The landlord of a Darch rental property has been fined $4,000 by the Joondalup Magistrates Court for failing to lodge a bond with the Bond Administrator and was ordered to pay back the $1,400 bond to his tenant.

Ive Cvitan of Darch entered into a rental agreement with the tenant in May 2017 when the $1,400 bond was paid and a receipt was issued, however Mr Cvitan did not provide the tenant with the completed agreement nor give them a property condition report.

Failing to lodge a bond with the Bond Administrator within 14 days of receipt is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act.

When the tenant moved out, she did not receive her bond back and claims Mr Cvitan was avoiding paying it back.

Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said, as the bond wasn’t lodged, the tenant had no security over the funds.

“A bond remains the tenant’s money until the landlord makes a claim on it due to unpaid rent or damage to the property. It is not money that should be retained by the landlord to be returned at their discretion,” Mr Hillyard said.

“The Bond Administrator at Consumer Protection holds all bonds securely until both landlord and tenant agree as to how much should be returned at the end of the tenancy and we can assist both parties if there is a dispute.

“Private landlords, as well as real estate agents and property managers, need to comply with the law and transfer bond payments to the Bond Administrator as soon as practicable and certainly within 14 days. There are serious consequences for those who don’t comply.”

More information on tenancy bonds is available on the Consumer Protection website or enquiries can be made by email consumer@dmirs.wa.gov.au or by phone 1300 30 40 54.

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Media Contact: Alan Hynd, (08) 6552 9248 / 0429 078 791 / alan.hynd@dmirs.wa.gov.au