A rental bond is a security deposit that protects the owner if you leave unpaid rent or damage. In every state and territory except the Northern Territory the bond is held by a government bond authority in trust.
In the Northern Territory the owner must hold it in a trust account. When you move out you or the agent submit a bond claim, the other party agrees or disputes, and the authority releases the money. If there is a dispute, a tribunal or court decides the split and the authority pays as ordered.
In practice the timeline starts when you give vacant possession and return every key, card and remote. That return triggers the final inspection and clears the way to submit a claim. If keys are late, extra rent can be charged and the claim can stall, so plan for a clean handover on the vacate day.
Every jurisdiction now supports online claiming. Online forms reduce errors and process faster than paper. If you must use a paper form, check names, bond number and bank details line by line and deliver it directly to avoid postal delays.
The details below are the usual pathways when there is no active dispute. Timeframes refer to working days unless stated.
Bonds are lodged with the Rental Bond Board and managed through Rental Bonds Online. If a tenant lodges a claim, the owner has 14 days to agree or dispute. When a claim is agreed or goes unopposed, the authority releases funds, commonly within 2 business days to the nominated account.
Bonds sit with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority. The quickest route is a claim started by the rental provider through RTBA Online that you approve. Payment typically lands within 1 business day after approval. If a party starts a claim that the other does not accept, the other party has 14 days to contest. Unresolved matters can go to Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria and then to VCAT.
Bonds are held by the Residential Tenancies Authority. If both parties agree, the RTA can fast track a refund once the other party approves within 48 hours. If there is no agreement, the RTA issues a Notice of Claim and the other party has 14 days to object. Agreed refunds are processed quickly and funds usually arrive within 1 to 3 business days.
The Bond Administrator releases bonds based on a joint application signed by all parties. If there is no agreement either party can apply to the Magistrates Court for bond disposal orders. If no objection is filed within 7 days of notice the court can order release. Agreed claims commonly pay within 7 to 10 days after lodgement.
Residential Bonds Online processes undisputed refunds within about 5 working days. Electronic transfers then reach the account within about 24 to 48 hours. Cheques take longer.
The ACT Rental Bonds Office runs an online portal. After a claim is submitted the other party generally has up to 14 days to respond. Once both parties agree, payment is deposited within about 48 hours.
The owner holds the bond in trust. After you return keys the owner must refund the bond within 7 business days or issue a written notice of intention to retain with reasons. Disputes can be taken to the Commissioner of Tenancies or to NTCAT.
All bond activity runs through MyBond. If the owner or agent does not start a claim within 3 working days of you returning keys, you can start your own claim. If the claim is not disputed, MyBond pays you automatically after 14 days. After approval or a decision, bank deposits usually take 3 to 5 working days.
Leave the property in the same condition it was in at the start, allowing for fair wear and tear. Do a top to bottom clean that covers ovens, cooktops, rangehood filters, showers, grout, tracks, skirting and outdoor areas. Replace blown bulbs and rusted batteries in smoke alarm remotes if your lease requires it. Patch nail holes you created and touch up paint where appropriate. Keep receipts for professional steam cleaning if carpets need it. Take dated photos of every room once the clean is finished. Good evidence stops small issues from turning into delays.
Clear rent to the end of the tenancy. If your lease allows the owner to on charge water usage, finalise that amount so it does not appear as a deduction later. Count keys, fobs and garage remotes and return them on the vacate day. Ask for written confirmation that keys were returned. The claim process does not truly start until the property is handed back.
Be present if you can. Bring the entry condition report and a prepared exit report. Use your phone to film a room by room walk through that shows surfaces, appliances and outdoor areas. If the agent raises a minor issue, offer to fix it on the spot or within a day. A quick reclean is faster than arguing. Record any agreements in writing and ask the agent to send a follow up note confirming that the bond can be released once the agreed task is done.
If you suspect the owner wants a deduction for cleaning or a small repair, talk about it early. Be pragmatic. If both sides sign a joint claim, the bond authority pays out quickly. If the gap is small, consider a reasonable figure to settle and move on. Your time, stress and the extra days waiting for a contested claim often cost more than the difference.
Do not wait for the agent if they are slow. Lodge your own claim the day you move out or as soon as your jurisdiction allows. Online portals will ask for bank details and contact information. Triple check account names and numbers. Confirm the bond number and the names of all tenants exactly as recorded. Correct details prevent reruns and banking bounce backs that can add days.
