A residential rental bond is not a private security deposit for a landlord to retain indefinitely. In NSW it is managed through the NSW Fair Trading rental bond system; in the ACT it is managed by the ACT Revenue Office’s Rental Bonds Office.
Where the money goes
| Location | Maximum | Official holder | What the tenant should receive |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Generally no more than four weeks’ rent | NSW Fair Trading; Rental Bonds Online manages payment and release | A lodgement receipt or RBO notification |
| ACT | Up to four weeks’ rent | ACT Revenue Office Rental Bonds Office | A payment receipt and official lodgement record |
Checks before and after payment
- Match the payee, property address, tenant names and amount with the tenancy agreement.
- Do not allow a holding deposit, rent in advance and the bond to become one unexplained transfer.
- Keep the bank record, receipt, bond number and portal notification.
- If an agent or landlord receives the money, independently confirm it entered the government bond system.
- In a share house, record each co-tenant’s contribution and update the official record when people change.
Red flags: payment to a private account followed by no receipt; a claim that lodgement is unnecessary; an extra “pet bond” or other amount beyond the maximum; or a request to sign a blank refund form.
NSW and ACT refund processes are not identical. Use the government portal or form, rather than relying only on a verbal assurance that an agent has handled it.
This concerns ordinary residential tenancies. Occupancy agreements, share housing, public housing and commercial leases can differ.
Official sources
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