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Bond

36 established claims - 9 refused by the grounding gate

Documented position24

What the body that runs or defines the thing says in its own documentation.

Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria states that…

  • it helps parties reach a solution to bond disputes.
  • many disputes are sorted in days to a week after a facilitated discussion.
low confidenceother
2 quotes from 2 sources
We can help the parties to reach a fair and reasonable solution to any bond dispute, ensuring the outcome reflects the requirements of Victoria’s rental laws.
A fast resolution: after a facilitated discussion many disputes are sorted in days to a week (subject to the complexity of the case)

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that in most cases a Victorian rental bond cannot be more than one month's rent.

other
1 quote from 1 source
In most cases, a bond can't be more than one month’s rent.
  • Victorian rental bonds are held in trust by the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority.
  • The Residential Tenancies Bond Authority is a statutory authority within the Department of Government Services.
other
1 quote from 1 source
Bonds are held in trust by the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) , a statutory authority within the Department of Government Services.

Consumer Affairs Victoria's bond page states that…

  • a rental provider who receives the bond from the renter must lodge it with the RTBA within 14 days.
  • the 14-day period for a rental provider who receives the bond from the renter to lodge it with the RTBA does not include public holidays.
other
1 quote from 1 source
If the renter paid the rental provider, the rental provider must lodge the bond with the RTBA within 14 days (not including public holidays) of receiving the bond amount.

The RTBA must give a receipt with the bond number to the rental provider and all renters within 7 days of receiving a Victorian rental bond.

other
1 quote from 1 source
The RTBA must give a receipt with the bond number and other key information to the rental provider and all renters within 7 days of receiving the bond.

A bond for a Victorian rooming house resident on a fixed term rooming house agreement cannot be more than 28 days' rent.

other
1 quote from 1 source
The bond can't be more than 28 days’ rent for residents on a fixed term rooming house agreement.

A bond for a Victorian rooming house resident who is not on a fixed term agreement cannot be more than 14 days' rent.

other
1 quote from 1 source
The bond can't be more than 14 days’ rent for residents who aren't on fixed term agreements.

A bond in a Victorian caravan park cannot be more than one month's rent or hiring charge.

other
1 quote from 1 source
The bond can't be more than one month’s rent or hiring charge in a caravan park.

A Victorian rental provider can give a renter a notice to vacate if the renter does not pay a bond requested in the rental agreement.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Bonds are not mandatory. However, if a bond is requested in the rental agreement, the renter must pay it. If the bond is not paid, the rental provider can give the renter a notice to vacate.

Section 406 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 requires a Victorian residential rental provider to give the bond to the Authority within 10 business days after it is received.

other
3 quotes from 1 source
406 Duty to pay bond to Authority
provider must, within 10 business days after the amount of bond is received, give the amount of bond to the Authority together with the completed bond lodgment form.
Penalty: 150 penalty units.

Section 411AB of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 entitles a Victorian residential rental provider to claim bond for the reasonable cost of repairs for damage caused by the renter or a renter's visitor, taking into account fair wear and tear.

medium confidenceother
2 quotes from 1 source
411AB Matters that may be subject of bond claim
(a) the reasonable cost of repairs to, or the restoration of, the rented premises or goods leased with the premises, as a result of damage caused by the renter or a renter's visitor, taking into account fair wear and tear;

A Victorian rental provider…

  • must start a bond claim with the RTBA within 14 days of the rental agreement ending.
  • is not required to start a bond claim with the RTBA within 14 days of the rental agreement ending if a renter initiates a claim first.
other
1 quote from 1 source
Rental providers must start a claim with the RTBA within 14 days of the rental agreement ending, unless a renter initiates a claim first.

The RTBA only repays a Victorian rental bond when everyone listed on the bond agrees how it should be repaid, or when VCAT has ordered it.

other
1 quote from 1 source
The RTBA only repays the bond when everyone listed on the bond agrees on how it should be repaid or has been ordered by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) .

Victorian rental providers cannot claim a renter's bond for fair wear and tear.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Rental providers cannot claim bond for fair wear and tear or for damage which was the rental provider’s responsibility to repair .
  • Consumer Affairs Victoria states that Victorian law does not define 'reasonable use' of a rental property.
  • Consumer Affairs Victoria's fair wear and tear test rests on the term 'reasonable use'.
medium confidenceother
3 quotes from 1 source
Reasonable use of the property means use that most people would think is fair. The law does not define ‘reasonable use’.
Fair wear and tear is deterioration because of:
reasonable use of the property
  • The RTBA must notify the other parties on the bond when a Victorian renter starts a bond claim.
  • When a Victorian renter starts a bond claim, the RTBA must give the other parties on the bond 14 days to contest the bond claim by applying to VCAT or Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria.
other
1 quote from 1 source
The RTBA is required by law to give notice to all other parties on the bond and provide other parties with 14 days to contest the claim by making an application to VCAT or RDRV. If no party contests, the bond will be repaid as directed in the claim at the end of the 14-day period or sooner if all parties agree.

