grant within 3 months of leaving.
- You have exited a correctional facility after serving at least 28 days, and apply for the Rental Grant within 3 months of leaving.
- You have left a hospital or health facility, including mental health facility, within the last 3 months, stayed there for at least 28 days, an apply for the Rental Grant within 3 months of leaving.
- You’ve exited support from a child protection service within the last 3 months where you had been a resident for at least 28 days, or are still in care.
- You or a member of your household is experiencing domestic and family violence.
- You or a member of your household is experiencing sexual violence (outside of domestic and family violence).
- You’re leaving a community-based rent scheme in Queensland to move into private rental accommodation and apply for a Rental Grant within 14 days of leaving.
- You’re homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Applicants under the age of 18 should phone Housing Services on 13 QGOV (13 74 68).
Income limits for Bond Loans and Rental Grants
To be eligible, the combined gross (before-tax) income of all applicants can’t be more than the limits shown below.
Combined gross income includes:
- all forms of income received by each applicant, including wages, income support payments from Centrelink and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Family Tax Benefit payments, Youth Allowance, other Centrelink special-purpose payments and income from investments.
Combined gross income doesn't include:
- Veterans' Affairs Total and Permanent Impairment Disability Pensions or Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Special (Special Rate) Payments (from Department of Veterans’ Affairs)
- the income of dependent children under 18 years or any benefits paid to children living with their parent(s).
For people experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence, bond loans are automatically approved for customers who have provided information about their circumstances.
Higher income limits may apply in specific resource (mining) communities.
Applicants under the age of 18 should phone Housing Services on 13 QGOV (13 74 68) for more information.
See the table below for income limits. Note that ‘Weekly income (before tax)’ refers to how much you can earn in a week and still be eligible for a Bond Loan.
Household type | Private rental limits March 2024 |
|---|---|
1 adult | $1,325 |
2 adults | $1,987 |
3 adults | $2,649 |
4 adults | $3,312 |
1 adult with 1 dependant | $1,722 |
1 adult with 2 dependants | $2,119 |
1 adult with 3 dependants | $2,517 |
1 adult with 4 dependants | $2,914 |
2 adults with 1 dependant | $2,384 |
2 adults with 2 dependants | $2,782 |
2 adults with 3 dependants | $3,179 |
2 adults with 4 dependants | $3,576 |
Use the information below to calculate income eligibility for household types not identified in the table:
- first adult: $1324.61
- each additional adult: $662.31
- each dependant: $397.38.
The total household income limit is then rounded to the nearest dollar.
Income eligibility limits are assessed on the total income for a household, not individuals within the household.
If you don’t meet criteria
If you don’t meet the eligibility criteria on this page, contact us to discuss your circumstances:
- phone Housing Services on 13 QGOV (13 74 68)
- email HousingEnquiry@smartservice.qld.gov.au
- contact your nearest Housing Service Centre.
In this guide:
- Check your eligibility for Bond Loans and Rental Grants
- How to apply
- After you have applied
- Repaying your Bond Loan or Bond Loan Plus
- Existing Bond Loans