Online Bond Lodgement

Changes to Queensland rental laws came into effect from 6 June 2024. Further changes began on 30 September 2024. Learn more.

Bulk Bond Lodgement Web Service now available

You can now use the Bulk Bond Lodgement Web Service to lodge and pay for multiple bonds in one transaction. The Bulk Bond Lodgement Web Service can be used by joint lessors and managing parties acting on behalf of an organisation (eg. agents).

You can use the RTA’s Bond Lodgement Web Service to lodge or increase your rental bond online. A rental bond is a security deposit paid at the start of the tenancy.

If you are lodging or increasing a bond online for the first time, please refer to our helpful resources below.

Note: for the best user experience, the RTA recommends using a browser other than Internet Explorer to access Web Services.

Before you begin, you will need:

Tenants

your QGov login details (or create a QGov account)
your rental property address
the date of the last rent increase
names and unique email addresses for all tenants
your credit/debit card for payment or use BPAY
details of your managing party, including their address, email and contact number
your bond number (for bond increases only).

Managing parties

your QGov login details (or create a QGov account)
the rental property address
the date of the last rent increase
names and unique email addresses for all tenants
your credit/debit card for payment
the property's bond number (for bond increases only).

If you are a joint lessor, or acting on behalf of an organisation, you will also need:

your organisation/joint lessor partnership's RTA ID number
the main registered email address, which the RTA uses for communicating with your business/joint lessor partnership.

We recommend having a copy of the tenancy agreement available for reference, as this contains information you will need to successfully complete the Web Service.

Note: If you do not have Australian-issued identification and cannot verify your identity through QGov, you can use the RTA’s paper Bond lodgement form and post it to the RTA. The RTA cannot verify your identity on behalf of QGov.

Rent increase requirements do not apply to exempt property managers/owners or exempt providers. The Act provides definitions for an exempt property manager/owner and an exempt provider.

The requirement to provide evidence of a rent increase does not apply if the premises is purchased within 12 months of commencement, and the property manager/owner does not have information about the date of the last rent increase. For more information, please visit our Rent increases webpage.

Remember: It is an offence for a person to knowingly give the RTA documents that contain false or misleading information. This applies to all forms of written communication to the RTA, not just submitting online forms. It also applies to anyone who provides information to the RTA, not just tenants/residents and property managers/owners.

By submitting information through RTA Web Services to the RTA, you affirm that, to the best of your knowledge, the information provided by you through this Web Service is accurate and truthful and you confirm that the document is not false or misleading in any material particular. 

Information on QGov, including how to create a QGov account, is available on the RTA's Understanding QGov page.

Helpful resources

For tenants

Quick guide to lodging or increasing a single bond online, for tenants

For managing parties

Quick guide to lodging or increasing a single bond online, for property managers/owners

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the new rule regarding the maximum bond amount?

From 30 September 2024, the maximum bond allowed to be taken is equivalent to 4 weeks' rent, regardless of the weekly rent amount. It is a breach of the Act to take a bond exceeding four weeks' rent, with a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units.

Bond lodgement

Lodge a paper Bond lodgement (Form 2) form:

Ensure you tick the box to receive notifications via email
This will enable the RTA to email you throughout your tenancy, including important documentation. Otherwise, you will receive these documents by post
If the RTA is to post documentation, you will receive by post your Acknowledgement of Rental Bond. This letter contains your bond number. Use the bond number when contacting the RTA.

Completing a Bond lodgement paper form provides you with the same service as if you had used RTA Web Services to submit an online form.

If you were wanting to respond to a lodgement email (RTA email with a link), the RTA will issue you with an Acknowledgement of Rental Bond letter to confirm your lodgement details. This will be posted if you are not able to access RTA’s Web Services.

Acknowledgement of Rental Bond letter will contain your bond number
Use this bond number when contacting the RTA.

Alternatively, you can complete a paper Update your details form:

Ensure you tick the box to receive notifications via email
This will enable the RTA to email you throughout your tenancy, including important documentation. Otherwise, you will receive these documents by post.

Contact the RTA to ensure we have the right contact details and bank details on record for you.

