Paying and getting back a tenancy bond

What a general bond and a pet bond are, how tenants pay them, what the receipt should show, and how refunds work at the end of a tenancy.

Tenancy Services describes two types of bond a landlord can charge: a general bond, charged when a tenant moves in, and a pet bond, which a landlord can charge if they have given consent for the tenant to keep a pet.

The landlord must lodge the bond with Tenancy Services. If you pay the bond to the landlord, Tenancy Services says the landlord must lodge it within 23 working days of receiving it. You can also pay the bond directly to Tenancy Services if the landlord approves and nominates you as the payee; you will need an email address, because Tenancy Services emails you a payment link.

If you pay the landlord, ask for a receipt. Tenancy Services says it must show the date paid, whether it is a general or pet bond, the amount, your name, the property address and the landlord's signature.

At the end of the tenancy, a general bond is usually refunded if there is no money owed. Different rules apply to general and pet bond refunds, so check the Tenancy Services refund pages for the current steps before you move out.