New tenants or residents
If a tenant or resident changes during the lease, the:
- landlord/agent or owner, and the incoming, outgoing and any continuing tenant or resident, must complete and sign a Tenant Transfer form to change ownership of the bond. A copy of the completed form must be given to the tenants or residents
- Tenant Transfer form must be sent to the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) within five days of the new tenant or resident moving in.
The RTBA does not make part-repayments on bonds. Adjustment of contributions to the bond between outgoing and incoming tenants or residents is a private matter between those parties. The RTBA will only record the name of the new tenant or resident.
A fine may be imposed for not sending a Tenant Transfer form to the RTBA.
It is possible (although uncommon) for a tenant or resident to transfer their bond to a new rental property, if that property has the same landlord as their current home.
To transfer a bond to another tenant or resident:
- Visit the RTBA Online website.
- Click ‘Tenant’ on the left side of the home page, then click ‘Bond Search’.
- Enter your Bond ID and last name, then click ‘Run Search’. This opens the ‘Bond Summary’ page.
- Click ‘Tenant Transfer’. This opens an instruction page.
- Read the instructions, then click ‘Next’. This opens the ‘Tenant Transfer’ details page.
- Enter the details in the form, then click ‘Next’. This opens a confirmation page.
- If you are happy with the information provided, click ‘Next’, which opens an instructions page. Go to step 8. If you are not happy with the information provided, click ‘Previous’, which re-opens the ‘Agent/Tenant Transfer’ details page. Repeat step 6.
- Read the instructions, then click ‘Generate Form’.
- Once generated, the Tenant Transfer form must be printed, then signed by the tenant and landlord/estate agent.
- Mail the completed form to:
RTBA
Locked Bag 007
Wendouree VIC 3355
Note: you can request pre-printed forms to be mailed to you. Contact the RTBA on 1300 137 164 or rtba@justice.vic.gov.au.
New landlords or owners
If a new landlord/agent or owner takes over the management of a leased property, the previous and new landlord/agent or owner must complete and sign an Agent/Landlord Transfer form. This form must be sent to the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) within five days of the changeover. A copy of the completed form must be given to the tenants or residents.
A fine may be imposed for not sending an Agent/Landlord Transfer form.
To transfer a bond to another landlord or owner:
- Visit the RTBA Online website.
- Click ‘Landlord’ on the left side of the home page, then click ‘Bond Search’.
- Enter your Bond ID and last name, then click ‘Run Search’. This opens the ‘Bond Summary’ page.
- Click ‘Agent/Landlord Transfer’. This opens an instruction page.
- Read the instructions, then click ‘Next’. This opens the ‘Agent/Landlord Transfer’ details page.
- Enter the details in the form, then click ‘Next’. This opens a confirmation page.
- If you are happy with the information provided, click ‘Next’, which opens an instructions page. Go to step 8. If you are not happy with the information provided, click ‘Previous’, which re-opens the ‘Agent/Tenant Transfer’ details page. Repeat step 6.
- Read the instructions, then click ‘Generate Form’.
- Once generated, the Agent/Landlord Transfer form must be printed, then signed by the outgoing landlord/estate agent and the incoming landlord/estate agent.
- Mail the completed form to:
RTBA
Locked Bag 007
Wendouree VIC 3355
Note: you can request pre-printed forms to be mailed to you. Contact the RTBA on 1300 137 164 or rtba@justice.vic.gov.au.
Last updated: 14/05/2013