Rental bond in Victoria: lodging it and claiming it at the end

Last checked against official sources on 2 October 2026

The bond is the renter’s money, held by the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA), not by you. Here is how it works from lodging to claim, including the change that starts on 13 October 2026.

New from 13 October 2026

Consumer Affairs Victoria lists new rules starting 13 October 2026: if you will be claiming on the bond, you must tell the renter in advance and give evidence supporting the claim. Check the official page for the exact timing and what counts as evidence before you rely on this guide.

How much bond you can take

In a standard residential rental, a bond can’t be more than one month’s rent. A higher amount is only allowed where the weekly rent is over $900, or VCAT has ordered it. Top-ups are very limited, for example in agreements longer than five years.

Lodging the bond

You must lodge the bond with the RTBA within 14 days (not counting public holidays) of receiving it.
The renter can pay you, or pay the RTBA directly, and the Portable Rental Bond Scheme lets some renters move an existing bond to a new property.
The RTBA sends a receipt with the bond number to you and the renter. Keep it with the rental agreement.

Claiming the bond at the end

You must be registered with the RTBA online to start a claim.
Start the claim within 14 days of the agreement ending, unless the renter has already started one.
The renter then has 14 days to accept it. If everyone agrees, the RTBA usually repays the bond within a business day.
If the renter disagrees, either side can apply to the Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria service or VCAT to decide. The RTBA follows the order that results.

These steps are summarised from Consumer Affairs Victoria’s bond claims page. The details of the new advance notice step weren’t on that page when we checked, so read the changes page for them.

What evidence helps

A claim on the bond is much easier to support when you can show what the property looked like at the start and end. Useful records include the condition report from the start of the tenancy, dated photos, repair quotes or invoices, and the rent ledger if rent is owed. Keep them together before the tenancy ends, not after.

How VicPropGuard helps

VicPropGuard has a document vault where you can keep the bond receipt, condition report and other records for each property, and a dated rent ledger and history. It does not lodge or claim bonds for you, because that is done through the RTBA. Request early access.

Common questions

How much bond can I ask for in Victoria?

Generally no more than one month’s rent. Consumer Affairs Victoria says a higher bond is only allowed where the weekly rent is over $900, or VCAT has ordered it.

How long do I have to lodge the bond?

Within 14 days, not counting public holidays, of receiving it. You lodge it with the RTBA, you don’t keep it.

How long do I have to claim the bond at the end?

You must start a claim with the RTBA within 14 days of the rental agreement ending, unless the renter has started a claim first.

What changes on 13 October 2026?

Consumer Affairs Victoria says rental providers must tell the renter in advance if they will claim on the bond at the end of the agreement, and give evidence to support the claim.

Sources

Related guides

General information only, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm the current requirements with Consumer Affairs Victoria or a lawyer before you act.