At the end of a tenancy in WA, one of the final steps is refunding the bond that was lodged at the start of the agreement. This guide walks you through how the bond refund process works, what’s required and how to resolve any issues that may arise.

The bond should be paid back to the tenant in full at the end of their tenancy unless money is owed for rent, damages or other costs.

Landlords usually start the process to release the bond and can use BondsOnline or paper-based forms.

The bond is held and is intended to cover things like:

Unpaid rent
Damage to the property beyond fair wear and tear
Cleaning or other unpaid bills the tenant is responsible for

✅ Best Practices for Landlords

Always complete thorough entry, routine and exit condition reports
Keep copies of photos, communications, and invoices for any damages or cleaning
Communicate openly with the tenant to avoid disputes

Steps to Returning the Bond (Bond Disposal)

Conduct a Final Inspection
At the end of the tenancy, you should carry out a final inspection and complete an exit condition report, comparing it to the condition report completed at the start.
- Tenants should be present if possible
- All cleaning and repairs should be completed before this inspection
Agree on the Bond Refund Amount
If both parties agree that the property has been left in good condition and there are no outstanding issues, the full bond can be refunded to the tenant.

If there are any damages, rent owing, or other deductions, the landlord should notify the tenant of the intended deductions and ideally reach a mutual agreement.
Submit a Bond Release Form through Bonds Online
To release a bond at the end of the tenancy, you need to Request Disposal. Landlords usually start the process to release the bond and can use BondsOnline or paper-based forms.

Online - visit https://bonds.commerce.wa.gov.au/bonds
Paper form - https://www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au/publications/joint-application-disposal-security-bond

Getting Started on the Bond Release - via Bonds Online

Log into Bonds Online and search the bond under the Bonds tab using the bond Reference Number or other available fields.
- In the Details screen, scroll down to the bottom and select Request Disposal.
- Enter the Tenancy End Date, contact details and Amounts to be Paid for each party.
- Click Submit to lodge the eTransaction.
When you submit the eTransaction, you will receive an email asking you to approve the bond payment. Once you approve the payment, the tenants and any additional landlords will receive an email asking to approve the eTransaction.
Tenants will receive reminders until they approve the eTransaction. If all parties cannot agree to release the bond and it is not approved within 28 days, the process will lapse.

If this happens, all parties will receive an email advising that the landlord needs to begin the process again or apply for a Court Order.
Once tenants and any additional landlords have approved the eTransaction, all parties will receive an email to advise that the eTransaction has progressed and the bond will be returned as stated in the transaction.

What happens if there's a dispute?

Consumer Protection can help landlords and tenants agree about how the bond should be paid. Contact Consumer Protection by calling 1300 30 40 54 or fill out the online complaint form.

If you still disagree after Consumer Protection has tried to help, you can apply to the court, and you can find more information on the process here under 'Disputes about bonds'.

If a dispute goes to court at the end of a tenancy, the magistrate will decide on how the bond money will be paid back.

Recording a Bond Return on RentBetter

At the start of the tenancy on RentBetter, you will have entered the bond amount into the platform. If you'd like to record a refund or claim, you can do this via the Bond section of the platform.

Click on the bond to open it in the side panel and then on 'Mark as bond returned'

Then on the following screen, you can enter the details of the return, whether that be in partial or full, as well as upload any other documentation relating to the release of the bond:

Once submitted, the bond will be marked as either returned in full or returned in part in your RentBetter account:

Bond Return FAQs

Who can request a bond refund (bond disposal)?

The managing party (Landlord) can request a bond disposal. The bond can only be released when Bonds Administration has received:

written agreement from all the tenant(s) and landlord(s) on a bond disposal form
a court order

Can 'Wear and Tear' be claimed from the bond?

Normal wear and tear of the property caused by everyday use is not entitled to be claimed through the bond. Tenants are only liable for negligent, irresponsible or intentional actions that cause damage to the premises.

Examples of wear and tear vs damage:

Paint that has faded, cracked, or chipped is usually fair wear and tear, but unapproved painting may mean that the tenant is liable.

Markings on floorboards usually are usually general wear and tear, but badly scratched floorboards could mean that the tenants are liable.

Can a bond refund request be made prior to the tenancy ending?

A bond refund should be completed when the tenancy agreement has ended, after the final inspection.

Does my tenant need to approve the claim?

The bond refund needs to be agreed upon by all parties before it can be paid out.

If all parties cannot agree within 28 days of submission, the bond release will lapse and the process will need to begin again or you can apply for a court order via the magistrates' court.

If a dispute goes to court at the end of a tenancy, the magistrate will decide on how the bond money will be paid back.