Australia Rental Bond Refund Demand (all states & territories)
First-person self-help demand asking your landlord/agent to agree to release your rental bond, tailored to your state/territory Residential Tenancies Act and bond authority (NSW Rental Bonds Online, VIC RTBA, QLD RTA, WA Bond Administrator, SA CBS, TAS MyBond, ACT Office of Rental Bonds; the NT has no central authority). Escalates to your state tribunal (NCAT/VCAT/QCAT/SACAT/ACAT/NTCAT), the WA Magistrates Court, or the Tasmanian Residential Tenancy Commissioner. You complete and send it yourself.
Statute of Limitations Warning
Legal deadlines apply to your claim. You lose your right to act if you wait too long. Send notice as soon as possible.
Why this letter works:
- Cites the exact law: Automatically applies the correct state and federal statutes to your situation.
- Sets a firm deadline: Legally compels a response within the required statutory timeframe.
- Creates a paper trail: Designed to serve as Exhibit A if you need to escalate to an agency or court.
Answer a few questions and we'll create your personalized letter.
One-time price:$19≈ A$29Paid once at the end. No subscription.
What you'll get
Below is a real example. Your version will be personalized with your name, the exact statute that applies where you are, and the right deadline.
August 13, 2026
RE: Return of rental bond — Unit 4, 27 Barkly Street, Brunswick VIC 3056 — Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic)
Dear Northside Property Group:
I am writing to ask you to agree to the release of my rental bond of $2,400.00 for the property at Unit 4, 27 Barkly Street, Brunswick VIC 3056. I handed back vacant possession on June 28, 2026. You have not agreed to release my bond.
1. MY BOND
In Victoria my bond is held by the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA), not by you. Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic) I am entitled to the return of my bond at the end of the tenancy, except for any amount you are entitled to claim. Please lodge a bond claim with the RTBA agreeing to release my bond to me.
I returned the keys and completed the exit condition report with the agent on 28 June 2026. The property was professionally cleaned and the report noted no damage. I have asked twice for the bond claim to be lodged and have had no response.
2. DEMAND
Please agree to release $2,400.00 of my bond to me within 14 DAYS of the date of this letter.
3. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE
If you do not agree to release my bond within 14 days, I will apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for an order that my bond be paid to me, together with any costs of the application.
Yours faithfully,
Self-help template prepared using Commoner Law (commoner-law.com). This is general legal information and a template you complete and send yourself — it is not legal advice, and we are not a law firm. Your state/territory tenancy tribunal (or, in WA, the Magistrates Court) is designed for self-represented tenants. Bond rules and forms differ by jurisdiction — check your state's tenancy authority.
The full letter — including the statute citations for your state — is shown above. Only the recipient block, signature, and mailing instructions are masked. They appear in the PDF you download after payment ($19).
Your Action Plan
This letter is part of a formal escalation process.
Download your personalized PDF immediately after purchase and send it.
Your letter includes a firm deadline. Do not engage in informal text messages during this time.
If they miss the deadline, return to us using the link in your email receipt. You will unlock the next stage document at a discounted rate.
Your tenancy and bond
Select your state or territory, then your tenancy details. Australian bonds are held by a state bond authority (except the NT), and are released when both parties agree or a tribunal orders it. This letter asks the landlord/agent to agree to release your bond.
This letter will cite
Your state/territory Residential Tenancies Act + bond authority (e.g. NSW Rental Bonds Online, VIC RTBA, QLD RTA). Disputes are decided by the state tribunal (NCAT/VCAT/QCAT/SACAT/ACAT/NTCAT) or, in WA, the Magistrates Court, and in Tasmania the Residential Tenancy Commissioner.
These forums are designed for self-represented tenants and charge low fees.
When you vacated, the condition you left the property in, and any deductions claimed.
Before you start
What exactly do I get, and when?
A personalized PDF letter, written around the statute that applies to your situation, with the deadline and the consequence spelled out. It downloads the moment payment confirms, back here on commoner-law.com — there is no waiting period and no account to create.
How much is it?
$19, once. Not a subscription, and nothing is charged until you complete payment on Stripe at the end of the wizard. Any add-ons you select show their own price before you pay.
Is this legal advice?
Self-help template; not legal advice and we are not a law firm. Bond claim forms, timeframes, and the dispute forum differ by state and territory — check your local tenancy authority before lodging.
What if I need to change something afterwards?
Tell us and we will either adjust the letter and send you the updated version at no cost, or refund you in full — your choice. If we can’t deliver what you paid for, the refund is automatic. Full terms are on our promise page.
Do I have to pay to know if I have a case?
No. The rights encyclopedia on this site is free and cites the same primary sources the letter does. Read the relevant guide first — plenty of situations are resolved by a phone call to a free statutory body, and where one exists we say so.