Every region has hard deadlines that you can use to keep things moving. In Tasmania you may lodge your own claim after 3 working days if the owner has not. In New South Wales and Queensland an unopposed tenant claim pays out after 14 days.
In the Northern Territory you can take action if the owner does not refund within 7 business days. If a countdown expires without action, escalate the matter to the authority or lodge the application to the tribunal. Being proactive usually shortens the total timeline.
The most common block is an argument over cleanliness or wear. Head this off with an end of lease clean that is obvious at first glance, photos that prove the state of every room, and receipts for any professional work. Match the exit report to the entry report item by item.
Misspelled names, a wrong bond number or an old bank account can stall a payout. Fill the form in calm conditions and check it twice before you submit. Use the same legal names that appear on the lease and bond receipt. If you are using a paper form, make sure every tenant and the agent signs in the right place.
Property managers can be busy or can wait on quotes. Be courteous but firm. Remind them of the legal timelines for your state. If the deadline passes, submit your own claim so the statutory clock starts.
Lost keys keep the tenancy open and invite extra rent charges. Count keys at the start of the lease and keep a list. If one goes missing, tell the agent and expect to pay a reasonable replacement cost rather than delaying the entire refund while the issue is argued.
Authorities send emails or texts when a claim or notice is lodged. If your email changes during the move, update it in the portal. If a payment bounces because of wrong account details the reissue can add several days.
Month end and university move cycles create volume. You cannot change the queue, but you can be first in line by submitting a complete online claim as soon as you hand back the keys.
If the other party contests your claim you will receive a formal notice. Read the deadline and respond on time. Ignoring a notice can result in a default decision against you.
Several jurisdictions offer free dispute resolution. A conciliator can help you find a middle ground and document a settlement that the authority can pay against immediately. Use this if the claim is mostly about cleaning or minor repairs.
If there is no agreement, the matter goes to the tribunal or court in your state or territory. Prepare like a professional. Bring the lease, rent ledger, entry and exit reports, dated photos, messages with the agent, and receipts for cleaning or repairs. Keep your explanation short and factual. Orders usually specify the exact split, and the bond authority pays accordingly.
A bond loan can smooth cash flow at the start of a tenancy. It does not change the legal bond refund steps. The bond authority will still release the money according to the signed claim or the tribunal order. If you use a bond loan, your loan agreement will say where the refunded bond must go when the tenancy ends.
Mybond Loans offers small cash loans from 2,001 to 5,000. Our Rental Bonds have an interest rate of 0 and an account fee of 5% per week, or 10 per fortnight, or 20 per month depending on the repayment frequency. There’s also a fee equal to 1 week of rent or 25 percent of the bond, whichever is greater, payable before funding. Eligibility criteria and credit assessment apply. Always read the Target Market Determination and the Credit Guide before you apply.
Mybond Loans’ repayment options are flexible. You can choose weekly, fortnightly or monthly schedules to fit your income cycle. This kind of loan can help you secure a property when the bond and moving costs peak at once. It does not speed up the refund by itself. The refund still depends on the exit condition, the signed claim, and the statutory timelines described above. When the bond is released, the refund will go to you or to the lender if that assignment is part of your loan terms.
A bond loan suits renters who can afford repayments but need help with upfront costs. Add up the total cost including the upfront fee and the account fee. Compare that total with any free or subsidised bond support you might be eligible for in your state. Use the loan for the bond and essential moving costs only and avoid rolling it into new borrowing.
New South Wales Fair Trading. Bond refunds and Rental Bonds Online guidance.
Consumer Affairs Victoria and Residential Tenancies Bond Authority. Bond claims and refunds and RTBA Online guidance.
Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria. Bond refund process and timeframes.
Residential Tenancies Authority Queensland. Online bond refund, fast track process and Notice of Claim guidance.
Consumer Protection Western Australia and the Magistrates Court of Western Australia. Bond disposal and timelines.
Consumer and Business Services South Australia. Bonds FAQs and processing times.
ACT Revenue Office. Tenants rental bonds and processing times.
Northern Territory Consumer Affairs and Go To Court Lawyers. Residential Tenancy Bond obligations and 7 day refund requirement.
Service Tasmania. Claim a rental bond via MyBond and MyBond timelines.
MyBond Loans. Website product pages for Rental Bond Loans
