When you rent a home, most rental providers (landlords) or property managers ask you to pay a bond. This money is held as a security deposit that can be paid to the rental provider for any outstanding losses they incur due to any damage you cause during the time you live in the property.
How can you claim a bond refund?
Renters can start their claim once a rental agreement ends. To begin this claim, visit the RTBA website, click on the link for RTBA Online and then look up your bond and select the option to refund the bond.
After the claim is submitted, the RTBA will contact the rental provider and any other renter on the bond to let them know about the claim. From that time, other renters or the rental provider have 14 days to contest the claim and show evidence of VCAT proceedings, or the RTBA will pay the claim.
If there is a VCAT application listed for this property, the claim will be cancelled (meaning the bond will not be repaid to the renter) pending the outcome of the VCAT application.
How long does it take to have a bond returned in Victoria?
The quickest way for a bond to be paid is for the rental provider or the property manager to submit the claim to you. Once everyone has accepted the claim, the RTBA will typically pay the amount within one business day.
If the rental provider is delaying the claim, you can decide to start the claim process. Bond refunds can take between 15 - 20 business days for the funds to reach your bank account. While this may seem to be a long time to wait, the period gives your rental provider time to be notified of the claim and respond to, or contest the claim, if they choose to.
What happens if there is a dispute about the bond refund?
Disagreements can happen. If there is a dispute over refunding the bond amount, either the renter or the rental provider can apply to a dedicated VCAT service called Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV).
As of 2025, disputes about bonds, compensation, rent increases and repairs are managed by RDRV.
RDRV helps people to resolve rental disputes quickly and fairly: we provide a fast, cheap, fair one-stop shop for renters and rental providers to resolve their disputes.
RDRV is here to help by:
- Helping renters and rental providers to reach a fair resolution on any claim for the bond
- Ensuring that the correct legal process is followed for bond refunds
Apply to RDRV now. When you complete our online form, RDRV can get working to resolve your dispute claim.
How RDRV can help you to resolve your bond dispute
RDRV exists to help renters and rental providers to resolve their disputes quickly and fairly. We support you to:
- Resolve your dispute as quickly as possible
- Help you understand rental laws so that both parties can reach a fair result
- Reach an agreement that meets the needs of the renter and the rental provider
- Reach an agreement that is recognised by VCAT and the RTBA
If a bond dispute is complex or the parties can’t reach an agreement, RDRV can help to escalate your case to a VCAT hearing.
You can find out more about bond claims and refunds on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website.
You can learn more about RDRV and our easy and fair approach to resolving disputes. You can also learn more about managing concerns about repairs by clicking here