[elleann]

Sorry if this has been asked and answered before .. when paying a bond to a landlord, is there a best way to do it? For instance, should I give the landlord a cheque made out to Department of Building and Housing? Is it ever acceptable to give the landlord cash and then he writes the cheque later on, or is that taking a risk?

We have found a place we like and plan to sign our tenancy agreement tomorrow. The landlord seems like a decent guy, very amenable, but he mentioned something about my paying him the bond in cash - it's two weeks rent and I have an overactive paranoid streak that makes me wonder if he might be an imposter who wants to do a runner with my money!!

Any input would be much appreciated!
Thank you!
Linda

[cappuccino]

Only pay by cheque to the Department of Building and Housing - I think the account is the Residential Tenancies Trust. They will then send you a receipt and lodge your bond. This documentation is what you will need at the end of your tenancy when you claim the bond back. Don't get involved with cash deals, there is no proof you have paid and no protection when you come to claim the money back.

Out of interest, which area did you choose?

[elleann]

That was my instinctive feeling - thanks for your input!!

We were very constrained in terms of budget and accessibility to bus routes etc, so limited our looking to areas that met those requirements. We found a place on the edge of Newtown that looks OK - will PM you more!

[IanW99]

Only pay by cheque to the Department of Building and Housing - I think the account is the Residential Tenancies Trust. They will then send you a receipt and lodge your bond. This documentation is what you will need at the end of your tenancy when you claim the bond back. Don't get involved with cash deals, there is no proof you have paid and no protection when you come to claim the money back.

Out of interest, which area did you choose?

Not sure if you are saying you should pay the cheque directly to the Department of Building and Housing?

From their own website:-
You pay the bond to the landlord who has to lodge the money with the Department of Building and Housing within 23 working days. Your landlord must give you a receipt for the bond money you pay them. There is a bond lodgement form that you and the landlord must fill out before the money is sent to us.

You can pay the bond directly to the Department of Building and Housing if you have your landlord’s consent.

So you would normally be expected to pay the bond to the landlord.

Ian