This is a very common question tenants ask their property managers and this can be confusing if not properly explained.
When a tenant first signs a lease they are asked to pay two things before the lease can be commenced and keys handed over for the property:
- A Bond payment that is equivalent to four (4) weeks rent (this by law must be paid to and held by the RTA within Queensland)
- A two (2) week deposit
It is a common misunderstanding that the two weeks rent paid as a deposit is “in advance”, and therefor a common misunderstanding that throughout the lease the tenant thinks they are still 2 weeks in advance at all times because of this payment.
However the reality is that your rent must always be paid before you start the current period.
When you pay that two week deposit, it is allocated to the first two weeks rent that is due before you can be given the keys to the property. As you collect the keys and take possession of the property the deposit has already been used. Within this initial first two weeks, the next fortnight becomes due. The payment you last made pays for the current period you are in right now.
