Articles on: Landlord questions

How to lodge the bond in VIC

In Victoria, you collect the bond form the tenant and then lodge through RTBA Online. You create an Electronic Bond Lodgement, add each tenant with a unique email, and they confirm via email/SMS (no paper forms). After all tenants confirm, RTBA debits the bond from your nominated account and emails everyone the bond receipt/number. If you collected the bond yourself, you must lodge within 10 business days of receiving it.

Authority/portal: Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA Online)

Phone: 1300 137 164

Register: https://rentalbonds.vic.gov.au/PropertyManager/Account/Register

Before you start

Signed tenancy agreement (start date, rent, bond amount).
Each tenant’s full name and unique email address (for verification).
Your bank account details (RTBA debits the bond after tenant confirmation; ensure funds are available).
If you’ve already taken the money from the renter, diarise the 10 business day deadline to lodge.

Exact steps

Register / log in to RTBA Online as a rental provider (landlord).
From your dashboard, start Electronic Bond Lodgement and enter property details (address, start date, rent, bond).
Add tenant(s) with their full name and unique email; enter each person’s bond contribution if splitting.
Submit the lodgement. RTBA sends each renter an email/SMS to confirm their details (this replaces paper signing). If a renter doesn’t respond within ~14 days, the lodgement cancels and all parties are notified — you can re‑start it.
After all renters confirm, RTBA debits your nominated bank account automatically (avoid overdrafts; make sure funds are in the account).
RTBA processes lodgements the same day or next business day and emails the bond receipt with the bond number to you and the renters (by law, the receipt with the bond ID is issued within 7 days).

Timing & compliance

If you receive the bond from the renter, you must lodge with the RTBA within 10 business days.
Electronic lodgements are paperless and supported by electronic funds transfer (RTBA Online).

Keep for your records

Bond number/receipt email, tenancy agreement, and condition report.
Transaction/Electronic Transaction Number (ETN) during lodgement, if shown — once registered, the ETN may no longer be valid but the bond number will be in the receipt.

Where to get help

Consumer Affairs Victoria guidance on lodging bonds with the RTBA
RTBA support: 1300 137 164.

Updated on: 17/09/2025

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