You do not need to access RTA Web Services for your bond lodgement to be processed. The RTA will post confirmation of your bond lodgement.

Completing an Update your details paper form provides you with the same service as if you had used RTA’s Web Services to respond to an email link.

QGov

What is QGov and how does it work?

To use RTA Web Services you will need to verify your digital identity through the Queensland Government's secure QGov service.

Information on QGov, including how to create a QGov account, is available on the RTA's Understanding QGov page.

What you need to complete this Web Service?

What is an RTA ID and where can I find mine?

Only joint lessors and organisations are assigned an RTA ID, which is a unique customer number used for transacting with the RTA and accessing RTA Web Services as an organisation or joint lessor. The RTA will have sent your RTA ID number to your organisation's email address registered with the RTA. You should keep this number secure.

Not sure what your RTA ID is? Contact us for assistance Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 5pm, (excluding public holidays).

One or more of the bond contributors does not have an email address. What happens now?

All bond contributors need a unique email address to access RTA Web Services. If one or more bond contributor does not have an email address, please use the paper Bond lodgement form.

I’m lodging a bond or a bond increase as a joint lessor, what is my registered email address?

Your registered email is the main address the RTA uses for communicating with your organisation/joint lessor partnership. You will need to provide this email address to use the Bond Lodgement Web Service.

Are signatures required to submit a digital form using RTA Web Services?

No, signatures are not required for using Web Services as your digital identity is verified through QGov. Digital ID verification is a substitute for your signature on a paper form and helps keep your online transactions with the RTA secure.

I’m lodging a bond increase, what is my bond number and where can I find mine?

If you are doing a bond increase through the Bond Lodgement Web Service, you will need to know your bond number. You do not need a bond number of you are lodging a new bond.

A bond number is a unique number (maximum of nine-digits) allocated to your bond at the time of lodgement.

If you are lodging a bond increase, you can find your bond number on your Acknowledgement of rental bond, which was sent to you when your bond was paid to the RTA. Joint lessors, agents, student accommodation providers and other property managers working on behalf of an organisation, can access the RTA's Bond Search Web Service to search and view details of active bonds you manage.

Not sure what your bond number is? Call our Contact Centre for assistance on 1300 366 311 Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 5pm, (excluding public holidays) or contact us.

I'm lodging a bond increase on behalf of an organisation or as a joint lessor. I've received an error message saying the RTA does not have my email address. What should I do?

For security reasons, joint lessors and organisations must provide the RTA with an email address before using Web Services. This should be the main email address that your business/joint lessor partnership wants to use to transact with the RTA. You can register your email address with the RTA by completing the Update your details paper form and emailing a signed copy to bonds@rta.qld.gov.au (<5MB), or by posting the form to the RTA at GPO Box 390, Brisbane Q 4001.

Joint lessors can also register their email address with the RTA by contacting us Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 5pm, (excluding public holidays).

Where a property is new to the market (rented out for the first time), how can a managing party/owner lodge the bond using RTA Web Services?

When lodging a bond online using RTA Web Services, a property manager/owner will be requested to provide the date of the last rent increase on the property. In the instance of a property being new to the market, including where an owner is no longer occupying the premises and is now renting the property for the first time, the date of the last rent increase is the date of the start of the agreement.

Tenants can ask for evidence of the date of the last rent increase if they have concerns about compliance with the legislation. Under the Act, an owner is deemed to have evidence of the last rent increase if they or their agent (e.g., real estate agent, property manager, lawyer, etc.) has this information in their possession or control.

The RTA recommends that property managers/owners communicate in writing to the tenant if they cannot provide the date of the most recent rent increase at the beginning of a tenancy, including the reason why that information cannot be provided. If the issue cannot be resolved through self-resolution, customers may request dispute resolution through the RTA, or a tenant can request an investigation by the RTA.

Help completing the Bond Lodgement Web Service

How do I pay for a single bond or a bond increase online?

You can pay your bond with a credit or debit card, or via BPAY. If you choose to pay via BPAY, you will be provided with a biller code and a customer reference number during the payment process.

An Acknowledgment of rental bond will be sent to all parties once the payment has cleared.

