Rental Deposit Authority Tasmania: How MyBond Works for Landlords

What the Rental Deposit Authority Does

The Rental Deposit Authority (RDA) operates under Section 48K of the Residential Tenancy Act 1997 as the custodian of all residential tenancy bonds in Tasmania. Every security deposit paid by a tenant must be held by the RDA — not in the landlord's bank account, not in the agent's trust account, and not in cash in a drawer.

The RDA administers bonds through MyBond, a digital portal where landlords and agents lodge, manage and claim against security deposits. It's strictly a financial holding authority: the RDA doesn't enforce minimum standards, inspect properties, or get involved in repair disputes. Those sit with the Residential Tenancy Commissioner.

Bond Lodgement Rules

The rules are tight and non-negotiable:

• Maximum bond: 4 weeks' rent. You cannot charge more regardless of the property value, the tenant's history, or any other factor.
• Lodgement deadline: the bond must be lodged with the RDA via MyBond within 3 business days of receiving it from the tenant.
• Private holding is prohibited: keeping a bond in your personal account — even temporarily, even "until I get around to lodging it" — is an offence carrying up to 50 penalty units ($10,650 at the current FY 2026–27 rate).

For self-managing landlords, the 3-business-day clock starts when the money hits your account or is handed to you. Don't treat it as rent or operating capital. Lodge it immediately.

How MyBond Works

The lodgement process is online:

1. Create an account on the MyBond portal (if you don't have one)
2. Enter the tenancy details — property address, tenant name, bond amount, tenancy start date
3. Pay the bond into the RDA's designated account
4. MyBond issues a receipt to both you and the tenant confirming the lodgement

At the end of the tenancy, both parties submit a claim through MyBond specifying how the bond should be divided. If both agree, the payout is straightforward. If there's a dispute, it goes to the Residential Tenancy Commissioner for determination.

End-of-Tenancy Bond Claims

This is where most landlord-tenant friction occurs. The process:

1. Both parties inspect the property against the outgoing condition report
2. The landlord submits a bond claim through MyBond — specifying the amount to be returned to the tenant and any amount claimed for damage, unpaid rent or cleaning
3. The tenant either agrees or disputes the claim
4. If agreed, MyBond processes the payout
5. If disputed, the matter goes to the RTC for a binding determination

The strength of your bond claim depends on your evidence. The ingoing condition report, dated photographs from move-in, routine inspection records and the outgoing condition report together form an evidence package. Dated photographs serve as primary evidence in bond disputes, alongside the condition reports.

The statutory timeline matters: the ingoing condition report must be provided to the tenant in duplicate on or before the day they collect keys. The tenant has 2 business days to annotate and return one copy. Both parties keep their signed copies alongside dated high-resolution photographs.

Common Bond Mistakes

Missing the 3-day deadline. The clock is 3 business days, not 3 calendar days. But don't cut it fine — lodge on day one.

Lodging the wrong amount. The bond must match what's stated in the tenancy agreement. Discrepancies create problems at the claim stage.

No condition report photos. A condition report without photos is a summary of opinions. Photos with dates are evidence. The RTC weighs photographic evidence heavily in bond disputes.

Claiming for fair wear and tear. Carpet wear from ordinary use may be fair wear and tear; compare the ingoing and outgoing condition reports and photographs before making a claim. Overstating claims can weaken your position on items that are legitimate.

Confusing the RDA with the RTC. The Rental Deposit Authority holds the money. The Residential Tenancy Commissioner resolves disputes about how that money is split. They're different bodies with different functions.

Protecting Yourself

The bond system rewards documentation. A complete ingoing condition report with dated photographs, consistent routine inspection records, and an outgoing report with comparative photos provide evidence for legitimate claims.

Our Rental Minimum Standards in Tasmania guide includes a condition report photography guide and a pre-tenancy document assembly checklist covering the bond lodgement timeline alongside every other disclosure requirement.

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