Bond claim process - Hobart

Recently reviewed the bond claim process for Hobart IPs and it seems as though it favours the tenant. In other states, the bond comes straight back to the PM to manage as they see fit (damages, cleaning paid for etc). In Tasmania, the PM and tenant must agree to how the bond funds will be distributed prior to the bond being released.

As the flowchart states
http://www.consumer.tas.gov.au/__da...nd_Disputes_Processes_FLOWCHART_version_2.pdf , if the tenant has done a runner and/or doesn’t agree to sign the form stating how the bond funds will be used, the residential tenancy commissioner determines how the bond funds will be distributed (taking some time, and with all the associated appeal processes etc).

If damages/cleaning etc is to be taken from the bond, these services must be completed and paid for prior to submitting the claim, and if approved the bond will reimburse these costs.

Has anyone else gone through a bond process for their Hobart IP? How did the process go for you if the tenant disagreed with the bond claim process or wasn’t present to sign the bond claim form?

Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading : Claiming the bond

 

The process looks the same as it generally is in every state. Bond can only generally be disposed either by consent or by court/tribunal order.

If a tenant wants to dispute the claim, then off to tribunal it goes. If the tenant does a runner, some attempts are generally taken to notify the tenant, before it being dealt with in their absence.

 

None of my other IPs have ever required the tenant's signature on a bond claim form. 2 of my previous tenants have done runners and the PMs simply claimed the bond and paid for repairs and cleaning from the bond.

Tasmania has been the only state that requires the tenant's signature agreeing to how the bond funds will be used at the end of the tenancy.

 

Well the part where the tenants did a runner makes it a bit hard to collect their signature. So the part that you probably didn't see the PM do was the part where he or she followed the process to serve or notify the tenants before being able to access the bond.