Bond Return And Tenants Rights In Perth: A Complete Guide

landlord giving the property key to the tenants

Bond Return And Tenants Rights In Perth: A Complete Guide

By : Georgia
Living in a rental property in Perth has its perk as you can reside in a well-connected area close to the Central Business District, in the catchment zone of good schools and modern amenities. What’s more, when you rent a home, you can choose to live in a house that meets your requirements and pay feasible rent. Getting a real estate for lease in Perth is easy and quick, but there are things every seasoned tenant or new lessee should know, especially if you are planning to move. Besides creating your budget, finding a suitable home, researching vacate cleaners in Perth, etc. – you should know about bond, tenant rights, and more. Thus, here is your complete guide outlining information regarding your rights as a lessee, bond, its payment, claiming bond refund and much more. Have a look.

Bond and its Lodgement

People who have rented a home before in Perth know bond is a security deposit submitted by a tenant at the start of a tenancy. This amount is lodged with the Consumer Protection’s Bond Administration (WA) by the landlord within 14 days of receipt through a form that contains all the details of the bond payer(s). Once lodgement is complete, the payer(s) receives a payment record via email and/or SMS. According to Western Australia’s Department of Mines, Industry Regulation, and Safety, the bond amount should not be more than four times a tenant’s weekly rent unless the rent is over $1200/week. Also, if you have a pet that can carry parasites, then payment of a pet bond of no more than $250 may be required. If the bond is paid through assistance via the Housing Authority, then the amount is a personal loan the authority gives the tenant for renting a home in the private sector. This amount should be treated as any other person’s bond and lodged with the Bond Administration. Note: Make sure you get a bond payment receipt and keep it for the record when you have to claim the refund. Also, as a tenant, it’s imperative you know that bond replacement products are not legal in Western Australia. You should not fall for claims by property owners/manager for cheaper alternatives to rental bonds.

Rental Bond Refund (Claiming Bond Repayment)

The rental bond payment tenants make at the start of a tenancy is refundable and should be returned to the payer(s) after your hired vacate cleaners in Perth have deep cleaned the property and the final inspection is complete. Other conditions of bond refund are mentioned as follows.
  • Both involved parties, i.e. the tenant and the landlord, should agree on the amount to be refunded. It can be the full amount or a sum after deductions for damages or inadequate cleaning. To get your rental bond back in full, make sure you hire professional vacate cleaners in Perth to thoroughly and adequately sanitise the property.
  • The Disposal for Security Bond (Joint Application) form should be signed by both parties and submitted to the Bonds Administration. It can be submitted via post, email, or in person.
  • If a licenced property agent is filing for security bond disposal, then he/she has to make an eTransaction using the BondsOnline System.
  • Before a request for bond repayment is made, it is essential tenant has no outstanding rent.
  • Besides having the signature of both parties, the security bond refund form should have correct and verifiable details.
  • In case of a dispute, it is recommended the lessor and lessee resolve the matter in person. For example, suppose the property is not in the same pristine state as per the original condition report. In that case, the lessee should hire professional vacate cleaners in Perth to sanitise the property. It is especially important if professionals cleaned the real estate before the property was occupied by the tenant.
  • When the parties cannot resolve the dispute, the matter can be settled by the State Administrative Tribunal or a magistrate.

Tenant Rights

When a rental agreement is signed between a landlord and a tenant, both parties have rights and responsibilities. For the smooth running of the tenancy, the lessee must know he/she has the following rights.
  • Receive a copy of the lease agreement with all necessary information.
  • Have a neat, clean, and liveable property at the time of occupancy. If the property was previously occupied by a tenant, the property should be cleaned by that lessee while moving out or have it cleaned by professional vacate cleaners in Perth, as per agreement with the property owner/manager.
  • The property should be empty and without occupants when your tenancy starts.
  • Bond lodgement should be done with the Bonds Administration (WA) according to the Residential Tenancies Act.
  • The landlord should share an original condition report stating any damage, repairs, or other necessary information. Tenants who pay bond have the right to edit this report before signing in case there is anything amiss.
  • Tenants also have the right to get rental receipts if the rent is not submitted directly in a bank account.
  • If there is no emergency, the landlord has to inform the tenant at least 72 hours before accessing the property for repairs. Additionally, the tenant has the right to get 14-days’ notice before an inspection.
  • It is reasonable for the tenant to expect the completion of repairs is done within a stipulated time.
  • The responsibility of repairs falls on the landlord, but the tenant has to pay for it if the damage was caused due to his/her fault or negligence.
  • Tenants should receive notice of at least 30 days by the landlord for termination of tenancy.
  • In case the landlord needs to increase the rent, the tenant should be informed 60 days before.

The Bottom Line

Moving out of a rental property and getting your bond back in full can be managed successfully by being aware and taking necessary measures. Therefore, use this guide to know what a bond is and how it is lodged. Also, learn about conditions for bond repayment and your rights as a tenant. Armed with all this information, you can have a comfortable and smooth tenancy, and when it is time, you can end the lease agreement without any hassle or stress.