Articles on: Landlord questions

How to lodge the bond in NSW

In NSW you use Rental Bonds Online (RBO). You register once with Service NSW, then from your RBO dashboard you invite tenants to pay the bond direct to Fair Trading by BPAY, Visa or Mastercard. After payment, you’ll see a “Finalise the bond” task — completing this allocates the bond number and emails receipts to both parties. If you’ve already collected the money yourself, you must lodge it within 10 working days.

Authority/portal: Rental Bonds Online (RBO) — NSW Fair Trading.

Register: [RBO for self‑managing landlords]()

Help: 1800 990 724 • RBOsupport@customerservice.nsw.gov.au (site access/support) • rboregistration@customerservice.nsw.gov.au (registration queries)

Before you start

Your tenancy agreement (start date, rent, bond amount).
Each tenant’s unique email and mobile number.
Confirm the tenant is happy to use RBO (they’ll need internet, email, mobile, and a payment method).
Your proof of identity as listed on the RBO landlord/owner registration form.

Legal notes (plain English): You must offer RBO as the first option. You cannot require a tenant to use RBO — doing so can attract a $2,200 fine. If a tenant chooses paper or can’t access RBO, you must lodge using the approved form and keep to the 10‑working‑day deadline when you hold the money.

Exact steps

Create your RBO account (one‑off)

a. Download the Landlord/Owner POI & registration form.

b. Take the completed form and original ID to a Service NSW Centre.

c. Fair Trading emails your Landlord Code and activation link when processed.

Check your tenant is ready for RBO

Confirm they have internet, a mobile, an email address, and can pay by BPAY or card. If they’re new to RBO, share the official RBO for tenants page.

From your dashboard choose Create/Lodge a bond, enter property, tenancy and bond details, and add each tenant with a unique email.

Invite tenants to pay Fair Trading directly

RBO emails/SMS each tenant a secure link to create their RBO account and pay. You’ll see status updates as each payment lands.

Finalise the bond

When payment shows as received, complete the “Finalise the bond” task on your RBO homepage. RBO then allocates the bond number and emails receipts to you and the tenant(s).

If you collected the bond yourself

Lodge via RBO (or the paper form available through RBO) within 10 working days of receiving the money. Provide the tenant a receipt or note payment on the tenancy agreement and give them a copy.

Keep for your records

RBO bond number and email receipts.
Condition report and tenancy agreement.
Any paper lodgement form and proof/date of submission (if used).

Updated on: 17/09/2025

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