Legislation gives renters certain freedoms to stamp their personality on rental properties. Here's what you can and can't do as a renter in Victoria.
Rental
How to get your rental bond back in Victoria
Moving out of a rental in Victoria? Learn how to get your bond back, including new rental laws, cleaning rules, fair wear and tear, inspections and disputes.
Getting your rental bond back should be straightforward if you understand your rights.
In Victoria, bonds are held by the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA), rather than by the rental provider or real estate agent. At the end of your rental agreement, the bond is returned unless there is a legitimate reason for the rental provider to claim some or all of it.
Renters can now transfer an existing bond directly to their new rental property, rather than having to pay for a second rental bond out of pocket while they wait for the return of their first rental bond.
Recent and upcoming changes to Victoria's rental laws are also strengthening protections around bond claims. Here's what Victorian renters need to know about cleaning, damage, final inspections, evidence and bond disputes.
What are the new rental bond laws in Victoria?
Portable Rental Bond Scheme
The new Portable Rental Bond Scheme allows renters to transfer their existing bond to a new rental property. That means your bond money can be transferred to your next rental property through the RTBA, rather than having a pay a new bond before your original bond is refunded.
This is an optional scheme under the Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, designed to ease the financial burden of moving between rental properties. It costs $25 to use. If your new bond is higher than your current bond, you'll need to pay the difference. If it's lower, then the difference will be returned to you.
To be eligible, you will need:
- both rental properties to be in Victoria
- the same renters listed on both the existing and new bond (if you live with other people, you all need to be on the existing bond and all moving to the new property)
- your previous bond to be unclaimed and held with the RTBA, with no suspensions or pending transactions against it.
14 days for rental providers to contest claims
Victorian renters can already initiate their own bond claim through the RTBA after their rental agreement ends. You don't need to wait for your property manager or rental provider to start the process.
Once a renter-initiated claim is submitted, the RTBA notifies the other parties. They generally have 14 days to contest the claim by applying to Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV) or the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). If nobody contests it, the bond can be paid according to the renter's claim.
Advance notice and provided evidence
From 13 October 2026, rental providers will need to notify renters in advance if they intend to make a bond claim and provide documentary evidence supporting that claim three days before the claim can be lodged. The reforms are designed to reduce unsubstantiated claims against renters' bonds.
More: A first time renters' guide to applying for a property
How clean does a rental need to be when you leave?
Victorian renters are required to leave a rental property reasonably clean and in the same condition it was in when they moved in, allowing for fair wear and tear.
A rental provider generally cannot require professional cleaning unless it is needed to return the property to the condition it was in at the beginning of the rental agreement – for example, if it was professionally cleaned immediately before you moved in – or the property is in a condition that requires professional cleaning.
Before moving out, thoroughly clean commonly scrutinised areas such as floors and carpets, ovens and cooktops, bathrooms, cupboards, windows and other surfaces. Remove rubbish and belongings, and check outdoor areas you are responsible for maintaining.
More: House cleaning hacks and tips
What is fair wear and tear in a Victorian rental?
One of the most important distinctions when getting your bond back is the difference between damage and fair wear and tear.
Rental providers cannot claim your bond for fair wear and tear. This means deterioration caused by reasonable everyday use of the property or natural environmental forces.
For example, faded curtains or a kitchen benchtop that has gradually become worn may constitute fair wear and tear. Ripped curtains or a broken benchtop, however, may be considered damage.
The age and original condition of an item can therefore be important when assessing a claim. Your entry condition report, along with photographs taken when you moved in, can help establish whether an issue existed before your rental agreement began.
More: Renting rules in Victoria - what you can and can’t do as a renter
It's important to know the difference between damage and fair wear and tear in rental properties.
How to prepare for the final rental inspection
At the end of the rental agreement, the rental provider or property manager will conduct a final inspection and compare the property with its condition at the beginning of the tenancy.
