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Free instant analysis — no sign-up

Is your landlord keeping
bond money they shouldn't?

Our engine checks every deduction against your state's tenancy law, ATO depreciation rules, and market rates.

Check your bond — free

Takes 2 minutes · Based on your state's Residential Tenancies Act

How it works

Three simple steps to find out what you're owed

Enter your deductions

Tell us what your landlord is claiming — cleaning, carpet, painting, fees. Add evidence details for a deeper analysis.

Get your free analysis

See which deductions are lawful, which are unlawful, your evidence strength, and your recommended next step — all free.

Get your dispute package

Unlock a formal demand letter with exact law references, depreciation figures, market rate evidence, and a tribunal guide.

See it in action

Here's how Sarah got $2,220 of her bond back

Real example

Sarah's landlord claimed $2,400 from her bond after a 3-year tenancy in Melbourne. Here's what our engine found:

Professional cleaning — $450
Unlawful. No cleaning clause in lease. Tenant cleaned before vacating.
+$450
Full carpet replacement — $1,200
Unlawful. Carpet was 8 years old — fully depreciated under ATO rules. Max claimable: $0.
+$1,200
Wall repainting — $600
Partially unlawful. Condition report noted pre-existing marks. Proportional claim: $180.
+$420
Admin fee — $150
Unlawful. Admin fees are prohibited under the VIC Residential Tenancies Act.
+$150
Total recovered
$0 of $2,400

What we check

Every deduction runs through 6 layers of analysis — the same checks a tenancy lawyer would do, instantly.

State tenancy law

Checked against the Residential Tenancies Act for your state, with exact section references.

ATO depreciation

Carpet, paint, blinds all have a legal lifespan. We calculate the exact remaining value.

Procedural failures

Missed deadline? No condition report? Grounds to dispute the entire claim.

Market rate check

Compared against current Australian market rates. Inflated quotes get flagged.

Counterclaim detection

Failed repairs or unlawful entry? You may be owed money back.

Evidence scoring

Strength score 0–10 per deduction, so you know what to gather.

How depreciation shrinks your landlord's claim

Items have a legal lifespan — the older they are, the less your landlord can claim

Carpet
2 yrs left
$120
Paint
4 yrs left
$340
Blinds
Past lifespan
$0
Blinds past their 5-year lifespan = landlord can claim $0
Check your bond — free

Covers all states and territories

Legislation-specific analysis for wherever you rent

NSWVICQLDSAWATASNTACT
6
layers of analysis per deduction
568K+
bonds refunded nationally each year
95%
of disputes settle before tribunal
$0
upfront — free analysis, pay only if you proceed

Free analysis vs full report

See what's included at each level

FREE
6checks
Quick snapshot
Know where you stand
✓Verdict per deduction
✓Evidence score (0–10)
✓Total disputed amount
✓Procedural issues
✓Counterclaims
✓Next step recommendation
FULL REPORT — $29
14checks
Dispute-ready package
Everything to get your bond back
✓Everything in free
✓Demand letter (exact RTA refs)
✓ATO depreciation figures
✓Market rate comparisons
✓Evidence checklist
✓Tribunal application guide

Your dispute journey

From analysis to resolution — we guide every step

📋

Free analysis

See what’s unfair

📝

Send letter

Formal demand with law refs

⏳

Landlord responds

7–14 days to respond

✅

Bond returned

Settle or escalate

What renters are saying

Real stories from Australian renters

“

I didn’t know my landlord couldn’t charge for 8-year-old carpet. Got $1,800 back.

★★★★★
👤
Sydney renter · NSW
“

The demand letter was so detailed my landlord returned the bond within 3 days.

👤
Melbourne · VIC
“

I had no idea they missed the 14-day deadline. That one fact won my whole case.

👤
Brisbane · QLD

Common questions

We don't just check one law — we run 6 layers of analysis. We calculate ATO depreciation to the dollar, compare invoices against Australian market rates, detect procedural failures your landlord made, identify counterclaims you may not know about, and score your evidence. A lawyer would do the same checks — we do it in 2 minutes.
Fair wear and tear is the normal deterioration that occurs from everyday living. Scuff marks on walls, worn carpet from foot traffic, and faded paint are all fair wear and tear. Your landlord cannot deduct for these under the Residential Tenancies Act in your state.
The Australian Tax Office sets effective life spans for rental property items. Carpet lasts 10 years, paint 7 years, blinds 5 years. If your carpet was 8 years old when you moved in, your landlord can only claim a fraction of the replacement cost — or nothing at all. We calculate the exact figure using the prime cost method.
If your landlord doesn't respond to your demand letter, you can escalate to your state's dispute resolution body. We provide a step-by-step guide specific to your state, including the process, filing fees details and deadlines.
Australian tenancy tribunals are designed for everyday people without legal representation. Our dispute package gives you everything you need: the demand letter, evidence checklist, and step-by-step tribunal application guide for your specific state. However, for complex cases or if you are still not sure, you can opt to go with a lawyer.
The free analysis is instant. If you send a demand letter, give your landlord 7–14 days to respond. If you need to go to tribunal, hearings are typically scheduled within 4–6 weeks.
No. ClaimMyBond is an information service that helps you understand your rights under your state's tenancy law. For complex disputes or large amounts, we recommend contacting your state's tenant advice service or a solicitor.

Guides

Learn about your rights, depreciation rules, and how to dispute unfair deductions.

Depreciation

Carpet & Paint Depreciation

The depreciation rules that limit what your landlord can claim from your bond.

Deductions

Cleaning Charges on Your Bond

When professional cleaning deductions are lawful — and when they're not.

Tribunal

How to File at NCAT

A step-by-step guide to filing a bond dispute at the NSW tribunal.

View all guides →

Find out what you're owed

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Check your bond — free