At the end of a tenancy in TAS, 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.

You can use the online service MyBond to start a bond claim within 3 working days of receiving the keys from the tenant.

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

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.

Typically, 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 Claim through the MyBond Online
Once you have submitted the claim, the tenant will be notified via MyBond with details of the claim.

Getting Started on the Bond Return - Via MyBond

Log in to MyBond to start the refund process

Once a bond claim has been submitted by the landlord/rental provider, the tenants will be notified with the details and have 10 days to either approve or dispute it.

If the tenant doesn’t respond within 10 days, the system may proceed with the payout as claimed.

Once the claim is approved, the bond is paid out by the Rental Deposit Authority into the bank account details provided in MyBond. Typical bank processing takes about 3–5 days.

Tip: To make the process easier, tenants and the rental provider should discuss and agree on how the bond will be paid out before lodging a refund request.

What happens if there's a dispute?

After you submit a claim, if the tenant disagrees with the claim, the matter becomes a dispute, and must be resolved through the Residential Tenancy Commissioner.

You’ll have to upload evidence via MyBond and may receive a determination on how the bond is distributed.

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?

Either the managing party (Landlord/Rental Provider) or a bond contributor (Tenant) can request a bond refund depending on the circumstances. The managing party must start a bond claim within 3 working days of receiving the keys from the tenant.

If you don’t start a claim on time, you must contact the tenant and let them know why you haven’t lodged it yet and when you intend to do so. If it's been 3 working days and the tenant has not received any communication, they may start the process themselves.

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

There are rules about what can and can’t be claimed from a tenant’s bond. See the Guide to the Residential Tenancy Commissioner (PDF, 988.2 KB).

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 are typically 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?

The claim process can only be started once the tenant has vacated the property and returned the keys and must be started within 3 working days after the tenant has handed back the keys.

Does my tenant need to approve the refund?

Yes. After you submit a bond claim through MyBond, your tenant is notified and must either approve or dispute it. If they approve, the Rental Deposit Authority releases the funds as claimed.

If they disagree with the claim, it becomes a dispute that is assessed by the Residential Tenancy Commissioner, who reviews evidence from both sides and decides how the bond should be distributed. If the tenant doesn’t respond within the allowed timeframe, the claim may proceed without their approval.

If you intend to claim to deduct funds from the bond, you will need to ensure you have sufficient evidence to support your claim. This could include things like cleaning invoices, photos from the condition report, or any other relevant documentation relating to your claim.