How to Get Your Full Bond Back When You Move Out in Victoria

In Victoria your bond is held by the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority, not your agent, and it can only be released with your agreement or by a VCAT order. That is good news for renters who prepare properly — but it also means a disputed claim can drag on for weeks while you are already paying rent somewhere else.

Start with your notice period

For a fixed-term agreement you generally give 14 days notice before the end date. For a periodic (month-to-month) agreement it is usually 28 days. Put it in writing, keep proof of delivery, and confirm the exact date and time you must hand back the keys.

Dig out the entry condition report

This document is your strongest evidence. Anything already marked as damaged or unclean when you moved in cannot be charged to you. Read it before you clean so you know precisely what standard you are being measured against, and take dated photos of every room before your furniture leaves.

Fair wear and tear vs damage

• Fair wear and tear (not chargeable): faded paint, worn carpet in traffic areas, loose door handles, minor scuffs from normal use.
• Damage (chargeable): holes in walls, burns, pet stains, broken fixtures, unapproved paint colours, missing keys or remotes.

The cleaning that actually gets checked

1. Oven, grill and rangehood filters — the single most common deduction.
2. Carpets professionally steam cleaned if your lease requires it. Keep the receipt.
3. Window tracks, flyscreens, blinds and skirting boards.
4. Inside cupboards, drawers and the dishwasher filter.
5. Bathroom grout, shower screens and exhaust fans.
6. Garden mowed, edges trimmed, gutters clear and rubbish removed.

Repair the small stuff yourself

Filling and touching up picture hook holes, replacing dead light globes and batteries in smoke alarms, and rehanging a wardrobe door costs you an afternoon. Charged back through an agent's tradesperson, the same list can easily take a significant amount out of your bond.

Move out before the final inspection

An empty property inspects far better than a half-packed one, and it lets you clean floors and skirtings properly. Book your removalist for at least a day before the handover so cleaning happens in an empty house, not around a stack of boxes.

Claiming your bond

Either party can lodge a bond claim through the RTBA. If your agent claims an amount you disagree with, you have 14 days to dispute it before it is paid out, after which the matter goes to VCAT. Photos, the entry condition report and your cleaning receipts are what decide these cases.