How long does my landlord have to give back my bond in the ACT?
In the ACT, your landlord does not hold your bond, so there is no set timeframe for them to return it. The ACT Revenue Office holds it. You can claim your bond refund directly from them the moment your lease ends without waiting for your landlord's permission.
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How it works in practice
Understanding Bond Refunds in the ACT
In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), landlords and real estate agents do not physically hold your rental bond. By law, all bonds must be lodged with the ACT Revenue Office. Because of this, there is no specific countdown or deadline for a landlord to "give back" your money.
Instead, the power to initiate a bond refund rests with you. The moment you hand back your keys and your tenancy officially ends, you can submit a bond refund claim directly through the ACT Revenue Office portal. You do not need to wait for your landlord to invite you to claim it or approve it first.
What Happens After You Claim
Once you submit your refund request, the ACT Revenue Office will notify your landlord or property manager. If they agree with your claim, the money is typically released to your nominated bank account within a few business days.
If the landlord believes you owe money for unpaid rent, damage, or cleaning, they have 14 days to formally dispute your claim. To stop your refund, they must lodge an application with the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT). If they do nothing within those 14 days, the ACT Revenue Office will automatically release the bond to you in full.
Important exceptions
If you share the property with other tenants (co-tenants) and are the only one moving out, you cannot use the standard bond refund process. Instead, you must complete a "Condition of Premises and Change of Tenant" form to transfer your share of the bond to a new incoming tenant or have the remaining tenants buy you out.
Additionally, if your landlord has already submitted a claim to take money from your bond before you do, you will receive a notice from the ACT Revenue Office. You then have 14 days to formally dispute their claim through ACAT, or the money will be released to the landlord.
What you should do now
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Ensure your tenancy has officially ended, all personal belongings are removed, and you have returned the keys to the landlord or agent.
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Gather evidence of the property's condition, including timestamped photos, videos, and a copy of the completed final condition report.
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Visit the ACT Revenue Office website and log in to the Rental Bonds portal to submit your bond refund claim directly.
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Monitor your email closely for any notifications from the ACT Revenue Office regarding your landlord's response or potential disputes.
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Apply directly to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) if your landlord unfairly attempts to claim your bond and you cannot reach an agreement.
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