The state government is changing the law to introduce a new Portable Rental Bond Scheme and help do away with the ‘double bond’ payment phenomenon.
Consumer Affairs minister Nick Staikos introduced the Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 on 15 October, which will establish the scheme, and allow renters to transfer their existing bond directly to their new rental property.
More than 736,000 households are expected to benefit from this change, which eases the cost of moving by removing the financial burden of paying a second bond before the first one is refunded.
Under the scheme, renters will be able to apply online to port their existing bond across to their new home.
The government will guarantee the existing bond amount in advance to the original rental provider until the tenancy is wrapped up and the bond claim process is finalised.
If a rental provider’s claim for a bond is successful, the renter will owe the money not to the rental provider but to the government, and will need to pay it back up front or in stages.
The bill will also deliver further protections to make renting fairer and rental properties safer, including:
– Requiring rental providers and their agents to provide renters with documentary evidence to support a bond claim three days before the claim can be lodged.
– Requiring rental providers and their agents to provide supporting documentation when making an application for a bond claim to VCAT Banning the extra fees that get charged when you pay your own rent – including on ‘rent tech’ apps.
– Requiring rental providers and rooming house operators to keep records that demonstrate their property meets the mandatory minimum standards.
– Expanding gas and electrical safety checks to apply to all residential rental agreements, regardless of when a rental agreement was started.
– Ensuring the health and safety of renters by requiring gas checks are undertaken prior to draughtproofing activities in residential rental properties so gas appliances operate safely.
