Click on image to view the animated explainer video for Smart Rental Bonds.

12 August 2026

 

THE new rental bond scheme allows renters to transfer their existing bond from one property to the next, eliminating the need to come up with thousands of dollars upfront every time they move home. This is expected to save renters up to $4,000 each time they move home.

 

Minister for the Hunter and Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley said, “More than 15,000 people across the Swansea electorate live in a rental home. During a cost-of-living crisis, every dollar matters and renters shouldn’t be paying for outdated processes that no longer reflect the way people live today.

 

“I took our community’s concerns to Macquarie Street, we listened, delivered and now, alongside banning no-grounds evictions, this change will make a difference to the lives of people here in Swansea.

 

“I encourage all renters to familiarise themselves with these changes and understand the rights and protections now available to them.”

 

Around 330,000 households move each year, with most rental tenancies lasting less than two years, meaning thousands of renters face repeated upfront costs when changing homes.

 

Many renters are forced to spend months saving for another bond before they can move, or take out loans or rely on family and friends if they need to leave unexpectedly because a property is sold or an owner moves back in.

 

As part of the phased rollout, renters moving into or within the Parramatta, Central Coast and Penrith Local Government Areas (LGAs) can now use Smart Rental Bonds. The scheme will be progressively expanded across the state, with all NSW renters expected to have access by the end of the year.

 

Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said that the Government was committed to delivering crucial cost-of-living relief for renters and I’m pleased the Central Coast is leading the first phase of the Smart Rental Bonds rollout.

 

“Saving renters thousands of dollars every time they move is what people in our fast-growing region deserve," Minister Harris said.

 

“I encourage every renter in the Central Coast to learn about, register and use this new system to save money the next time they move home.”

 

Saving renters money

 

Renters in these LGAs are now able to use Smart Rental Bonds through a few easy steps:

 

• Renters will be notified once a landlord or agent lodges a bond request online.

 

• The renter logs onto Rental Bonds Online and chooses to either pay their new bond upfront or use Smart Rental Bonds to move their existing bond to the new property. They will then pay a small fee of $25.

 

• If the new bond is higher than the old one, the renter will need to pay the difference – but if the bond is cheaper, they will get the difference back provided there is no agreed claim on the bond.

 

• If a landlord at the original property makes a finalised claim on a bond, the NSW Government will pay the landlord upfront. The renter will then repay the Government, meaning landlords face no financial risk.

 

This reform delivers on the Labor Government’s election commitment to introduce a portable rental bonds system and provide important cost-of-living relief for renters.

 

Making renting fairer

 

Landlords and agents will also benefit from Smart Rental Bonds because there are no changes to the current bonds process; agents will continue to notify renters there is a new bond to pay via Rental Bonds Online. The process for paying agreed bond claims to the landlord remains the same and the dispute process through the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal will not change.

 

Landlords will continue to be fully protected even when a bond has been transferred through the government-backed guarantee, as the Government will cover any agreed bond claims from the original tenancy, up to the transferred bond amount. This includes instances where a renter leaves the property in a damaged state.

 

This is all part of the State Government’s reforms to make renting fairer. This Government has:

 

• Banned no-grounds evictions.

 

• Limited rent increases to once a year.

 

• Ensured renters have fee-free ways to pay rent.

 

• Banned fees for background checks.

 

• Made it easier to have pets in rentals.

 

Leisl Tesch, Member for Gosford, said that she had often heard from renters in her electorate about the rising cost of living and that she was thrilled theGovernment had delivered some much-needed relief through Smart Rental Bonds.

 

“I encourage all renters in the Gosford electorate to find out how Smart Rental Bonds can save you money the next time you move,” Ms Tesch said.

 

Member for The Entrance David Mehan said, “I’m proud to be part of a Government that has banned no-grounds evictions, limited rent increases to once a year, made it easier to have pets in rentals and introduced fee-free ways to pay rent.

 

“Smart Rental Bonds is yet another example of how the Government is making renting fairer for renters in my electorate.”

 

NSW Rental Commissioner Trina Jones reaffirmed that moving home is already one of life's more expensive and stressful events. "Smart Rental Bonds is designed to reduce that pressure by helping renters avoid the need to find money for a second bond while they're waiting for their first bond to be returned," she said.

 

“We're pleased to begin the rollout in Penrith, Parramatta and the Central Coast and look forward to seeing more renters benefit from a simpler, more flexible bond system as it expands across NSW.”

 

This is the first step in a state-wide rollout that will see millions of renters in NSW save thousands of dollars by avoiding the dreaded ‘double bond’ when moving home.

 

To find out more about Smart Rental Bonds, please visit here.

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