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The short answer
In all three states the bond is held by a state body, not the landlord: NSW Fair Trading in New South Wales, the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority in Victoria and the Residential Tenancies Authority in Queensland. Your landlord or agent lodges it, you should receive confirmation from that body, and at the end you claim it back through the same body. Check each body's page for the current maximum and lodgement deadline.
In much of Nigeria, money paid at the start of a tenancy goes to the landlord or agent and you rely on them to return any caution deposit. Australia's large states work differently. The bond is security for the landlord, but the money is held by a state body for the length of the tenancy, and neither side can simply keep it at the end. Understanding that changes how you pay it and how you get it back.
Who holds the bond in each state
| State | Body that holds bonds | What to look for on its site |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | NSW Fair Trading | Maximum bond, lodgement deadline, claiming online |
| Victoria | Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) | Lodgement, bond receipt, claim and dispute route |
| Queensland | Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) | Bond limits, lodgement form, refund process |
How lodgement works in practice
- You sign the agreement and pay the bond as the agent directs. Ask how it will be lodged and with which body.
- The landlord or agent lodges the bond with the state body. Ask whether the body's own online service is used and whether you will be asked to confirm anything there.
- You receive confirmation from the state body, usually by email or letter, showing the amount and a bond number. If you have not received it within a few weeks, contact the body yourself with your address and agreement.
- Keep the confirmation with your agreement and condition report for the whole tenancy.
Pay the bond only into a channel the agent names in writing, and be suspicious of a request to send it abroad or to a personal account. A bond paid in cash without a receipt is hard to trace if it never reaches the state body.
Paying the bond as a new arrival
Timing is where newcomers come unstuck. Commonwealth Bank, for example, lets migrants open an account up to 14 days before arrival or within 12 months after, but says purchases and withdrawals are not possible until identity is verified at a branch, which must happen within 20 days (page updated 23 October 2026). If your bond and first rent are due in your first week, verify your account first or arrange another way to pay.
If the money is coming from Nigeria
Transfers from Nigeria take time and pass through an exchange rate. Move the funds ahead of signing rather than on the day, and keep the transfer record. See our guide to converting naira savings into Australian dollars for how the costs work.
Worked example (illustrative only)
Suppose an agent asks for a bond equal to four weeks' rent at A$600 a week, plus two weeks' rent in advance. That is A$2,400 bond and A$1,200 rent, A$3,600 in total due before you get the keys. The A$2,400 goes to the state body; the A$1,200 is rent. These figures are an example only; the maximum bond allowed in your state is on the state body's page.
Getting the bond back when you move
At the end of the tenancy the bond is released through the state body. Usually you and the landlord agree how much goes back to you, a claim is made with the body, and the money is paid out. If you disagree about deductions, the state body's page explains the dispute route in that state; do not let a deadline pass while you negotiate.
- Do a careful exit inspection and photograph each room, matching your entry condition report.
- Clean to the standard in your agreement; many disputes are about cleaning.
- Do not sign a claim form with blank amounts.
- Give the body an Australian account for the refund that will still be open after you move.
- Update your address with every provider. Moneysmart says defaults on utility bills stay on a credit report for five years, and a final bill sent to a flat you have left is a common way to get one.
If you are leaving Australia
Leaving the country is the riskiest time to claim a bond, because you may be gone before the refund is paid. Start the claim before you fly, keep an Australian account open to receive it, and leave a forwarding email with the body. Leaving also raises superannuation questions; see claiming your super back after leaving Australia.
Where Pryme fits
The bond is an Australian matter handled through Australian accounts. Pryme sits on the Nigerian side: if you are moving savings from naira to pay your first bond and rent, Pryme shows the rate and the fee before you approve any conversion or transfer. See sending money and Swap, and our guide to renting with no local history.
Questions people ask
Does the landlord keep my bond in NSW?
No. In New South Wales the bond is held by NSW Fair Trading, not the landlord. Check its page for the current maximum and deadline.
What is the RTBA in Victoria?
The Residential Tenancies Bond Authority holds rental bonds in Victoria and releases them at the end of the tenancy.
Who holds bonds in Queensland?
The Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA). Bond refunds are claimed through it.
How do I get my bond back if I leave Australia?
Start the claim before you leave, keep an Australian account open for the refund and leave contact details with the state body.
Sources
- Commonwealth Bank: Moving to Australia (updated 23 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Moneysmart (ASIC): Credit scores and credit reports (updated 9 Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.