How do tenants get their bond back?

The Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) will make a bond repayment to tenants usually within 24 hours of receiving a completed claim form.

The process for the return of bond money is that:

1.	The registered tenants should make contact with their real estate agent or landlord and come to an agreement on the distribution of the bond. If an agreement cannot be reached, the parties must apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for an order directing the RTBA on how the bond is to be repaid. VCAT is making special arrangements to expedite hearings on bushfire-related matters. For further information contact VCAT: Phone: 1800 001 099 (toll free) Email: vcat@vcat.vic.gov.au (Subject: Bushfire priority) Note: The main issue likely to prevent a full repayment of the bond is outstanding rent payments.
2.	Once the distribution of the bond is agreed, the parties should complete a Bond Claim form, available at www.rentalbonds.vic.gov.au or as a printed form from the RTBA.
3.	The Bond Claim form provides for repayments to be made into a bank account nominated by the tenants. This will usually happen within 24 hours. If bank account details are not provided, a cheque will be mailed to the forwarding address nominated on the Bond Claim form. This can be care of a Post Office (C/- Suburb Post Office), friend or other convenient mail delivery point.
4.	All parties to the bond should sign the Bond Claim form. If a signature is not available due to bushfire-related circumstances, see the ‘Special provisions’ section below.
5.	The signed Bond Claim form should be faxed to 1300 133 841 or mailed to the RTBA.

Special provisions

How are bonds recovered where a tenant is injured or deceased?

If a tenant is unable to sign a Bond Claim form due to bushfire-related circumstances, the following arrangements will apply:

1.	If a tenant is unable to sign and the agent/landlord forms the view the tenant is injured, but would agree to the proposed bond repayment, the words ‘Bushfire Injured’ should be written in the signature box for that tenant.
2.	If a tenant is deceased and a formal proof of death is available, this should be faxed to the RTBA with the Bond Claim form. Acceptable proof includes a death certificate, a funeral director’s account for the funeral of the deceased, or a confirmation of death issued by a police officer, doctor of medicine or hospital administrator.
3.	If a formal proof of death is not available and the agent/landlord forms the view the tenant is deceased, the words ‘Bushfire Deceased’ should be written in the signature box for that tenant.

The RTBA will treat the words ‘Bushfire Injured’ and ‘Bushfire Deceased’ as if the tenant had signed the form.

Further information and advice
The RTBA is able to assist on a case-by-case basis with other issues including loss of records or the inability to locate the agent/landlord.

	For advice on bond-related issues, contact the RTBA:
	Phone:		1300 137 164 (local call)
	Email:		rtba@justice.vic.gov.au
	Mail:		RTBA Locked Bag 007 WENDOUREE VIC 3355
	For advice on other tenancy issues, contact Consumer Affairs Victoria:
	Phone:		1300 55 81 81 (local call)
	Email:		consumer@justice.vic.gov.au
	Mail:		Consumer Affairs Victoria GPO Box 123 MELBOURNE VIC 3001

Related Documents:
Download a Residential Tenancies Bond Authority letter containing the above information.