RenterIQGetting your full bond back in Queensland
Your bond is your money — it's held in trust, not the landlord's to keep. At the end of a tenancy it should be returned in full unless there's a fair reason to deduct, such as unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear. In Queensland, bonds and the refund process are overseen by Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA).
Get the Queensland answer — ask RenterIQ free →What a landlord can (and cannot) claim
A landlord can generally claim for unpaid rent, repairs for damage you caused beyond fair wear and tear, or cleaning if the property was left less clean than at move-in. They cannot charge you for normal ageing — faded paint, worn carpet in walkways, or minor scuffs from everyday living. The single best protection is evidence: clear, timestamped photos of the property at move-in to compare against move-out.
The refund process in Queensland
When you move out, your bond refund is processed through Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA). If you and the landlord agree on the amount, it's usually quick. If there's a dispute, having a side-by-side photo record of the property's condition at the start and end of your tenancy makes your case far stronger than relying on memory.
Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) — official renting information · phone 1300 366 311. They set and publish the exact rules that apply to your tenancy.
Common questions — Queensland
Timeframes are set by Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA). An agreed refund is typically faster than a disputed one — which is why clear move-in and move-out evidence helps you get your money back sooner.
No. Fair wear and tear — the gradual ageing that happens from ordinary living — is the landlord's responsibility, not yours. Deductions should only be for damage beyond that, unpaid rent, or agreed cleaning.
If you can't agree, the dispute is decided through Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA)'s process. Photos showing the property's condition at move-in versus move-out are the evidence that usually settles it.