Useful Contacts for Bond Disputes in Queensland
If your bond is being held over a cleaning dispute, these are the organisations that can help. All of the advice and dispute resolution services listed here are either free or low-cost. You do not need a lawyer for most bond disputes in Queensland.
For a full walkthrough of the process, read our guide to getting your bond back or our bond dispute guide.
RTA (Residential Tenancies Authority)
Holds all Queensland rental bonds in trust. Handles bond lodgement, refund processing (Form 4), and free dispute conciliation (Form 16). Your first point of contact for any bond-related issue.
QCAT (Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal)
If RTA conciliation fails, QCAT makes a binding decision on how your bond is split. Filing fees are modest (under $100 for most bond disputes) and fee waivers are available. No lawyer required — most tenants represent themselves.
QSTARS (QLD Statewide Tenant Advice and Referral Service)
Free, confidential tenancy advice for all Queensland renters. Funded by the Queensland government and delivered by Tenants Queensland. Call them before lodging anything if you are unsure of your rights or next steps.
Tenants Queensland
Statewide advocacy and advice organisation for Queensland renters. Provides legal information, factsheets, and resources on tenancy rights including bond disputes, fair wear and tear, and entry condition reports.
ABN Lookup
Verify that a cleaning business has a valid, active Australian Business Number before you book. Any legitimate cleaning business will have an ABN. If they don't, move on.
The easiest way to avoid a bond dispute?
Hire a professional bond cleaner with a written guarantee. If the agent flags anything, the cleaner comes back and fixes it at no extra cost. Browse Brisbane bond cleaners by suburb and compare Google reviews.