Accommodation charges if you entered care before 1 July 2014
If you entered an aged care home before 1 July 2014, you may have paid for your accommodation as an accommodation bond or as an accommodation charge. It depends on what level of care you needed when you first entered care, and the outcome of your assets assessment.
Accommodation charges were used if you were assessed with high-level care needs on the date you first entered care. You can find more information about accommodation charges on this page.
Accommodation bonds were used for residents who have low-level needs or moved into an extra service place with high care needs. You can read more about this on our accommodation bonds page.
On this page
What is an accommodation charge?
An accommodation charge is a daily amount that you pay towards your accommodation in an aged care home.
How much is the accommodation charge?
The accommodation charge is different for each resident. It is based on the total assessed value of your assets when you entered care. It also varies based on when you first entered care.
How do I pay my accommodation charge?
The accommodation charge is a daily amount. You may pay this amount as a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly payment to your aged care home. You cannot be asked to pay the accommodation charge more than a month in advance.
Can my accommodation charge amount change?
No. Your charge amount cannot change while you are at the same aged care home. This is because your assessed assets are fixed when you first move into the home. If your assets go up or down, it won’t affect your accommodation charge amount.
What if I move to a new aged care home?
You may choose to have a new assets assessment when you move to your new home. This may result in a lower accommodation charge, but cannot result in a higher charge than before. How much your accommodation charge changes, or if it changes at all, also depends on when you first entered care.
If you paid an accommodation charge at your previous aged care home, you cannot be asked to pay an accommodation bond at your new aged care home.
Read more about moving aged care homes and how it may affect your accommodation charge further down this page.
What is an accommodation charge agreement?
Your aged care home should have offered you an accommodation charge agreement when you first entered care.
An accommodation charge agreement must include:
- your date of entry to the service
- the agreed accommodation charge
- how the accommodation charge will be paid (limited up to one month in advance)
- when the accommodation charge is due
- whether paying the accommodation charge entitles the resident to specific accommodation or additional services
- any financial hardship provisions that apply to you.
The accommodation charge agreement may be included as part of your service agreement, or it may be a separate document.
If you transfer to a new aged care home and choose to keep your current fee arrangements, your new provider must offer you a new accommodation charge agreement. This must be done within 21 days from the date that you move into the new home.
Moving aged care homes
If you move to another aged care home after 1 July 2025, you can keep your current fee arrangement or opt in to the new fee arrangements (after 1 November 2025).
How to make a complaint
If you have any concerns about your accommodation charges, there are two ways you can make a complaint:
- Speak to the manager at your aged care home about your concerns.
- If you are not comfortable raising your concerns, or cannot resolve your concerns with your aged care home provider, you can contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
Read more about how to make a complaint.