Initial deposits for utilities etc?

[Hagabel]

Hi there.
Definitely moving in August and just wondering how much (roughly) does it cost for deposit for utilites? I understand it is 5-6 weeks rent for a rental deposit but looking at electric, water, phone, internet and such like.
Thank you in advance.

[Sun777]

Hi there.
Definitely moving in August and just wondering how much (roughly) does it cost for deposit for utilites? I understand it is 5-6 weeks rent for a rental deposit but looking at electric, water, phone, internet and such like.
Thank you in advance.

Hello,
Standard practice for rental is 4 weeks (we settled for 6 weeks for having a pet dog), for electricity we paid $150 towards deposit. We haven't paid deposit for water as it comes under our landlords name and we just directly pay that amount to Water supply company. Phone & Internet didn't need deposit as we are under 1 year contract. Hope that helps.

[Duncan74]

We got phone, internet and sky from Vodaphone - no deposit, but a $870 first bill for all teh fitting and sky boxes. Ouch.
Gas was nothing.(Nova)
Electricity (TrustPower) $240 I think. Seems daft that they thought I may skip out on electricity, but not gas or phone........
Nothing on insurance.
House deposit was 4 weeks (max legal allowed) + 4 weeks rent in advance.

[rogercruse]

And don't forget the letting agent will charge approx one week's rent and then there's another 15% for GST

[sks]

Paid $150 deposit towards electricity on North Shore (Mercury). Nothing else.

[Duncan74]

And don't forget the letting agent will charge approx one week's rent and then there's another 15% for GST

For clarity that's 1 weeks rent +GST for the letting agent, not +15% on the deposit or rent.

Only saying as we scared someone who asked this previously!

[NAP]

And don't forget the letting agent will charge approx one week's rent and then there's another 15% for GST

This one totally got me.. Back home its the landlord who has to pay the letting fee.

[Duncan74]

NAP - no, it's you paying it on a monthly basis in your rent...... ;-)

[April]

Our rental deposit was 3 weeks and 2 weeks rent in advance. We didn't pay a deposit for anything else as signed a year contract on the internet and pay the electricity by direct debit - certainly Genesis allow you to do this in lieu of a deposit, not sure about other suppliers.

[April]

We got broadband from Telstra and they charged no installation fee either (the list price at the time was about $250).