TENANT INFORMATION GUIDE FOR TENANTS (VIC) | Page 11

PART 1: Beginning a tenancy

The bond

Bonds from the Director of Housing (DoH)

Most landlords will ask you to pay a
bond. A bond acts as a security that
you will meet the terms of your tenancy
agreement. If you fail to keep the property
clean, cause damage or are in rent arrears,
your landlord may claim some or all of the
bond when the tenancy ends.

If you are on a low income and can afford
to rent privately, but are struggling to pay
the up-front costs, you may be eligible for
a bond loan from the DoH.

If your rent is $350 a week or less, the
bond cannot be more than one calendar
month’s rent. Your landlord cannot
increase the bond during your tenancy.
Looking after the bond
Your bond money is held by the
Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA).
If your landlord receives a bond or a part
payment of a bond, they must give you
a completed and signed official ‘Bond
Lodgement’ form to sign.
’Bond Lodgement’ forms
can be generated on the
RTBA Online website at
rentalbonds.vic.gov.au.
Forms are also available from the
Consumer Affairs Victoria website.

Payment must be made by cheque
or money order to the ‘Residential
Tenancies Bond Authority’. The postal
details are under Residential Tenancies
Bond Authority (RTBA) on page 42 and
on the ‘Bond Lodgement’ form. The RTBA
will send a receipt to you and your
landlord. Contact the RTBA if you have
not received a receipt 15 business days
after paying your bond.

A DoH ‘Bond Lodgement’ form must be
used when the DoH contributes some or
all of the bond. The DoH will issue the
form with the bond payment when a
bond loan is approved.
In cases where you have paid the bond
while waiting for an approved DoH bond
loan, you may apply to the RTBA to get
your bond money back.
To find out if you are eligible for a
DoH bond loan, contact the DoH through
the Office of Housing > see Office of
Housing on page 43 for contact details.
Dishonoured bond payments
If a bond payment to the RTBA is
dishonoured, the landlord can organise to
collect the money and re-lodge the bond,
give you a 14-day ‘Notice to Vacate’ for nonpayment of a bond, or waive the bond.
Difference between bond and rent
Your bond and rent are separate
payments. You may be fined for treating
any part of the bond as rent.
You must continue to pay rent until you
vacate even if:
• your landlord has refused to do repairs
• you have given your landlord notice of
your intention to vacate
• your landlord has given you a
‘Notice to Vacate