Smart Rental Bonds have now helped more than 1,800 NSW households move over $5 million worth of rental bonds, according to the NSW Government, which says the figures cover the month since the scheme went statewide on 16 September.
How a bond follows you to a new home
Under Smart Rental Bonds, a renter can transfer an existing bond to their next rental instead of paying a second bond upfront. The NSW Government says the scheme is optional, and that a transfer is a private transaction between the renter and the Government. Renters do not have to tell a landlord or agent on a rental application how they plan to pay.
The steps on the NSW Government’s page run like this:
- The renter tells the landlord or agent for the new home that they have an existing Rental Bonds Online account.
- The landlord or agent submits a pending bond lodgement, and the system emails the renter a unique code.
- The renter logs in to Rental Bonds Online, enters the code and chooses to transfer their bond.
- The renter pays a $25 administration and processing fee, plus any extra money if the new bond is higher than the original.
If the new bond is lower, the renter gets the difference back, provided there is no agreed claim on the original bond. The Government says renters are expected to save up to $4,000 each time they move.
Who can use Smart Rental Bonds, and who cannot
To use Smart Rental Bonds, a renter needs to be moving between two rental homes in NSW, with the same tenants, and have an existing bond linked to a Rental Bonds Online account. They must leave the old property within four weeks of entering the new one, be over 18, and be a natural person rather than a company.
The page lists several cases where the scheme cannot be used. They include a claim already in progress on the bond, share house members moving to different houses, a transfer not completed within four weeks of moving in, a RentStart bond loan with money still owing to Homes NSW, money owed to the Government from an earlier transfer, and retail bonds.
What happens when a landlord makes a claim
The Government says landlords face no financial risk. If there is an agreed deduction on the original bond, it is paid to the landlord or agent, and the renter later repays the Government. Where the remaining original bond is less than the new bond, Revenue NSW issues an invoice that must be paid within 28 days, or recovery action starts.
The NSW Government says nothing changes for landlords and agents. They are not notified when a renter transfers a bond, and dispute processes through the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal stay the same.
The numbers so far
The figures below come from a ministerial release published on 15 October, so they are the Government’s own and have not been independently checked.
- More than 1,800 households have transferred over $5 million in bonds since the statewide launch.
- Renters in the Central Coast local government area account for one sixth of all transfers.
- Parramatta, Penrith, Blacktown and Cumberland have seen over $1 million in bonds transferred into or within them.
- More than 95 per cent of transferred bonds have had no claims made against them. The Government paid the remaining five per cent and invoiced the tenants.
The Government says about 330,000 renting households move each year, and most tenancies last less than two years.
From three pilot areas to the whole state
Smart Rental Bonds began in Penrith, Parramatta and the Central Coast in August, and almost $1 million in bonds had been transferred by 16 September. The Government then rolled the scheme out across NSW, which it said was months ahead of schedule.
Renters with questions about Smart Rental Bonds can contact NSW Fair Trading on 13 32 20, between 8:30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Related: Renters in NSW will be able to transfer bonds online for a $25 fee
General information only, not legal advice. Check the official source before acting.
Sources: NSW Government, 15 October 2026; NSW Government, 16 September 2026; NSW Government Smart Rental Bonds page.
