From 13 October 2026, Victorian rental providers and agents must give renters at least 3 days’ notice and documentary evidence before making a bond claim. A claim lodged without evidence can be rejected, and the provider can be fined. Here is what the new rules mean for your bond, and how to protect it.
Written by Metecan Kalkan, founder of OneDrop FM (ABN 74 499 285 939), a Melbourne cleaning company. We do bond cleans across Reservoir, Brunswick, Port Melbourne and more than 20 other suburbs. Last updated: 14 October 2026.
What Changes on 13 October 2026?
From 13 October 2026, a rental provider or agent who wants to claim part of your bond must notify you first and supply documentary evidence at least 3 days before lodging the claim. The change comes from the Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 and is designed to cut down on claims made without proof. (Sources: RACV and Tenants Victoria)
In short: as of 13 October 2026, your agent cannot quietly lodge a claim against your bond. They have to show their cards first.
What Counts as Evidence for a Bond Claim?
Evidence means documents that show both the reason for the claim and the cost of fixing it. Typical examples:
- Photos of the damage or missed cleaning
- The ingoing and outgoing condition reports
- Quotes or invoices for repairs or cleaning
- Receipts
Bond and compensation applications lodged with VCAT from 13 October 2026 must have this evidence uploaded at the time of application through the myVCAT portal. An application submitted without evidence will be rejected and cannot be reinstated. (Source: REIV)
This is why your condition report matters so much. The agent’s claim is compared against it. If the claim conflicts with the condition report, the claim can fail.
What Happens if an Agent Claims Without Evidence?
A rental provider or agent can be fined if they make a bond claim without evidence. This is the part of the new rules that has teeth. Renters have long complained about claims that arrive with no proof: small cleaning deductions that nobody can verify, “damage” that matches normal wear. From 13 October, that kind of claim has nowhere to go. (Tenants Victoria)
What Stays the Same for Renters?
The new rules change the claims process, not the cleaning standard. These rights are unchanged:
- “Reasonably clean” is still the standard. Victorian law requires you to leave the property reasonably clean. Your agent cannot demand a professional standard unless your lease says so. (RACV)
- Fair wear and tear cannot be charged to you. Scuffed paint from normal living is wear and tear. A filthy oven is not.
- You can dispute an unfair deduction. If you and the agent disagree, VCAT can decide.
- You can pay your bond directly to the RTBA. This was already possible; it is now the law. You tell your provider you want to pay the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority directly, and the RTBA emails you to accept the lodgement. (Tenants Victoria)
- Portable bonds. Since 1 July 2026, you can transfer your bond to a new property instead of paying a second one while you wait for a refund. (Premier of Victoria)
How to Protect Your Bond Under the New Rules
The new rules help honest renters, but your best protection is still your own paper trail. Do this before every move:
- Keep your ingoing condition report. The agent’s evidence is judged against it.
- Take date-stamped photos before and after you clean. Photos are the evidence that wins disputes.
- Keep your cleaning receipt. Most leases expect proof of professional carpet cleaning, and a tax invoice backs up your claim that the place was cleaned.
- Book a cleaner with a written re-clean guarantee. If the agent flags anything, a free re-clean within 48 hours fixes it before it becomes a claim.
- Claim your bond promptly. If nobody contests it, the bond is paid according to your claim.
OneDrop FM does bond cleans across Melbourne with a fixed written quote, a tax invoice for your REA, and a free 48-hour re-clean if your agent flags anything. Call 0402 160 946.
Victoria Bond Rules FAQs
Does the new rule stop agents claiming my bond?
No. It forces them to show evidence first. A claim backed by photos, the condition report and quotes can still proceed. What stops is the claim with nothing behind it.
When does the 3-day notice start?
The provider must notify you and supply the evidence at least 3 days before lodging the bond claim. The claim cannot be lodged until that notice period has run.
Can I still dispute a claim I think is unfair?
Yes. You can dispute it through VCAT, and a claim lodged without evidence will be rejected outright.
Do the new rules change how clean I have to leave the place?
No. The standard is still “reasonably clean” under Victorian law. The change is about the claims process: notice, evidence, and penalties for claims without proof.