RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES BOND AUTHORITY
IMPORTANT BOND INFORMATION
Receipts issued by the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) show the current bond and party
details registered with the RTBA as at the date shown on the receipt.
You should retain the receipt and store it in a safe place until the bond is repaid
ABOUT THE RTBA CLAIMING THE BOND
The RTBA is an independent agency of the Victorian By Agreement
Government responsible for receiving, registering and repaying
When a tenancy ends, the rental provider and renter should
bonds on all residential tenancies within Victoria. The RTBA
attempt to agree about how the bond will be divided among them.
holds bonds in trust for all the parties to the bond (renters i.e.
After agreement is reached, the rental provider must initiate a
tenants and rental providers i.e. agents/landlords).
Bond Claim via RTBA Online as an electronic transaction.
TELLING THE RTBA ABOUT CHANGES All renters and the rental provider registered with the RTBA for
The RTBA must be told about any changes to the parties to the that bond must approve the electronic transaction.
bond, otherwise the RTBA may not be able to repay the bond. The
The whole bond must be claimed. The RTBA does not make part
RTBA is only permitted to repay bond money to rental providers
repayments of a bond except when directed by Victorian Civil and
and renters who are registered with the RTBA as the parties to the
Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
bond.
Without Agreement
RTBA ONLINE
Without the consent of all parties to the bond, a renter can
RTBA Online is an internet facility where any party to a bond can initiate an electronic claim via RTBA Online. However, the
review the status and history of the bond, and initiate lodgments, RTBA is required by law to give notice to all other parties to the
transfers, and claims, and find an outstanding bond repayment. bond. The parties then have 14 days to respond, if they want to
Log onto [Link] or follow the link from challenge the claim, by quoting a VCAT reference number (the
[Link]. application to VCAT must include the RTBA bond number).
Change of renter By VCAT Order
Whenever a renter enters or leaves the tenancy, an electronic If the rental provider and the renter cannot agree as to how the
Tenant Transfer must be completed via RTBA Online and bond should be divided, either the rental provider or renter can
submitted to the RTBA within 5 days of the change. apply to VCAT to settle the dispute. After hearing the application,
VCAT may make an Order directing the RTBA to repay the bond
Change of rental provider
and who should receive what amount of money. To claim a bond
If a new rental provider takes over the property, an Agent/Landlord that is the subject of a VCAT Order, submit a claim with a copy of
Transfer, must be generated via RTBA Online and submitted to the VCAT Order attached.
the RTBA within 5 days of the transfer.
Loans from the Director of Housing
A registered rental provider can change their contact details via
If this bond was provided as a loan from the Director of Housing
RTBA Online. A rental provider who is not registered must
(DoH), at the end of the tenancy, the RTBA must repay all of the
register their current details via RTBA Online. For existing bonds,
loan to the DoH unless there is a VCAT Order directing
the rental provider should advise the RTBA.
repayment of all or part of the bond to the rental provider.
PRIVACY
Method of Repayment
The RTBA is bound by laws that protect your privacy concerning
the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information. Where If the RTBA approves a Bond Claim, individual repayments will be
required or allowed by law, we may disclose the information to made to each payee directly into a bank account. If no bank
other State and Commonwealth governments or agencies. You account details are provided or the direct credit fails, the RTBA
can request access to your personal information by contacting the will hold the money until valid details are provided via a Retained
RTBA. Repayment Request. A search for Retained Repayments is
available on RTBA Online ([Link]) using the ‘Find
TENANCY AND BOND ADVICE outstanding bond repayment’ menu item.
For issues involving bonds, contact the RTBA. If you do not receive the repayment you were expecting, please
contact the RTBA.
For general tenancy advice and information on dispute resolution,
visit the Consumer Affairs Victoria website at [Link]
and follow the links to renting.
CONTACT THE RTBA
MAIL TELEPHONE
Residential Tenancies Bond Authority 1300 137 164
Locked Bag 007 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday (except public holidays)
WENDOUREE VIC 3355
INTERNET
EMAIL
rtba@[Link] [Link]
