Residential Tenancy - Possession and Compensation (Rental Provider) - Victoria - Bond and Compensation Claim - End of Tenancy (s 419A and s 210)

How long does a rental provider have to apply to VCAT for the bond?: A residential rental provider, renter or other person with an interest in a claim for the bond may apply to the Tribunal for an order requiring the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority to repay the bond, and the application must be made within 14 days after the residential rental agreement has terminated (s 419A(1) and (2) Residential Tenancies Act 1997). The Tribunal may order repayment to any party of an amount not exceeding the bond held (s 419A(3)).

Jurisdiction: VCAT Residential Tenancies List (monetary limit $40,000 under s 447). For claims exceeding $40,000, the matter must be filed in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria (limit $100,000) or the County Court of Victoria.

The Process at a Glance: After the tenancy ends, conduct an outgoing inspection and compile the outgoing condition report, date-stamped photographs, and rectification quotes or invoices. Compare the outgoing report against the ingoing condition report. Give each renter notice of the intended bond claim with the bond claim evidence (invoices, receipts, quotes or photographs that do not conflict with the condition report) at least 3 business days before lodging the claim, and start the RTBA Online claim within 14 days of the agreement ending. If the renters do not accept, make a VCAT application for a bond repayment order within 14 days after the residential rental agreement terminates (s 419A(2)), with the bond claim evidence attached; a compensation claim under s 210 is lodged through Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV). Share the application and evidence with the renter. Compile the paginated evidence bundle. Attend the VCAT hearing.

Key Legislation and Case Law: Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (VIC) s 447 (VCAT monetary limit $40,000), s 411 (claims to the RTBA; under s 411(1A) and (1B), in operation from 13 October 2026, the rental provider must give each renter bond claim evidence at least 3 days before a claim for repayment to the rental provider is made, and that evidence must not conflict with the condition report), s 419A (application to the Tribunal for a bond repayment order - must be made within 14 days after the agreement has terminated, and a rental provider's application must be accompanied by bond claim evidence), s 210 (compensation for loss or damage caused by a failure to comply with the agreement or with duties under the Act), s 213B (compensation after a possession order for unpaid rent - within 28 days after vacant possession), s 61 (renter's duty not to damage), s 63 (renter's duty of cleanliness). VCAT fees: no fee is payable to commence a proceeding under Part 10 of the Act (bonds) or an application dealt with as an RDRV proceeding, unless the RDRV proceeding is notified as unsuccessful, when the commencement fee is 11.7 fee units (corporate), 3.9 fee units (standard) or nil (concession) (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Fees) Regulations 2026, Schedule 2, items 20 and 21). Bond is held by the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA). Bond disbursement requires either mutual consent (RTBA Online bond claim) or a VCAT bond order.

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