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Residential Tenancies Act 1997
31Deductions from bond
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31 Deductions from bond
A lessor is entitled to deduct from the bond paid under the residential
tenancy agreement any of the following:
(a) the reasonable cost of repairs to, or the restoration of, the
premises or goods leased with the premises as a result of damage
(other than fair wear and tear) caused by the tenant;
(b) the reasonable cost of securing the premises if the tenant fails to
return the keys for the premises to the lessor at the end of the
tenancy;
(c) any rent owing and payable under the residential tenancy
agreement at the time the agreement terminates or is terminated;
(d) the reasonable cost of replacing any fuel supplied to the
premises by the lessor at the commencement or during the
course of the tenancy;
Examples—fuel
• gas
• oil
• wood
(e) any reasonable amount (not greater than the costs incurred) for
the cost of legal fees incurred by the lessor in assigning or
transferring a tenant’s rights under a residential tenancy
(f) any amount expressed in a term of the agreement to be
deductible by the lessor from the bond, if the term is endorsed
by the ACAT under section 10.