Payments by credit/debit card will generate a real-time payment receipt which can be used to confirm your bond has been lodged, prior to receiving your official Acknowledgement of rental bond from the RTA.

If you pay by BPAY you will not receive a receipt at the time of payment. Confirmation of payment from your online banking may be acceptable as proof of payment, prior to receiving your official Acknowledgement of rental bond from the RTA. However, this should be discussed between the relevant parties.

Please note: BPAY payments may take longer that debit/credit payments to clear. Visit BPAY for more information.

Who is a bond contributor?

A bond contributor is anyone who:

has paid an amount towards the bond and
is listed on the bond by the RTA.

Bond contributors are usually tenants but may also be someone who has paid the bond on a tenant’s behalf. All bond contributors should be listed on the bond lodgement. The RTA will only be able to discuss the bond with listed bond contributors and the property manager/owner.

How do I increase the bond if the rent goes up during a tenancy?

The online Bond Lodgement Web Service can facilitate bond increases. As you fill out the Bond Lodgement Web Service, you will be given the option to select whether you want to lodge a new bond or a bond increase.

I have a bond loan - can I lodge or increase a bond online?

You can’t submit a bond lodgement via Web Services if you have a bond loan, refer to our bond loan webpage for more information.

Can I use RTA Web Services for bulk bond lodgements and payments?

Yes. Joint lessors and managing parties acting on behalf of an organisation (eg. agents and student accommodation providers) can use the Bulk Bond Lodgement Web Service to lodge bonds in bulk and pay for them in one easy payment, via BPAY.

Do I need to complete every field to be able to submit a digital form in Web Services?

No, not all fields are compulsory. Mandatory fields are marked with an asterisk and you cannot proceed if these fields are left blank. The RTA only collects information we require to complete the relevant tenancy transaction.

I have submitted a digital form using RTA Web Services but I didn’t receive a confirmation email from the RTA – what do I do?

You should receive a confirmation email from the RTA within 30 minutes of submitting your form. Please check your spam or junk email inbox in the first instance. If you do not receive a confirmation email from the RTA after submitting your digital form:

phone the RTA on 1300 366 311 Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 5pm, (excluding public holidays)
email helpdesk@rta.qld.gov.au.

What’s the session timeout length when using Web Services?

For security purposes, your Web Services session time is limited to two hours. After this time has elapsed you will be automatically logged out. For this reason, we recommend you periodically refresh your browser if you need to gather information before returning to complete and submit your digital form.

When I’m completing a digital form, can I save my progress and return later?

When using RTA Web Services, your information will be automatically saved as you progress through the digital form. If you leave the form before submitting it, you will be able to either continue where you left off, or start a new form. Please note, we can only store partially completed forms for seven days.

What happens once a bond has been lodged via RTA Web Services

After lodging a bond online, how will I be notified it was successful?

The Acknowledgement of Rental Bond will be emailed to you when the payment has cleared. This email will include a bond number to confirm the lodgement has been successful.

Your bond number is unique. You will be required to provide this number when transacting with the RTA, so please keep this number secure.

If a tenant lodges and pays the bond online, how will the property manager/owner be notified?

The property manager or owner will receive an Acknowledgement of Rental Bond, containing the bond number and details of the related property, when the payment has cleared.

I received an Acknowledgement of Rental Bond, but the other parties did not – what should I do?

Where an individual has registered through QGov, and/or provided consent to receive notices by email, the RTA will email a copy of the Acknowledgement of Rental Bond to their registered email address once the payment has cleared.

Where an individual is unregistered and/or has not provided consent to receive notices by email, the Acknowledgement of Rental Bond will be posted and will therefore take longer to arrive.

Encourage other parties to consider whether they have consented to email notices, check spam or junk email inboxes and confirm the information provided to the RTA was accurate.

If contact details are not correct, then they, or you, can update them online using our Update Your Details Web Service or the Update your details paper form. You can also contact the RTA Contact Centre for help.

Contact us

Who can I contact for support?

You can call the RTA Contact Centre (please select the Web Services hot button) Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 5.00pm, (excluding public holidays) or email helpdesk@rta.qld.gov.au. You can learn more about rental bonds here.

Residential Tenancies Authority

RTA Web Services