Moving out
The difference between getting your whole bond back and fighting for it is usually one decision: who moves first.
Claim your bond first
Most people wait for the agent to organise the refund — which means the agent controls the timeline. Don't. The moment keys are handed back, lodge the claim yourself through Rental Bonds Online. The authority notifies the landlord, and unless they notify it in writing within 14 days that the claim is before NCAT or a court, the bond is paid to you. s 164
Lodge first and the 14-day clock runs on them, not you.
Move-out day, step by step
Your ticks stay on this device only — nothing is saved to an account.
Wear and tear — you can't be charged s 51(3)(b)
- Faded curtains, paint or blinds
- Minor scuffs and marks on walls
- Carpet indentations from furniture
- Small nail holes from pictures
- Worn paths in high-traffic carpet
- Any deterioration from ordinary living
What can be claimed from the bond
- Unpaid rent
- The fixed break fee, if you left a fixed term earlys 107(4)
- Damage beyond fair wear and tears 51(3)(b)
- Cleaning, if the place wasn't left reasonably cleans 51(3)(c)
- Replacing locks, if keys weren't returneds 51(3)(e)
Honest note: "fair wear and tear" isn't defined in the Act — NCAT weighs it case by case, using the ingoing condition report as the yardstick. If a claim mixes wear and tear with damage, dispute it in writing and cite s 51(3)(b). For genuinely grey cases, call the Tenants' Union advice line rather than guessing.
If they dispute within the 14 days
A dispute doesn't mean they're right — it means the claim goes to NCAT, where the landlord must prove what they're claiming. Bring your evidence: ingoing and outgoing condition reports, dated photos from move-in and move-out, receipts and the claim confirmation. s 44
Keep living your life in the meantime — the bond being disputed doesn't stop you moving into your next place.
Made move-in notes with RentFair? Compare with your condition report