Who holds your bond
Each state and territory runs its own scheme: NSW Fair Trading, the Victorian RTBA, the Queensland RTA, Consumer and Business Services in SA, the Bond Administrator in WA, the MyBond service in Tasmania, and the relevant offices in the ACT and NT.
Bonds are not held by your landlord or agent, so a business closing down does not affect your entitlement.
How to find an old bond
Start with the state where you rented, not where you live now. Our state pages link straight to the correct bond authority for each jurisdiction.
Have the rental property address, the approximate dates of the tenancy and, if you have it, the bond number from your lodgement receipt.
Where a bond stayed unclaimed for long enough, it may have been transferred to the state's general unclaimed money register instead - so search that register too.
Getting it paid out
You will need identity documents and bank details, plus evidence of the tenancy such as a lease, a receipt or the condition report.
If a co-tenant is listed on the bond, most authorities notify them before releasing funds, and each tenant claims their own share.
Tip: You'll usually need the property address and your former agent's details.
Common questions
Official sources
This guide is based on the official Australian registers and the bodies that administer them. Always search and claim through these sites directly - they are free.