What Is the Portable Rental Bond Scheme?
The Portable Rental Bond Scheme launched in Victoria in July 2026 as part of the Allan Labor Government's rental reforms. It allows renters to transfer their existing bond held by the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) directly to their next tenancy, without having to pay a new bond upfront while waiting for the old one to be returned.
Before this scheme, moving between rentals in Victoria often meant having two bonds tied up simultaneously - the old one waiting to be released and the new one already paid. For a Melbourne renter paying average rent, that could mean $4,000 or more locked up for weeks. The portable scheme eliminates that.
The Victorian Government confirmed the scheme is live with a $25 transfer fee. Renters apply online through vic.gov.au/portable-bonds. The government guarantees the existing bond amount to the outgoing landlord until the tenancy is finalised and the bond claim process is complete.
How the Portable Bond Transfer Works
Find your new rental property
Secure your new tenancy in the usual way. When you are ready to pay bond, apply to port your existing bond rather than paying a fresh one.
Apply online at vic.gov.au/portable-bonds
Submit your application through the Victorian Government portal. The $25 processing fee applies. You will need details of your current tenancy and your new tenancy.
Government guarantees the outgoing bond
While the transfer is processed, the government guarantees the bond amount to your outgoing landlord. This means your old landlord is covered while you move, and you are not out of pocket for a second bond.
Bond transfers to the new tenancy
The RTBA transfers the bond to your new tenancy. The amount is confirmed with your new landlord. Any top-up required (if the new rent is higher) must be paid separately.
Old tenancy bond claim resolved separately
Your outgoing landlord still has the right to make a bond claim for the old tenancy through the standard RTBA process. This is resolved separately from the transfer.
What the Portable Bond Does NOT Change
The portable bond scheme changes when you pay - not what you can be charged for. Your outgoing landlord still has full rights to make a bond claim for:
- Damage beyond fair wear and tear
- Outstanding rent
- Professional cleaning if the property was left in significantly worse condition
- Any other legitimate claim under the Residential Tenancies Act
This is the critical point. You still need to document your move-out condition. If your outgoing landlord makes a bond claim and the government has guaranteed the bond amount, the claim process follows the standard RTBA and VCAT pathway. Without move-out photos and a condition report, you have no evidence to challenge a claim.
The portable scheme does not protect your bond from deductions. It only removes the need to pay a second bond upfront. Your documentation at move-out is just as important - arguably more so, because a successful claim may become an amount owed to the State and can affect eligibility for future bond transfers until it is repaid.
October 2026 Bond Evidence Requirements - Also Still Apply
From 13 October 2026, Victorian rental providers must notify tenants in advance with supporting evidence before making any bond claim. This applies regardless of whether the bond was transferred through the portable scheme or paid fresh.
Combined with the portable scheme, this creates a two-layer protection for renters: landlords cannot claim without evidence, and you can transfer your bond without paying twice. But both protections rely on you having documented the property's condition at move-in and move-out.
Document your property before it is too late
10 minutes at move-in or move-out. A timestamped PDF you can use in any dispute.
Get BondProof - AndroidBefore You Transfer Your Bond: Do a Move-Out Inspection
Before you apply to port your bond, complete a thorough move-out inspection with BondProof. This creates a timestamped PDF record of the property's condition at handover - the evidence you need if your outgoing landlord makes a claim on your transferred bond.
If a claim from the old tenancy succeeds after a transfer, the State can pay the claim and the amount may become a repayment owed by the renter. Outstanding debt can affect eligibility for future transfers. A clean move-out record is your protection.
How BondProof Fits Into the Portable Bond Process
BondProof does not replace the RTBA or the portable bond application. It is the documentation layer that protects you at both ends of the move:
- Move-in BondProof inspection at your new property - protects your transferred bond for the new tenancy
- Move-out BondProof inspection at your old property - protects against claims on the bond being transferred
The average renter using the portable scheme will save over $2,500 in double bond costs. Losing even part of that to an undocumented bond claim at the old property is unnecessary. A BondProof inspection takes 10 minutes.