How to Lodge a Rental Bond in Western Australia

The 14-Day Deadline

Under Section 29 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 (WA), every landlord or property manager who receives a security bond must lodge the full amount with the Bond Administrator within 14 calendar days. The clock starts on the day the funds hit your bank account — not the day the tenancy begins.

If the tenant pays in instalments, each portion must still be lodged within 14 days of receipt. Missing this window may trigger a $2,000 infringement notice or a court fine of up to $20,000. Consumer Protection monitors compliance through portal tracking and trust account audits.

Step 1: Issue a Receipt Immediately

The moment you receive bond funds, you must give the tenant a written receipt. For a private landlord, the receipt must include:

• Date the funds were received
• Full names of all tenants who paid the bond
• Total amount received
• Pet bond amount (if applicable)
• Full address of the rental property

If you manage through a licensed agent, the receipt must be headed "Trust Account Receipt" and include the agency's registered business name, agent-in-charge name, receipt number, date received, full tenant names, exact amount, and payment purpose.

Step 2: Choose Your Lodgement Channel

Private landlords in WA have two approved paths to lodge the bond.

BondsOnline (digital) — Register for a DLGIRS MyAccount, verify your property ownership through Landgate title matching, and set up direct debit. Once registered, the entire lodgement happens electronically. This is the faster route if you're comfortable with online portals.

Manual forms — If you prefer paper, use the DLGIRS online form creator to generate a PDF with an embedded QR code. Print the form, have all lessors and tenants sign it by hand, then submit it through the Bonds Upload portal, by post, or in person at a DLGIRS office in Perth (140 William Street) or Cannington (303 Sevenoaks Street).

Licensed real estate agents must use BondsOnline — paper forms are only accepted with a written explanation of exceptional circumstances.

Step 3: Wait for Confirmation

After lodgement and clearance of funds, the Bond Administrator sends a Record of Payment of Security Bond (the bond certificate) to all tenants and lessors listed on the form. If you haven't received this within one month of lodging, call the Bonds Team on 1300 853 829 to check the status.

Submitting the form alone does not complete lodgement — the funds must clear and be accepted by the custodian.

Common Mistakes That Delay Lodgement

Using an outdated form. The Bond Administrator rejects old or unapproved form versions. Always download the current form from the Consumer Protection website or use the online form creator.

Mismatched names. The names on the lodgement form must exactly match the tenancy agreement. A mismatch between the form and the lease triggers a manual review that can push past your 14-day window.

Holding funds in a personal account. Some first-time landlords assume they can keep the bond in their own savings account. Under WA law, the Bond Administrator is the statutory custodian — bonds held privately are unlodged, and the landlord is in breach.

Never Backdate a Lodgement

If you miss the 14-day deadline, lodge immediately. Late lodgement exposes you to an infringement fine, but backdating receipt dates or altering submission documents is treated as fraudulent conduct — carrying higher penalties (up to $5,000) and serious damage to your credibility in any future dispute.

For the complete lodgement walkthrough — including the BondsOnline registration steps, the Landgate title verification process, and a lodgement tracking template — the Rental Bonds in Western Australia guide covers everything from first receipt to the bond certificate.

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