Do not pay a bond until your loan is approved. We cannot refund the bond amount once it's been paid to the residential rental provider or agent (except in special cases).
To find out if you are eligible, see RentAssist bond loan eligibility.
When should I apply?
You can apply after you have lodged an application with your residential rental provider or estate agent for a property.
How do I apply?
You can apply by yourself, as a couple or as part of a shared household.
Online application
You can apply for a bond loan online using the RentAssist bond loan through myGov:
- Go to the myGov website and sign in to your myGov account. If you don't have one, you'll need to create a myGov account (it should only take a few minutes)
- Pick 'HousingVic online services' in myGov's 'Services' section - this will link it to your myGov account
- Open HousingVic online services and select 'RentAssist Bond Loan application’.
You can use one online bond application to apply on behalf of all household members who are part of the tenancy and wish to apply for a bond loan.
Once you have filled out the online application and attached any documents needed, you will be sent a confirmation email to your email address.
Paper application
Fill in an Application for a bond loan (.docx)
Only one bond loan application form is needed for a property. Each member of your household applying for the bond loan must agree to repay the loan and take part in any legal proceedings about returning the bond money.
If more than three household members are applying and you are using a paper application, fill in an Additional bond loan applicants form (.docx) as well.
They must fill in the section in the application about the property you will rent.
If your residential rental provider does not use a real estate agent, they must also confirm they own the property or give us permission to check this with the local council.
You will need to include documentation with your bond loan to prove your bond loan eligibility. This will include proof of identity documents and documentation to show that you are within the income and asset limits.
The information that you provide in your bond application is the minimum needed to determine eligibility. For more details about how your information is used, refer to Privacy impact assessment (.docx).
What happens next?
If your bond loan is approved
We will tell you when your loan is approved and will email the bond loan voucher directly to the residential rental provider or real estate agent.
This voucher acts as a lodgement form and is to be provided to your agent or residential rental provider who will use this to lodge the bond with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority.
If your bond loan application is declined
If you are unhappy about our decision, you have the right to appeal. See Appeal a decision for more information.
What if I need help?
If you need more information or have questions about a bond loan, contact your local office.