Any Victorian renter named on a bond can start the bond claim themselves after the rental agreement ends, without the rental provider's agreement.

other
2 quotes from 1 source
Any renter with their name on the bond can start the bond claim themselves after the agreement ends.
A renter can also start a renter-initiated claim without the agreement of the rental provider.

Consumer Affairs Victoria names sections 411AB and 411AD of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 as the law on bond claims and refunds.

other
3 quotes from 1 source
If you want to know what the law says about bond claims and refunds, you can read these sections of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 :
Section 411AB – Matters that may be subject of bond claim
Section 411AD – Disputed bond claims

Changed on4

A dated change. This is where advice quietly stops being true.

Tenants Victoria states that from 1 July 2026 a Victorian renter can move their bond to their next rental home under the Portable Rental Bond Scheme.

other
1 quote from 1 source
From 1 July 2026, you can move your bond to your next rental home with the new Portable Rental Bond Scheme.

Sections 3 to 8 of the Consumer Legislation Amendment Act 2025 commenced on 30 June 2026.

medium confidenceother
3 quotes from 1 source
Consumer Legislation Amendment Act 2025, No. 46/2025
Commencement Date: Ss 3–8 on 30.6.26: Special Gazette (No. 367) 30.6.26 p. 1
transfer of bond scheme means the scheme in
  • Consumer Affairs Victoria lists a change to bond claim requirements.
  • The change to bond claim requirements requires Victorian rental providers to notify a renter in advance of a bond claim and to provide supporting evidence.
other
3 quotes from 1 source
13 October 2026
Strengthened bond claims
Rental providers must notify the renter in advance if they will be making a claim on the bond at the end of the rental agreement and must provide evidence to support the claim.

Disputed between sources3

Sources that do not agree, presented without picking a winner.

Consumer Affairs Victoria's bond page gives the Victorian bond lodgement deadline as 14 days not including public holidays.

other
2 quotes from 2 sources
If the renter paid the rental provider, the rental provider must lodge the bond with the RTBA within 14 days (not including public holidays) of receiving the bond amount.
provider must, within 10 business days after the amount of bond is received, give the amount of bond to the Authority together with the completed bond lodgment form.
  • Consumer Affairs Victoria states the Victorian bond lodgement deadline is 14 days not including public holidays.
  • Tenants Victoria states the Victorian bond lodgement deadline is 10 business days.
other
2 quotes from 2 sources
If the renter paid the rental provider, the rental provider must lodge the bond with the RTBA within 14 days (not including public holidays) of receiving the bond amount.
The landlord or agent lodges your bond with the RTBA within 10 business days of receiving it.

Repeated, with no primary source in reach5

Widely repeated in the field. Within the documents this sweep read, it traces only to other repetitions - which is a fact about our reading as well as about the idea, until each one has been searched for on its own.

Landlord Wise states that a Victorian rental provider must pay the bond to the RTBA within 10 business days of receiving it.

other
2 quotes from 1 source
You must pay the bond to the RTBA within 10 business days of receiving it.
Rental Bond VIC — Complete Guide for Self-Managing Landlords

Landlord Wise states that…

  • Victoria does not allow a separate pet bond.
  • the maximum bond is one month's rent regardless of whether pets are permitted.
other
2 quotes from 1 source
No Pet Bond: Victoria does not allow a separate pet bond — the maximum bond is one month's rent regardless of whether pets are permitted
Rental Bond VIC — Complete Guide for Self-Managing Landlords

Aussie Rent Laws states that under Victoria's rules the landlord or their agent must lodge a tenant's bond with the RTBA within 10 business days of receiving the bond.

other
2 quotes from 1 source
Under Victoria’s rules the landlord or their agent must lodge a tenant’s bond with the RTBA within 10 business days of receiving it.
How to Lodge a Bond with the RTBA in Victoria

A Victorian landlord who collected the bond themselves must lodge the bond within 10 business days of receiving the bond.

other
2 quotes from 1 source
If you collected the bond yourself, you must lodge within 10 business days of receiving it.
How to lodge the bond in VIC

Refused9

Claims the research produced that the grounding gate would not accept, with its reason. They are here because a site that only shows what passed gives you no way to judge whether the gate does anything.

