Broken Bonds

Between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2023, Anika Legal's Bond Recovery Service assisted 147 clients. Broken Bonds analyses data gathered by Anika while working on these renters' cases, as well as data gathered through an external survey conducted by Anika, and provides recommendations for how the rental bonds system can be improved.

Download the full report here.

The report reveals some shocking statistics:

• Almost half of renters facing a bond dispute have their ability to pay their next bond impacted, increasing their risk of homelessness
  
• The average wait time for a VCAT hearing was over 500 days (and renters can’t access their bond until after the hearing!)
  
• Rental providers received an average of $1688 less from their renters’ bond when the renter challenged the claim with Anika’s support
  
• Two in five bond claims resulted in the rental provider receiving no money at all, suggesting that the claims were completely baseless
  

Despite the impact of unfair bond claims, there are no disincentives against landlords making a claim on every bond - whether they have a basis for the claim or not.

In light of these findings, Anika Legal is advocating for immediate reforms to address systemic issues within Victoria's rental market.

Download the full report here.