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Queensland bond guide

Queensland bond refunds: respond to the RTA claim before the deadline.

Queensland rental bonds are administered by the Residential Tenancies Authority. Non-agreed refunds can move from a Notice of Claim to RTA dispute resolution and, if unresolved, QCAT.

Reviewed 2 October 2026Official sources checkedLocal process, not generic advice

Location check

This page is for Queensland.

Rental bond processes are not interchangeable between Australian jurisdictions. Use the rules and authority for the place where the rental is located.

Current local process

A Notice of Claim gives notified parties 14 days to respond. If a claim is disputed in that period, the RTA places the refund on hold and refers the matter to dispute resolution.

Queensland requires the property manager or owner to provide supporting evidence to the tenant or resident within 14 days when making a bond claim or disputing a refund request.
  1. Check the refund requestReview the proposed distribution and the reasons for any deduction.
  2. Respond to the Notice of ClaimThe RTA gives notified parties 14 days to agree or dispute the claim.
  3. Use RTA dispute resolutionA disputed claim is held while the RTA offers its conciliation process.
  4. Know the QCAT stepIf conciliation does not resolve a bond dispute, the RTA issues a Notice of unresolved dispute. The initial dispute applicant can then apply to QCAT, with a short deadline for bond matters.

Keep evidence tied to each disputed item

A long camera roll is harder to use than a record that shows where each image belongs and what amount or issue it relates to. Keep original files as well as any PDF summary you create.

  • Entry condition report and Exit condition report
  • photos from comparable rooms and angles
  • supporting invoices, receipts and quotes
  • rent and utility records where relevant
  • written communication about the disputed amount

A photo or PDF does not guarantee an outcome. The relevant authority or tribunal decides what evidence means in the particular matter.

The starting condition record still matters

Bond disputes often make more sense when the move-out condition can be compared with the documented starting condition. Use the local condition-report guide before relying on another jurisdiction's terminology.

Queensland condition-report guideMove-out checklistTenant evidence guide

Official sources for Queensland

Checked on 2 October 2026. Administrative steps and forms can change, so open the current authority page before acting.

Questions renters ask

Does BondProof replace the official bond refund process?

No. Use the official service, forms, notices and tribunal process. BondProof organises a separate photo and PDF record.

Should I edit my old move-in record when I move out?

No. Keep the starting record intact and create a separate later record so the dates and differences remain clear.

Room by room, not buried in a camera roll

Keep the condition record readable before a dispute starts.

BondProof creates organised rental PDFs from photos and notes. Android in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

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