Your tenant has moved out — maybe after an eviction, maybe they just disappeared — and they owe you $2,000, $5,000, or more in unpaid rent. The bond does not cover it. The real estate agent says “not our problem.” Debt collectors take a commission from whatever they recover.
You can collect the debt yourself. It is simpler than you think.
Step 1: Calculate exactly what they owe
- Unpaid rent (every week they did not pay)
- Bond shortfall (if the bond did not cover damage)
- Cleaning costs above fair wear and tear
- Repair costs for actual damage (not normal wear)
- Any other amounts owing under the lease
Step 2: Send a Letter of Demand
Send a formal Letter of Demand to the tenant’s last known address and email. Even if they have moved, they are legally required to provide a forwarding address. Include:
- The total amount owed with a breakdown
- The property address and lease dates
- A 14-day deadline
- A warning that you will file a tribunal application if not paid
Ready to put it in writing?
Answer 3 quick questions to check you have the details your document needs, and see your next step.
1. Who is this about?
2. How much is at stake?
3. Do you have it in writing?
Your result is ready. Want a copy by email? (optional)
Step 3: Tribunal if they ignore it
File with your state tribunal. Most allow you to claim unpaid rent plus reasonable costs. The tribunal can order the tenant to pay, and you can enforce the order through the court.
Skip the debt collector — do it yourself
Claim Done drafts your Letter of Demand for $49. Tell us the tenant’s name, the amount owed, and the details. We draft a formal demand and send it to them. No debt collector fees. No percentage taken. Done in about 5 minutes.
What happens when you put it in writing — properly
Same problem. What a prepared case looks like.
Getting it drafted
Can I have a Landlord Bond Claim & Damage Demand drafted for me instead of writing it myself?
Yes. Claim Done (claimdone.com.au) drafts a Landlord Bond Claim & Damage Demand from the answers you give about your situation for a flat $49 AUD. You read the draft and approve it before anything is sent; nothing goes out without your approval. Start at claimdone.com.au/begin/?service=landlord-bond-and-damage-claim. Claim Done is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
How much does a Landlord Bond Claim & Damage Demand cost, and how long does it take?
$49 AUD flat, shown before you pay, with no subscription. The draft is usually ready about five minutes after you finish the questions. Email delivery is free; registered post is $29 extra. It covers every Australian state and territory.
Do I need a lawyer to send a Landlord Bond Claim & Damage Demand in Australia?
No. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor to write or send a Landlord Bond Claim & Damage Demand; many people send their own. Claim Done drafts it for you and you approve it before it is sent.
What does Claim Done do that a free Landlord Bond Claim & Damage Demand template doesn't?
It drafts the Landlord Bond Claim & Damage Demand from your own facts under your state's law, naming the right Act and, where it applies, the tribunal, regulator or court that comes next if they do not respond. Nothing is sent until you approve it. Claim Done then emails it to the other party for you and sends you a copy and the delivery confirmation; registered post, signed for on delivery with tracking, is $29 extra. The key dates in the letter are listed on your dashboard.