CAMPAIGN TO RETURN UNCLAIMED RENTAL BONDS TO BUNDABERG TENANTS
Published Monday, 26 May, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten
The Residential Tenancies Authority has launched a campaign to return more than $3.6 million in unclaimed rental bonds, and current and former tenants and property managers in Bundaberg are urged to check if they are owed money, Housing Minister Robert Schwarten announced today.
Mr Schwarten said the RTA was holding close to 180 unclaimed bonds relating to tenancies in Bundaberg. The highest individual refund due is $976.
“The $3.6 million in unclaimed funds has accumulated as a result of people either forgetting to cash their bond refund cheques or moving premises without notifying the RTA of their new address,” Mr Schwarten said.
“These bonds are held in trust by the RTA so anyone who has rented a property over the last ten years should check the RTA website to see if there is any money owing to them.”
Mr Schwarten said the forgotten cash could come in handy for Bundaberg residents feeling the financial squeeze because of the increasing cost of living.
“The RTA is keen to see the money returned to its rightful owners and has tried to refund the money, only to have cheques returned,” he said.
“The RTA can only send notices of rental bond claims and cheques to a tenant’s last known address. If the tenant fails to contact the RTA with a current address, the bond money becomes unclaimed.
“Many people just don’t realise they are eligible for a bond refund so they don’t provide the RTA with a forwarding address when they move on
“All the RTA wants to do at the end of the day is to return the money.”
A full list of names of people owed bond money is available on the RTA website at www.rta.qld.gov.au
People should check to see if their names appear on the website and contact the RTA on 1300 366 311 to arrange for their bond to be refunded directly into their nominated bank account.
In order to receive the unclaimed money, the caller will be asked to verify a number of key details which will enable RTA staff to confirm that they are in fact the rightful owners of the money.
Media contact: (07) 3237 1832
Mr Schwarten said the RTA was holding close to 180 unclaimed bonds relating to tenancies in Bundaberg. The highest individual refund due is $976.
“The $3.6 million in unclaimed funds has accumulated as a result of people either forgetting to cash their bond refund cheques or moving premises without notifying the RTA of their new address,” Mr Schwarten said.
“These bonds are held in trust by the RTA so anyone who has rented a property over the last ten years should check the RTA website to see if there is any money owing to them.”
Mr Schwarten said the forgotten cash could come in handy for Bundaberg residents feeling the financial squeeze because of the increasing cost of living.
“The RTA is keen to see the money returned to its rightful owners and has tried to refund the money, only to have cheques returned,” he said.
“The RTA can only send notices of rental bond claims and cheques to a tenant’s last known address. If the tenant fails to contact the RTA with a current address, the bond money becomes unclaimed.
“Many people just don’t realise they are eligible for a bond refund so they don’t provide the RTA with a forwarding address when they move on
“All the RTA wants to do at the end of the day is to return the money.”
A full list of names of people owed bond money is available on the RTA website at www.rta.qld.gov.au
People should check to see if their names appear on the website and contact the RTA on 1300 366 311 to arrange for their bond to be refunded directly into their nominated bank account.
In order to receive the unclaimed money, the caller will be asked to verify a number of key details which will enable RTA staff to confirm that they are in fact the rightful owners of the money.
Media contact: (07) 3237 1832