Taking over someone's place on a share house lease
When a housemate moves out and someone new takes their place, two things change hands: the place on the lease, and that person's share of the bond. Get both right and nobody loses money.
The three steps
- Get the landlord's OK in writing. In most states, swapping a tenant needs the landlord's or agent's consent. Ask early, with the new person's details. (Joining a lease or subletting instead? How those differ.)
- Settle the bond share between you. Bond authorities don't move money between housemates. Usually the person moving in pays the person moving out their share directly. Do it before the bond paperwork, and get a receipt.
- Update the bond record. Each state does this differently (below). Until it's done, the bond is still in the old names.
Before any money changes hands
- See the room, and check the condition report: you're taking on the house as it is. Our moving-in checklist has the rest.
- Check the rent is paid up to the changeover date.
- Write down who pays what, and when, and both sign it.
- Agree the house smoking rules with your new housemates: make an agreement.
State by state
Victoria
The rental provider starts a bond transfer on the RTBA website within 5 days of the change. Everyone on the bond, and the incoming renter, gets an email to accept it within 14 days, and incoming renters confirm their identity through Service Victoria. The RTBA doesn't pay anything out during a transfer, so settle the outgoing renter's share first: once they're removed, they lose their right to the bond.
Source: Consumer Affairs Victoria: transferring renters on a bond
New South Wales
The landlord's written consent is needed, and if at least one original tenant stays, the landlord must not unreasonably refuse. The bond record is updated with a "Change of shared tenancy arrangement" from NSW Fair Trading, signed by the person leaving, the person joining and the landlord or agent. The remaining tenants repay the leaving tenant's share, less any rent owed or reasonable costs, within 14 days of being asked.
Queensland
Changing tenants needs the other tenants' agreement and written permission from the property manager or owner, who must be reasonable about it. The bond is updated with a Change of bond contributors (Form 6), online through RTA Web Services or on paper; anyone being removed must agree or sign. The person moving out gets their share from whoever is moving in or staying: the RTA doesn't handle money between tenants.
Western Australia
The landlord completes a bond variation with the new and the leaving tenants. The tenants sort out the money between themselves (the incoming tenant can pay the outgoing one directly), and the outgoing tenant should be paid before signing, because once removed they can't claim any of the bond at the end of the tenancy.
South Australia
Consumer and Business Services has a "Change of tenant/resident" form for changing who is on a bond. Ask CBS about the steps for your situation, and settle the outgoing tenant's share in writing before the form is lodged.
Source: Consumer and Business Services: change of tenant/resident form
Tasmania
Bonds are managed online through MyBond. Housemates should each pay their contribution separately under one bond record, which makes it easier to transfer in or out of the lease, and only people registered on the bond record can claim it back.
Australian Capital Territory
A co-tenant can be added or removed only with the consent of the other co-tenants and the landlord. The tenants notify the Rental Bonds Office with a co-tenant change request. The original tenancy agreement continues, so the bond doesn't need to be refunded; only the bond record changes.
Northern Territory
There's no central bond authority: the landlord holds the bond. A co-tenant who wants to leave needs the landlord's consent to hand over their tenancy, so get the landlord's agreement in writing, settle the bond share between you, and get a written receipt.
Something gone wrong? Your state's tenants' advice service can help, and its tribunal can settle bond disputes.
General information, checked against the sources above on 30 October 2026, not legal advice. Rules change: check with your state's bond authority before you act.