RentWize guide
Starting a Bond Dispute
Organise bond dispute records, deductions, photos, receipts, and communications in RentWize.
Starting a Bond Dispute in Australia
Your bond dispute record should show what was claimed, what evidence exists, and what was communicated. RentWize helps you organise that evidence for review before you seek advice, contact the bond authority, or prepare a tribunal bundle.
When Can a Landlord Claim the Bond?
A landlord may legitimately claim part or all of the bond for:
- Unpaid rent at the end of the tenancy
- Damage beyond fair wear and tear
- Cleaning costs if the property was left in poor condition
- Breach of lease obligations
They cannot claim for fair wear and tear — normal deterioration from ordinary use.
What You'll Need
Before starting a dispute, gather:
- Your original bond lodgement receipt or bond reference number
- Move-in and move-out condition reports (photos help enormously)
- Any receipts for cleaning or repairs you paid for
- Written communication with your landlord about the bond claim
How to Start a Bond Dispute
- Go to your property in RentWize
- Tap Bond & Disputes → New Dispute
- Select Bond Claim Dispute
- Enter the disputed amount and describe the reason for the dispute
- Upload supporting evidence (photos, receipts, condition reports) to your Evidence Vault
- Keep your deductions, photos, receipts, and communication history together for review
Lodging with the Bond Authority
Each state has a bond authority that holds your bond:
- NSW — NSW Fair Trading (Rental Bonds Online)
- VIC — Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA)
- QLD — Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA)
- SA — Consumer and Business Services (CBS)
- WA — Bond Administrator (Commerce WA)
- TAS — Rental Deposit Authority
- ACT — ACT Revenue Office
- NT — NT Consumer Affairs
If you and your landlord cannot agree, check your state process and timeframes before lodging anything. RentWize Pro can export a structured tribunal bundle from the records you have already saved. See Exporting a Tribunal Bundle for details.
Act quickly — most jurisdictions have deadlines for disputing bond claims after the tenancy ends.