A bond is a payment that rental providers (formerly known as landlords) can request at the start of a rental agreement. In Victoria, all bonds must be lodged with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA).

The RTBA is an independent government body that holds bonds in trust for the duration of a rental agreement.

The Bond covers damage and other costs rental providers may have to pay when the renter moves out.
The bond and rent are separate payments. Bond cannot be used to pay rent.
The bond can be lodged online or using a paper form (online is recommended).

RTBA Online is a safe and secure system for electronic bond transactions that allows you to lodge bonds online in a quick and convenient way.

How to Lodge the Bond in VIC

The easiest way to lodge the bond In Victoria is through RBTA online. Only rental providers who are registered with RTBA Online can lodge the bond online.

Register Your Property and Create an Account:

Click here to start the process on RBTA and select 'Register as a landlord' - https://rentalbonds.vic.gov.au/PropertyManager/Account/Register

Already registered? You can take the steps to collect and lodge the bond:

Collect the bond payment from the tenant - If you're using RentBetter, you can collect the funds from the tenant through the platform.
Choose how to lodge the bond (Electronic or paper - electronic recommended) and ensure there are enough funds in your nominated account.
Sign in to RTBA Online and go to 'Lodge a bond'.
Fill in the property and tenancy details and submit. Once submitted, the RBTA initiates the transaction, and the renter receives a link by email and SMS to confirm the transaction.
Once confirmed, the RTBA finalises the lodgement, withdraws funds from your account and sends a confirmation email to all parties. The bond is held by the RTBA in trust until it’s claimed at the end of the tenancy.

Both you and the tenant will receive a bond receipt with a Bond ID number. If you don’t receive it within 15 business days, call RTBA on 1300 137 164.

See this page for step-by-step instructions on how to lodge the bond via RBTA - https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing/renting/rtba-online-support/property-manager-guide-lodging-a-bond

Setting up the Bond on RentBetter

👉 On RentBetter, we recommend that you collect the bond payment through the platform and then take the step to lodge the bond through RBTA.

To do this, choose 'Yes' when asked if you would like RentBetter to collect the bond payment during the tenancy setup steps:

Once the tenant has made the payment in the platform, the funds will be transferred to your bank account and you can take the subsequent step of lodgement through RBTA online.

Once the bond is confirmed as lodged, you can upload any relevant documentation via the bond section in your account.

Not collecting the bond payment through RentBetter?

If you’re collecting the bond payment outside the platform, once the payment has been confirmed, you can mark the bond as paid in your account and upload any receipts in the bond section for your records.

Bond Lodgement FAQs

What is the maximum bond amount?

In most cases, a bond cannot be more than one month’s rent. A rental provider can only ask for a higher bond when either:

The weekly rent for the property is more than $900
OR
VCAT has set a higher bond for the property. They might do this because of the character of the property or the quality of the fittings and furniture.

Does a rental bond have to be taken?

There is no legal requirement to take a bond but it is typically recommended to do so to protect your property in the event of damage or unpaid rent or bills.

How long do I have to lodge the bond?

You must lodge the bond within 10 business days of receiving it.

Do I need to lodge the bond, or can I keep it in my account?

No. The bond must be lodged with RBTA and it is an offence not to do so.

Can I use the paper form for lodgement instead?

Paper forms should only be used in cases where either:

A renter does not have an email address
A renter is unable to complete an electronic transaction
The rental provider is lodging the bond but they cannot register to use RTBA Online.

For more information on using paper forms, visit the RTBA page here and see the section titled 'Using paper forms'.

Can RentBetter lodge the bond for me?

Unfortunately, we're not able to lodge the bond on your behalf. You should collect the bond payment from the tenant, either yourself or through the platform. Once the payment has been transferred to your account, you can complete the lodgement through the RTBA portal.

Is the bond able to be increased or 'topped up' through the tenancy?

Rental providers can only ask for an extra bond in the following circumstances:

in a long-term rental agreement (an agreement of more than 5 years),
or when renters make changes to a property.

In long-term rental agreements, rental providers can ask for extra bond after 5 years, but only if there are 5 years or more left on the agreement. For more information, see this page on bond top-ups.

Rental providers must give 120 days’ written notice.