How to Lodge a Rental Bond in the ACT

The 14-Day Clock Starts at Receipt or Tenancy Start, Whichever Is Later

Private lessors in the ACT have exactly two weeks — 14 calendar days — from the day they receive a bond payment (or from the tenancy start date, whichever comes later) to lodge it with the ACT Revenue Office. Licensed agents get 28 days. Miss that window and you're looking at a strict-liability offence under Section 23 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997, carrying up to 20 penalty units.

The deadline isn't flexible. Weekends and public holidays don't pause it, and "I didn't know" isn't a defence.

What You Need Before You Log In

The ACT Revenue Office processes bond lodgements through the Rental Bonds Portal. Before you start, gather:

• An ACT Digital Account — if you don't have one, register at Access Canberra first. Joint owners nominate one principal lessor to manage the portal record.
• Property details — dwelling type, number of bedrooms, and full street address.
• Tenancy details — commencement date, weekly rent, and total bond amount.
• Tenant contact information — a unique mobile number and email address for each tenant. The portal rejects duplicate emails across tenants, so each person needs their own.

Have everything ready before you begin. The portal doesn't save drafts — if your session times out, you start over.

The Lodgement Process Step by Step

1. Log in to the Rental Bonds Portal with your ACT Digital Account credentials.
2. Enter the property and tenancy data. Double-check the weekly rent figure — this is what determines the maximum legal bond (four weeks' rent).
3. Enter each tenant's details. The system sends each tenant an automatic notification, so the contact information must be correct.
4. Generate the payment reference. The portal gives you a unique payment reference number plus dedicated BSB and account numbers.
5. Transfer the bond. The tenant (or you, if paying on their behalf) makes an EFT using the payment reference as the transaction description. Credit cards and BPAY aren't accepted.
6. Wait for clearance. Funds typically take 7 to 14 days to reconcile. Once they clear, you and every listed tenant receive a Bond Lodgement Receipt and unique Bond Number by email.

Keep that Bond Number. You'll need it for every future bond action — refund applications, co-tenant changes, dispute filings.

Common Portal Pitfalls

Session timeout: The portal requires single-session completion. If you stop halfway to find a missing detail, you'll likely need to re-enter everything.

Wrong payment reference: If the EFT goes through without the correct reference, the Revenue Office can't match the payment to your lodgement record. Reconciliation delays can push you past your 14-day deadline.

Duplicate email addresses: Two tenants sharing one email address causes a hard rejection. If a couple shares an inbox, one needs to create a separate address for the lodgement.

Post-submission corrections: Once a lodgement is submitted, you can't edit it online. Any error requires contacting the Rental Bonds Office directly at (02) 6207 0028 or emailing [email protected].

When Paper Forms Still Apply

The physical Tenant Bond Lodgement Form is available for landlords who can't access the online portal. Post it to PO Box 293, Civic Square ACT 2608, or email it to [email protected]. Paper forms require physical ink signatures — electronic signatures are rejected. Given the processing lag, starting early is critical to meeting the 14-day window.

Get the Full Compliance System

The lodgement is just the first step. Condition reports, mid-tenancy changes, end-of-tenancy deductions, and dispute procedures all carry their own deadlines and evidence requirements. Our ACT Rental Bond Guide walks you through every stage with dated checklists and fillable worksheets, so nothing slips through.

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