Landlords have been taking tenants for a ride with many renters losing more than $2000 to their bond at the end of their lease, often for unreasonable claims.
Recent data from the Tenants Union of NSW has revealed that more than one in ten tenants (13 per cent) are losing their entire bond at the end of the tenancy and its costing them on average $2,314.
That’s after staying in their home for an average of 1 year and 9 months.
Almost one quarter of renters in NSW are losing part of their bond, which is a staggering average of $813.
Tenancy experts say many of those claims could be unreasonable as well – but with a fear of not being able to secure another rental haunting tenants or not knowing their tenancy rights – leaving renters feeling powerless.
Only 63 per cent of renters lost no rent at all, in a state where there are over 2 million renters.
Some areas were also more likely to lose their bond according to the data.
Residential Tenancies Authority recorded the most common reasons why bonds were claimed from Queensland residents.
Cleaning was cited as the top reason, with almost one quarter of claims (22 per cent) in the December quarter of 2025.
Many renters were loosing all or parts of their bond, often to unreasonable claims.
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Other reasons included repairs (16.4 per cent), rent (17 per cent), water charges (13.5 per cent).
The reasons for claims varied drastically. One Australian tenant said they had been charged $250 for a tiny chip in a kitchen bench while another claimed they were charged $380 for scuff marks on the floors.
One tenant said their landlord wanted to keep $825 of a landlord’s tenant over a bizarre list of reasons including “dust behind the fridge”
A small chip that was going to cost a tenant $250. Photo: Supplied
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The renter was furious after receiving an itemised list of why almost half the tenants bond was being withheld.
The landlord claimed it was “standard end of tenancy deductions. Very normal.”
One of the listed reasons was “flattened carpet fibres,” as reported in the Daily Mail.
The rest of the list included $80 for a loose light switch, $110 for limescale in the kettle, $110 to repaint a scuffed wall and $44 for dust behind the fridge.
How to dispute unfair bond claims
Tenants could dispute bond claims in Australia in their state’s respective tribunal.
NSW Tenants Union Policy and Advocacy Manager Eloise Parrab said bond dispute claims was the number one reason renters went to tribunal.
“Anecdotally we know from advising tenants, that when there is a full bond claim by the landlord when they get that scrutiny and looking at the evidence (in tribunal) vs. whether its fair wear and tear, that’s not something the tenant is responsible for and often that means the tenant is successful.
Campbelltown, Fairfield and Liverpool LGAs were among the most common for tenants to lose their bond.
Many tenants who were loosing their bonds were not getting their refund due to not knowing their legal tenancy rights.
“Just because the landlord has claimed their bond, the rental bond is the tenants’ money and it should be returned to them,” Ms Parrab said.
“(Agents / landlords) need to have the evidence and often they don’t,” she said.
“The other thing is depreciation is something that tenants often don’t know about. For example carpet has a 10 year life span – if there is a mark on the carpet then that could be general wear and tear.”
Tenants’ Union of NSW Policy and Advocacy Manager Eloise Parrab. Picture: supplied
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Other items included fair wear and tear included faded curtains, furniture indents on carpet, scuffed wooden floors, cracked paint, worn paint at light switch or water stains from leaking roof or bad plumbing.
Ms Parrab said tenants had many “very real concerns” when it came to disputing their bond
“They are concerned that if they dispute their claim they will be listed on a rental data base. A tenant disputing a bond claim is not a reason to be listed, so we can give people confidence in that regard,” she said.
Other reasons tenants often kept quiet was worrying that it would affect their ability to secure their next rental.
“There is that concern that a new agent could get into a conversation over the phone with an old agent. It shouldn’t be that way but we do know that does happen.”
There were actions renters could take as soon as they moved in including taking photos of the property with the date in the corner and take notes of any marks on walls, missing keys or other issues that you notice around the property.
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