Key Points
- The process for rental bond recovery varies from state to state.
- Taking the right steps and abiding by the conditions of your tenancy agreement is key to receiving a full rental bond refund.
- If you have any issues recovering your rental bond, there are several organisations that can help.
When you first move into a rental property in Australia, your landlord or Property Manager will more than likely ask you to pay a rental bond. Depending on the Australian state or territory you’re living in, your bond could be the equivalent of anywhere from two to six weeks’ rent — although four weeks’ rent is typically the most common.
Once paid, your bond is held by an independent rental authority in a secure trust account on behalf of the landlord for the length of your tenancy. This provides the landlord with some financial security in case there are any breaches of the rental conditions.
When you move out, you can then ask for your rental bond to be refunded, assuming you’ve held up your end of the tenancy agreement. This includes fixing any issues or damage to the property (beyond reasonable wear and tear), as well as settling all outstanding rental payments or related fees.
Of course, the bond recovery process does vary depending on the state or territory that you have been living in. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you not only in recovering your rental bond but also in taking the necessary steps to increase your chances of recovering it in full.
So, here is our step-by-step guide outlining everything you need to know to receive a rental bond refund in Australia:
Understand your rights and obligations as a tenant
Before moving out of a rental property (or even before you move in), it’s always a good idea to have a clear understanding of your rights and obligations as a tenant, as well as the rights and obligations of your landlord as well.
You can do this by going over your tenancy agreement and getting clear on what it is you need to do to ensure you will receive a bond refund. Sometimes, there may be conditions attached to your tenancy that you weren’t aware of, and these may have a big impact on your ability to recover your bond at the end of the agreement.
Ensure the rental property is left in good condition
As a tenant, one of the most important things you can do to increase your chances of receiving a full bond refund is to hand the property back to the landlord in a good condition.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Cleaning the rental property thoroughly
- Repairing any damage beyond reasonable wear and tear
- Essentially leaving the property in the same condition that you found it when you first moved in
If you hand the property back to your landlord with several issues that require time and money to fix, you can almost guarantee that you will not receive your whole bond back, as they need to use that money to make repairs.
Attend your final property inspection
Before they agree to return your rental bond, most landlords or Property Managers will want to have a final inspection of the property to get a better idea of its condition — and as the outgoing tenant, you’re allowed to attend this inspection.
Your landlord will be looking for any issues or damage that may have come about during your tenancy, and this is your opportunity to tend to these issues or make any repairs before you hand back the keys.
This is also an important step to ensure that your landlord or Property Manager will not try to make any claims to your bond money that they may not be entitled to.
Follow the correct rental bond recovery process for your state
Every Australian state or territory has their own unique bond recovery process that you can follow to receive your bond back at the end of your tenancy.
Typically, each process involves filling out an online or paper-based Bond Return form and submitting it to the relevant agency, along with proof that you have met the conditions of your tenancy agreement.
The process for each state and territory is broken down into more detail below:
New South Wales
In NSW, it is now possible to pay and recover your bond online.
If you paid your bond online at the start of your tenancy, you can visit Rental Bonds Online and use their online service to receive your bond refund.
If you didn’t use Rental Bonds Online to pay your bond, you can fill out and sign a Claim for Refund of Bond Money form, have your landlord sign it, and then submit your form to the Rental Bond Board.
Providing there are no issues or disputed claims, you’ll usually receive your bond refund within two weeks.
Victoria
Like NSW, Victoria now makes it possible to pay and recover your rental bond online.
If you initially paid your bond online, you can visit the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority and use their online service to receive your bond refund.
If you didn’t pay your bond online, you can generate a unique Bond Claim form, fill it out and sign it along with your landlord, and then submit your form to the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority.
Providing there are no issues or disputed claims, you’ll usually receive your bond refund within two weeks.
Queensland
To begin the bond refund process in QLD, you can visit the Residential Tenancies Authority website and access their online service via QGov.
If you can’t verify your identity using QGov, you can instead fill out and sign a Refund of Rental Bond form, have your landlord sign it, and then submit your form to the Residential Tenancies Authority.
Providing there are no issues or disputed claims, you’ll usually receive your bond refund within two weeks.
Western Australia
In WA, to start the bond refund process, you and your landlord can fill out and sign a Joint Application for Disposal of Security Bond form. Once the form is signed and complete, you can submit it to the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
Providing there are no issues or disputed claims, you’ll usually receive your bond refund within two weeks.
South Australia
South Australia now also provides an online service to pay and recover your rental bond.
If you and your landlord have both previously registered with Residential Bonds Online, you can use this service to start your electronic bond refund.
If not, you can fill out and sign a Bond Refund form, have your landlord sign it, and then submit it to Consumer and Business Services for processing.
Providing there are no issues or disputed claims, you’ll usually receive your bond refund within two weeks.
Tasmania
In Tasmania, all rental bonds are now managed through the MyBond portal, and you’ll need to log in or register an account to begin the bond refund process.
Providing there are no issues or disputed claims, you’ll usually receive your bond refund within three business days.
Northern Territory
The NT works slightly differently from all other states and territories in that your landlord holds onto your rental bond themselves.
This means that at the end of the tenancy agreement, they’re then required by law to refund the bond back to you within seven days.
If, for any reason, you don’t receive your bond refund from your landlord within seven days, contact your landlord to discuss this with them. If the issue can’t be resolved this way, you can call Consumer Affairs on 1800 019 319 for further assistance.
Australian Capital Territory
Finally, in the ACT, you can begin the bond refund process by filling out and signing a Bond Refund form, before having it signed by your landlord and submitting the form to the Rental Bonds Office.
Providing there are no issues or disputed claims, you should receive your bond refund within two weeks.
Please note that the above information was correct as of 27 Feb 2023, however, the legislation and processes around bond recovery can change in your state or territory at any time. If you’re unsure of any changes to the bond recovery process, you can speak to your Property Manager or local tenancy authority.
If you have any rental bond reclaim issues, simply ask for help
If, for any reason, you are struggling with the bond recovery process, or your landlord or Property Manager is making the process complicated, several organisations within each state and territory can help you.
First, you can try speaking with your state’s tenancy authority for assistance. If this doesn’t help, try the relevant Tenants’ Union in your state.
If you believe that your landlord is making claims for your bond money that are unreasonable and you wish to dispute these, you can contact your local legal centre for more information and assistance in this matter.
Take these steps to help make the bond recovery process better for you
While recovering your rental bond sounds simple in theory, it’s not always the straightforward process it could be. Your landlord or Property Manager may identify issues with the rental property that you don’t agree with, potentially leading to a long and drawn-out dispute.
That’s why it always helps to have a clear understanding of your rights and obligations as a tenant, leave the property in a good condition, attend your final inspection, and follow the correct bond recovery process for your state or territory, so that you can give yourself the best chance of receiving your bond refund at the end of your tenancy.
Just remember: your rental property needs good property management
No matter where you choose to live in Australia, finding a rental property that’s being looked after by an experienced and high-quality Property Manager is paramount to ensuring you’ll enjoy a good tenancy.
The best Property Managers have all the right property expertise and skills, backed by innovative software tech like PropertyMe.
PropertyMe makes property management a simple and effortless process for everyone
As a tenant, you want to ensure that your Property Manager is equipped with the best technology to help you over the life of your tenancy, especially if any issues arise when it comes to receiving your bond refund. That’s why you need a Property Manager that’s empowered by software like PropertyMe.
PropertyMe is the most feature-rich cloud property management solution in Australia. With an easy-to-use interface, automated workflows, mobile app and simple client access, your Property Manager will have everything they need to manage your rental property with ease.
