At the end of the tenancy, you and the landlord or agent can decide how the bond should be paid out. You can agree that the bond be returned to you in full, or that part or all of the bond be paid to the landlord.
When you reach an agreement, both you and the landlord or agent must sign a Bond Claim form, which the landlord or agent must then send to the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority. The Bond Authority will then pay out the bond according to the form. The bond will be paid directly into the bank account you nominate on the form, (usually by the next business day after receiving the form).
If the bond was paid on your behalf by the Office of Housing, you cannot agree to pay some or all of it to the landlord. If they want to make a claim against your bond the landlord must apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and name the Director of Housing as a party to their application.
To prevent the landlord or agent from making a fraudulent claim on your bond money, never sign a blank Bond Claim form or leave any of $ amount sections blank (including the ‘Total amount payable to Landlord/Agent if applicable’ section).
If you and the landlord or agent cannot agree, the landlord or agent must apply to the Tribunal within 10 business days of the end of your tenancy. The landlord cannot claim any money from your bond without your agreement or without an order from the Tribunal.
If you have moved out but you haven’t got your bond back, you should apply to the Tribunal as soon as possible. There is no cost for applying for return of bond.
It is illegal to refuse to pay your rent on the grounds that your bond can be used as rent.