The Portable Rental Bond Scheme lets renters transfer an existing bond to a new rental property.
This means you may not need to pay a full new bond before you move.
You can apply through the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA). The scheme is optional and costs $25.
Who can transfer a bond
You can transfer your bond if:
- your previous bond is unclaimed and held by the RTBA
- your previous bond is not suspended and has no pending transactions
- the same renters are listed on both the existing and new bond
- both rental properties are in Victoria
- all renters listed on the bond agree to the terms and conditions.
Who cannot transfer a bond
Your cannot transfer your bond if:
- renters in a share house are moving to different properties
- you live in a rooming house, caravan park or Part4A dwelling (residential park)
- your bond is funded by a Homes Victoria loan
- you owe money to the Victorian Government for a previous bond transfer.
You can check whether your bond can be transferred in your Bond Summary on the RTBA website.
How to transfer your bond
- Tell your rental provider or estate agent at the new property that you’ll pay the bond directly to the RTBA.
- Once your rental provider submits the bond request, the RTBA will email you. You must review the details and complete the bond lodgement.
- If you are eligible, you need to opt in, agree to the terms and conditions and pay the $25 fee.
- If your new bond is higher than your current bond, you must also pay the difference.
Bond claims and disputes
There is no change to the standard RTBA bond claim process or to the dispute process for bond claims.
If you do not agree with the bond claim made by the rental provider for your previous property, you can dispute it through Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria or VCAT.
After your bond is transferred, the rental provider for your previous property may still make a claim.
If the claim is successful, the Victorian Government will pay the claim to the rental provider for the previous property, up to the total bond amount.
You will then need to repay that amount to the Victorian Government.
If you owe money after a bond transfer
If you owe after a previous bond transfer, we will contact you about repayment options.
Payment plans are available if you’re experiencing financial hardship.
You will have 8 weeks to repay the amount. Reminder notices will be sent after this period.
You cannot use the scheme if you still owe money from an earlier bond transfer.
No action is needed from the rental provider.
When the bond is closed
The RTBA will close the bond when the balance is $0 after the bond has been claimed or transferred.
Common questions
What is transferred under the Portable Rental Bond Scheme?
When you use Portable Rental Bond Scheme, you transfer the value of your current bond to your new rental property.
The scheme does not cover other bond changes, such as changing renters or removing renters from a bond.
What if the bond for the new property is lower than my current bond?
If the new bond is lower than your current bond, and there are no claims on the current bond, the difference will be returned to the renters.
The return will be made through the usual RTBA bond claim process.
Can I transfer only part of my existing bond?
You cannot choose how much to transfer.
- If the new bond is the same amount or higher, your full current bond will be transferred.
- If the new bond is lower, only the amount needed for the new bond will be transferred.
- The remaining amount will stay on the current bond until it is claimed.
Do I need to sign the new lease before transferring my bond?
Yes. You must have signed the lease for the new property but you must not have already paid the bond for that property.
How many times can I transfer a bond?
You can transfer a bond each time you move to a new rental property, as long as you meet the eligibility rules and do not owe money from an earlier bond transfer.
Can a bond funded by a Homes Victoria loan be transferred?
No. Bonds funded by a Homes Victoria loan cannot be transferred.
This is because the loan is issued for a specific rental property. When the tenancy ends, Homes Victoria receives the bond amount back.
You can apply for a new bond loan from Homes Victoria for your next rental property.
Can I transfer more than one bond to a new rental property?
No. You cannot combine 2 separate bonds from different tenancies to pay the bond for a new property.
For example, if 2 people move in together from separate rentals, their existing bonds cannot be combined into one new bond transfer.
Can renters in a share house transfer a bond?
Yes, but only if:
- all renters are moving to the same new property
- all renters are listed on both rental agreements
- all renters agree to the bond transfer.
Updated