What is a bond and how does it work?
A rental bond is a security deposit paid at the start of a tenancy. It protects you (the landlord) against unpaid rent, damage beyond fair wear and tear, or other breaches of the agreement. The bond is separate from rent and, in most jurisdictions, is held by a government authority until the tenancy ends (the NT is different — see below).
Does PropertyNow collect or manage the bond?
Yes, PropertyNow offers on-platform bond collection for our Rental Management subscribers in all states except Tasmania. If you use this feature, we will create a payment request in your tenant's PropertyNow account and transfer the funds directly to you. Please keep in mind that while we facilitate the collection, you are still responsible for officially lodging the bond with your state's relevant authority. If you aren't a Rental Management subscriber, or if your property is in Tasmania, we don't collect the funds in-platform, but we provide detailed guidance for off-platform collection every step of the way (see below guides).
Rest assured, you can do this — even if you’ve never lodged a bond before! With the right links and details provided in your account, most online lodgements take just 10–20 minutes.
How paying the bond works (state snapshot)
Where your state supports it, the cleanest and safest option is to have the tenant pay the bond directly to the government bond authority via the official online portal/invite. This keeps funds out of private accounts and gives everyone immediate receipts and a bond number.
Specific guides for how to lodge the bond in each state
PropertyNow tip: Don’t hand over keys until the bond (and typically the first rent) is paid and you have the bond number or official receipt.
Must I lodge the bond?
- Yes — in all states/territories except NT. You must lodge the bond with the government bond authority via the official portal/forms. Penalties apply for failing to lodge on time.
- NT only: No central authority. You must hold the bond in trust in a compliant NT bank/ADI/statutory account and provide receipts/records.
Updated on: 02/03/2026
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