it's legal for a LL to request the bond top up. After requesting it 3 months in advance, it's still not paid. Can't find anything about this in tenancy website. To all questions the only reply is "soon", but no date. Hope someone could point me up in the right direction for info.

evoalg - 2021-03-28 11:08:00

You can request a top up when the weekly rent rises, but only if the Tenancy Agreement states the bond is "x weeks rent". If it only states Bond = $ 500, then you can't top up.

sparkychap - 2021-03-28 11:17:00

sparkychap wrote:

You can request a top up when the weekly rent rises, but only if the Tenancy Agreement states the bond is "x weeks rent". If it only states Bond = $ 500, then you can't top up.

thank you! How is this enforceable though? it's not considered "rent arrears"

evoalg - 2021-03-28 11:20:00

You can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal for a payment order as it is a tenancy related debt to be paid by the tenant. Can request fast track (best option IMO) or mediation. If still not paid, the TT application and tenants will see their name in the wrong kind of lights.

Good idea to tell tenants of the (potential) intention as that is likely to get some attention. Maybe even payment.

artemis - 2021-03-28 11:30:00

We do this every rent increase for 2 reasons.
One for our benefit, the other for the tenants benefit.

smallwoods - 2021-03-28 11:39:00

How can charging an extra bond during the tenancy be for the tenant's benefit? For many tenants, it's hard enough as it is to find the extra for the rent increase let alone extra to make up the bond as well.

digga7 - 2021-04-09 07:40:00

digga7 wrote:

How can charging an extra bond during the tenancy be for the tenant's benefit? For many tenants, it's hard enough as it is to find the extra for the rent increase let alone extra to make up the bond as well.

Someone on here once tried to argue that it benefited tenants as it was a sort of enforced savings scheme for them....

sparkychap - 2021-04-09 07:52:00

digga7 wrote:

How can charging an extra bond during the tenancy be for the tenant's benefit? For many tenants, it's hard enough as it is to find the extra for the rent increase let alone extra to make up the bond as well.

BECAUSE, if and when they move out, there is no SHOCK of finding the new bond.
We know a few that are on family rentals and when they needed to shift, "WOW, we can't afford the bond"
They had their rent to pay, plus new rental 2wks in advance and new bond (which was twice what they were going to get back)

smallwoods - 2021-04-09 08:14:00

sparkychap wrote:

Someone on here once tried to argue that it benefited tenants as it was a sort of enforced savings scheme for them....

Nothing to do with savings.
Transition from one bond to another shouldn't be double, but if the bond is not kept up to current, then it quite quickly is.

From LL's side, 4 wks bond becomes 3, then 2, then 1, if not raised at same time as rent.

smallwoods - 2021-04-09 08:17:00

It relates to insurance and liability. This is from government's Tenancy website:

Liability for damage
On 27 August 2019, new legislation took effect, which will affect tenants’ liability for damage.

If tenants or their guests cause careless damage in a rental property, they will be liable for the cost of the damage up to four weeks’ rent or the landlord’s insurance excess, whichever is lower.

Tenants on income-related rents will be liable for careless damage up to four weeks’ market rent or the insurance excess, whichever is lower.

oakcottage - 2021-04-09 10:16:00