Your landlord won't release your bond. Apply to your state tribunal.
Your bond is held by a state bond authority, not the landlord — and your tribunal can order it released for a low fee.
You asked the landlord or agent to agree to release your bond and they ignored you, refused, or released only part. In most of Australia your bond is held by a state bond authority — NSW Rental Bonds Online, the RTBA in Victoria, the RTA in Queensland, and so on — not by the landlord. It's released when both parties agree or when the tribunal orders it. The next step is to apply to your state's tribunal.
Each state and territory has a forum built for exactly this: NCAT (NSW), VCAT (VIC), QCAT (QLD), SACAT (SA), ACAT (ACT), NTCAT (NT), the Magistrates Court in Western Australia, and the Residential Tenancy Commissioner in Tasmania. Fees are low, and these forums are designed for self-represented tenants. A landlord can only keep part of the bond for rent genuinely owed or damage beyond fair wear and tear — and they have to prove it.
Your entry and exit condition reports, dated photos, and the bond lodgement record are usually decisive. In the Northern Territory, where the landlord holds the bond directly, you apply to NTCAT if it isn't returned.
Legal mechanisms now in play
- Bond held by a state bond authority — released by agreement or tribunal order
- State Residential Tenancies Act — landlord must prove any deduction; fair wear and tear is not chargeable
- Low tribunal application fees; forums designed for self-represented tenants
- Condition reports and dated photos as decisive evidence
- Tribunal can order the bond released and your application costs covered
Rental Bond Tribunal Application
Builds a structured application narrative tailored to your state/territory tribunal and Residential Tenancies Act: the tenancy and bond, what's wrong with the landlord's position, your stage-1 demand and the response, the facts, and the order sought — release of your bond — with an evidence checklist.
$19.00 ($9.00 if you bought our earlier letter — apply via the receipt URL or QR code in your first letter's PDF)
Start the Rental Bond Tribunal Application →Frequently asked
Who holds my bond?
In every state and territory except the NT, a government bond authority holds it (e.g. NSW Fair Trading's Rental Bonds Online, Victoria's RTBA, Queensland's RTA). The landlord can't simply keep it — they need your agreement or a tribunal order. In the NT the landlord holds the bond, and you apply to NTCAT.
Which tribunal do I apply to?
Your state's: NCAT (NSW), VCAT (VIC), QCAT (QLD), SACAT (SA), ACAT (ACT), NTCAT (NT), the Magistrates Court (WA), or the Residential Tenancy Commissioner (TAS). The application picks the right one based on your state.
Can the landlord deduct for cleaning or wear and tear?
Fair wear and tear is never chargeable. A landlord can only deduct for rent genuinely owed or damage beyond fair wear and tear, with evidence. Vague cleaning or damage claims without receipts rarely succeed.
How much does it cost to apply?
Application fees are low and vary by state. If you succeed, you can ask the tribunal to order the landlord to cover your costs of the application.
How much does the next-step application cost?
$19 standalone, or $9 if you bought our original Australian bond-refund demand — your receipt URL or QR code applies the discount automatically.