Show what was refused

Sections 3 to 8 of the Consumer Legislation Amendment Act 2025 inserted the Victorian transfer of bond scheme into the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.

Refused: The quotes name the Act, commencement of ss 3–8, and a transfer of bond scheme definition, but none states that those sections inserted the scheme into the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.

Unsupported: inserted the Victorian transfer of bond scheme into the Residential Tenancies Act 1997

What it rested on
Consumer Legislation Amendment Act 2025, No. 46/2025
Commencement Date: Ss 3–8 on 30.6.26: Special Gazette (No. 367) 30.6.26 p. 1
transfer of bond scheme means the scheme in

The change to bond claim requirements takes effect on 13 October 2026.

Refused: The quotes give a date and bond claim details but do not state that the bond claim change takes effect on that date.

Unsupported: takes effect on 13 October 2026

What it rested on
13 October 2026
Strengthened bond claims
Rental providers must notify the renter in advance if they will be making a claim on the bond at the end of the rental agreement and must provide evidence to support the claim.
New changes to the rental laws - Consumer Affairs Victoria

Section 406 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 sets the Victorian bond lodgement deadline at 10 business days.

Refused: The quote supports a 10-business-day lodgement requirement but does not identify it as Section 406.

Unsupported: Section 406

What it rested on
If the renter paid the rental provider, the rental provider must lodge the bond with the RTBA within 14 days (not including public holidays) of receiving the bond amount.
provider must, within 10 business days after the amount of bond is received, give the amount of bond to the Authority together with the completed bond lodgment form.

A Victorian rental provider can ask for a bond higher than one month's rent when the weekly rent for the property is more than $900.

Refused: The quotes establish a higher bond is allowed when weekly rent exceeds $900, but do not state the baseline is one month's rent.

Unsupported: higher than one month's rent

What it rested on
A rental provider can only ask for a higher bond when either:
the weekly rent for the property is more than $900
Bond amounts and payments - Consumer Affairs Victoria

A Victorian rental provider can ask for a bond higher than one month's rent where VCAT has set a higher bond for the property.

Refused: The quotes establish that a rental provider can ask for a higher bond when VCAT sets one, but they do not state the baseline of one month's rent.

Unsupported: higher than one month's rent

What it rested on
A rental provider can only ask for a higher bond when either:
VCAT has set a higher bond for the property. They might do this because of the character of the property or the quality of the fittings and furniture.
Bond amounts and payments - Consumer Affairs Victoria

Extra bond can only be asked for by a Victorian rental provider in a rental agreement of more than 5 years, according to Consumer Affairs Victoria.

Refused: The quotes also allow extra bond when renters make certain changes, so the claim's 'only' condition is incomplete.

Unsupported: only be asked for ... in a rental agreement of more than 5 years

What it rested on
Rental providers can only ask for extra bond:
in a long-term rental agreement (of more than 5 years, and with an end date of at least 5 years in the future), or
when renters make certain changes to a property, with the agreement that the rental provider is responsible for removing the changes at the end of the lease.
Bond amounts and payments - Consumer Affairs Victoria

Extra bond can only be asked for by a Victorian rental provider when renters make certain changes to a property, according to Consumer Affairs Victoria.

Refused: The quotes state extra bond may be asked for either in a long-term rental agreement or when renters make certain changes, so the claim's 'only ... when renters make certain changes' omits the other permitted situation.

Unsupported: Extra bond can only be asked for ... when renters make certain changes to a property

What it rested on
Rental providers can only ask for extra bond:
in a long-term rental agreement (of more than 5 years, and with an end date of at least 5 years in the future), or
when renters make certain changes to a property, with the agreement that the rental provider is responsible for removing the changes at the end of the lease.
Bond amounts and payments - Consumer Affairs Victoria

Section 406 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 specifies a penalty of 150 penalty units.

Refused: The quotes show Section 406 has a 150 penalty unit penalty, but none names the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.

Unsupported: Residential Tenancies Act 1997

What it rested on
406 Duty to pay bond to Authority
provider must, within 10 business days after the amount of bond is received, give the amount of bond to the Authority together with the completed bond lodgment form.
Penalty: 150 penalty units.

Condition HQ states that Victorian property managers must lodge the bond via RTBA Online within 10 business days of receiving it.

Refused: The cited quote states the rule for property managers generally but does not specify Victoria.

Unsupported: Victorian property managers

What it rested on
Property managers must lodge the bond via RTBA Online within 10 business days of receiving it.
Rental Bond Lodgement Requirements for Australian Property Managers (2026)