Importantly, the renter must either be present at the final inspection or have been given a reasonable opportunity to attend.
Before handing back the keys, conduct your own inspection using your original condition report as a checklist. Photograph or video every room after you have finished cleaning and removed your belongings. Pay particular attention to areas where there was pre-existing damage, as well as floors, walls, appliances, bathrooms and outdoor areas.
More: Minimum standards checklist for renters
Keep evidence of the property's condition
Evidence can be extremely useful if your bond is disputed. Keep your original condition report, entry and exit photographs, correspondence with the agent, cleaning receipts and invoices for any repairs you arranged.
The condition report is particularly important because it records the property's condition when you moved in and can be used as evidence in a dispute over cleaning, damage or missing items.
It can also help to keep emails showing that you previously reported maintenance problems or damage that was not your responsibility.
How do you claim your rental bond in Victoria?
A renter whose name is on the bond can start a bond claim through the RTBA after the rental agreement has ended. Renters initiating a claim need to verify their identity through Service Victoria.
If everyone agrees on how the bond should be divided, the process can be considerably faster. Once all parties have accepted a claim, the RTBA will typically repay the bond within one business day.
For a renter-initiated claim, other parties generally have 14 days to contest it. If nobody contests the claim, the RTBA pays it as directed after the response period.
What can a rental provider claim from your bond?
A rental provider may seek compensation from the bond for legitimate costs associated with issues such as:
- damage caused by the renter
- unpaid rent or other charges
- leaving the property insufficiently clean
- missing items
- certain unauthorised changes to the property.
However, a rental provider cannot claim against your bond for fair wear and tear or damage that was the rental provider’s responsibility to repair.
From 13 October 2026, rental providers will face stronger evidence requirements when making bond claims, giving renters greater visibility over what is being claimed and why.
Rental providers must also start an RTBA claim within 14 days of the rental agreement ending, unless the renter initiates the claim first.
What should you do if your rental bond is disputed?
Don't agree to a deduction simply because an agent or rental provider requests one. Ask what the deduction is for and review it against your condition report, photographs and other evidence.
If you cannot reach an agreement, renters and rental providers can apply to Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV), a free dispute-resolution service that can help resolve bond disputes. RDRV can request evidence supporting a rental provider's claim and work with both parties towards an agreement.
If the dispute cannot be resolved through RDRV, the matter can proceed to VCAT for a decision.
Knowing your rights, documenting the condition of your home and acting promptly at the end of your rental agreement can put you in a much stronger position to get your rental bond back in full.
Knowing your rights, documenting the condition of your home and acting promptly can help you with bond returns.
Rental bonds in Victoria: FAQs
If everyone agrees with the bond claim, the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) will usually repay the bond within one business day after everyone has accepted the claim. If a renter starts the claim themselves, the RTBA must notify the other parties, who have 14 days to contest it. If nobody contests the claim, the bond is repaid as directed after that period, or sooner if everyone agrees.
Not automatically. For rental agreements signed from 29 March 2021, a rental provider generally cannot require professional cleaning unless it is necessary to return the property to the condition it was in at the start of the rental agreement, allowing for fair wear and tear, or because the property is in a condition that requires professional cleaning.
No. A rental provider cannot claim your bond for fair wear and tear. This covers deterioration caused by reasonable use of the property or natural environmental forces. Consumer Affairs Victoria gives faded curtains and worn kitchen benchtops as examples that may constitute fair wear and tear, while ripped curtains or broken benchtops may be considered damage.
Yes. Any renter named on the bond can initiate a claim through the RTBA after the rental agreement ends. You must verify your identity through Service Victoria. The other parties then have 14 days to contest the claim; if they don't, the RTBA can repay the bond according to your claim.
If you and your rental provider cannot agree, either party can apply to Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV). RDRV can ask the rental provider for evidence supporting their claim and help both parties try to reach an agreement. If the dispute cannot be resolved, the matter can proceed to VCAT for a decision.
The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s) issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.
