Important Bond Information o4916

RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES BOND AUTHORITY IMPORTANT BOND INFORMATION Receipts issued by the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) show the current bond and party details ed with the RTBA as at the date shown on the receipt. You should retain the receipt and store it in a safe place until the bond is repaid

ABOUT THE RTBA

CLAIMING THE BOND

The RTBA is an independent agency of the Victorian Government responsible for receiving, ing and repaying bonds on all residential tenancies within Victoria. The RTBA holds bonds in trust for all the parties to the bond (tenants and landlord/agent).

By Agreement

TELLING THE RTBA ABOUT CHANGES The RTBA must be told about any changes to the parties to the bond, otherwise the RTBA may not be able to repay the bond. The RTBA is only permitted to repay bond money to landlords/agents and tenants who are ed with the RTBA as the parties to the bond.

Change of tenant Whenever a tenant enters or leaves the tenancy, a Tenant Transfer must be completed and sent to the RTBA within 5 days of the change. The transfer requires the signature of all of the outgoing, continuing and incoming tenants, and the landlord/agent. Tenants or landlord/agents who do not complete and send a Tenant Transfer to the RTBA may be fined.

Change of landlord or agent If a new landlord/agent takes over the property, the old and new landlord/agent must complete and sign an Agent/Landlord Transfer, and send it to the RTBA within 5 days of the transfer. The new landlord/agent must give the tenant a copy of the completed and signed form. If a landlord/agent does not send an Agent/Landlord Transfer to the RTBA or fails to give the tenant a copy of the advice, the landlord/agent may be fined.

When a tenancy ends, the landlord/agent and tenant should attempt to agree about how the bond will be divided among them. After agreement is reached, all parties are to complete a Bond Claim and send it to the RTBA. All tenants and the landlord/agent ed with the RTBA for that bond must sign the claim form or approve the equivalent electronic transaction. The claim cannot be processed if any signatures are missing or different to the signatures on the Bond Lodgment or subsequent transfer forms. The whole bond must be claimed. The RTBA does not make part repayments of a bond except when directed by Victorian Civil and istrative Tribunal (VCAT).

By VCAT Order If the landlord/agent and the tenant cannot agree as to how the bond should be divided, either the landlord/agent or tenant can apply to VCAT to settle the dispute. After hearing the application, VCAT may make an Order directing the RTBA to repay the bond and who should receive what amount of money. To claim a bond that is the subject of a VCAT Order, send the RTBA a completed Bond Claim form with a copy of the entire VCAT Order attached.

Loans from the Director of Housing If this bond was provided as a loan from the Director of Housing (DoH), the DoH Loan number should form part of the bond record. Please the RTBA if the DoH loan number is not printed on the front of this acknowledgement.

If a landlord/agent changes their details, they must advise the RTBA. Please the RTBA for further information.

At the end of the tenancy, the RTBA must repay all of the loan to the DoH unless there is a VCAT Order directing repayment of all or part of the bond to the landlord/agent.

RTBA ONLINE

Method of Repayment

RTBA Online is an internet facility where any party to a bond can review the status and history of the bond, and initiate lodgments, transfers, and claims, and find an outstanding bond repayment. Log onto rentalbonds.vic.gov.au or follow the link from rtba.vic.gov.au.

If the RTBA approves a Bond Claim, individual repayments will be made to each payee according to the following hierarchy:

PRIVACY

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The RTBA is bound by laws that protect your privacy concerning the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information. Where required or allowed by law, we may disclose the information to other State and Commonwealth governments or agencies. You can request access to your personal information by ing the RTBA.

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Directly into a bank , if valid bank details are available, signatures can be matched, and there are no amendments on the form to this information; or By cheque to the payee’s forwarding address; or Retained by the RTBA pending receipt of appropriate repayment details.

If you do not receive the repayment you were expecting, please the RTBA.

TENANCY AND BOND ADVICE For issues involving bonds, the RTBA. For general tenancy advice and information on dispute resolution, visit the Consumer Affairs Victoria website at consumer.vic.gov.au and follow the links to renting

THE RTBA MAIL

TELEPHONE

Residential Tenancies Bond Authority Locked Bag 007 WENDOUREE VIC 3355

1300 137 164 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday (except public holidays)

EMAIL [email protected] RTBA15 Bond Receipts 2 December 2015 email.docx

INTERNET rentalbonds.vic.gov.au