Do tenants have to pay any money before moving in?

[crashy]

According to tenancy services, the answer is no.
Furthermore, if you demand payment before handing over the keys, you are breaking the law.

Ladies and gents, our legal system!

[crashy]

YOU get a Pacific Heights.
YOU get a Pacific Heights!
And YOU get a Pacific Heights!
Everybody gets a Pacific Heights!

[Perry]

According to tenancy services, the answer is no.

TSs often gets things wrong.

[Davo36]

According to tenancy services, the answer is no.
Furthermore, if you demand payment before handing over the keys, you are breaking the law.

Ladies and gents, our legal system!

Of course they do, the person you spoke to was probably a 23 year old idealist.

[AlFa]

no bond, no rent in advance = no keys. TS can go and . . . .

[Perry]

The question may have been phrased in such a way as the TS person thought "key money" was somehow implicated.

Hard to say.

But the TS information - as posted - is not correct.

[Keys]

I'll bet you signed a tenancy agreement without getting money first. In that case yes, you need to let them in.

Looking at your plethora of threads, I suggest you read up and get yourself educated. Fast.

[Learning]

I'll bet you signed a tenancy agreement without getting money first. In that case yes, you need to let them in.

What if you have a clause in the TA that keys will only be handed over once bond and rent in advance is played in full, or is that an unlawful clause?

[Lighthouse]

That clause is illegal.
You need to use a conditional offer of tenancy document.