The complete bond return checklist for Australian renters.

How bond returns work in Australia

Across every Australian state and territory, your rental bond is held by a government bond authority — not by your landlord or agent. When you move out, the agent has up to 14 days to either return your bond in full or lodge a claim with the authority for any deductions they want to make.

If they lodge a claim, you can either accept or dispute it through your state tribunal — VCAT in Victoria, NCAT in NSW, QCAT in Queensland and equivalents in every other state. The tribunal assesses the claim on evidence: photos, condition reports, communications. The renter with better evidence wins.

The complete bond return checklist

📅 4 weeks before move-out

• Give your written notice to vacate (most states require 14–28 days; check your lease).
• Book carpet cleaning if your lease requires it. Keep the receipt.
• Start collecting any bills, receipts and rent payment proof you'll need.
• Open the RenterIQ exit inspection tool to plan your walkthrough.

📅 1 week before move-out

• Begin packing and moving belongings.
• Schedule final utility readings (electricity, gas, water).
• Confirm the exit inspection time with your agent.
• Print or save your entry condition report — you'll need it for the comparison.

📅 Day of move-out

1. Move all belongings out — every room must be empty.
2. Clean thoroughly — ovens, range hoods, bathrooms, windows, carpets, garden.
3. Walk through with RenterIQ's exit tool — photograph every room in the same order as your entry inspection.
4. Compare against your entry report — RenterIQ flags any differences for your review.
5. Confirm or dismiss each flag — you stay in control.
6. Address any issues — if RenterIQ flags something fixable, fix it before key handover.
7. Generate the exit PDF — your dispute-ready evidence record.
8. Hand back keys — and keep your copies of everything.

📅 After move-out

• Submit your bond claim form to the state bond authority (or wait for the agent to do their part).
• Watch your bank account — bonds are typically returned within 14 days.
• If the agent claims any portion of your bond, review the claim against your evidence.
• If you disagree, dispute through your state tribunal. RenterIQ's PDF is your evidence.

The 5 most common bond return mistakes

1. Skipping the entry condition report at move-in. Without it, you have no baseline to compare against. If you didn't do one, you're at the agent's mercy. RenterIQ's entry tool fixes this for next time — but you can only protect what you documented.
2. Cleaning the day before, not the day of. The exit walkthrough must reflect the condition you're handing over. Photograph after cleaning, not before.
3. Not photographing every room. Even rooms you "didn't really use". Tribunals decide on what's documented.
4. Not keeping cleaning receipts. If your lease required professional carpet cleaning and you paid for it, the receipt is your proof. Save it.
5. Accepting the first deduction without disputing it. Many bond claims are negotiable, especially if you have evidence. RenterIQ's exit report is exactly the kind of evidence that wins.

State-specific bond return rules

Bond return rules and timelines differ slightly across Australian states. Find yours:

Frequently asked questions