REMINDER TO CHECK FOR UNCLAIMED RENTAL BONDS
Published Monday, 23 June, 2008 at 02:49 PM
Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten
Housing Minister Robert Schwarten today reminded anyone who has rented a property over the last ten years to check the Residential Tenancies Authority website to see if there were any unclaimed rental bond refunds owing to them.
Mr Schwarten said the RTA is trying to return more than $3.6 million worth of unclaimed bonds to their rightful owners.
It is estimated that more than 22,000 former tenants could be entitled to bond refunds currently unclaimed and remaining in trust with the RTA.
“The $3.6 million has accumulated over the past decade or so 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.
“The RTA has tried to refund the money, only to have cheques returned.
“It 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,” she said.
“I hate to see millions of dollars in unclaimed money sitting there. 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 name appears 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.
Please note that 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 person to whom money is owed.
Media contact: Scott Chandler on (07) 3237 1832
Mr Schwarten said the RTA is trying to return more than $3.6 million worth of unclaimed bonds to their rightful owners.
It is estimated that more than 22,000 former tenants could be entitled to bond refunds currently unclaimed and remaining in trust with the RTA.
“The $3.6 million has accumulated over the past decade or so 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.
“The RTA has tried to refund the money, only to have cheques returned.
“It 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,” she said.
“I hate to see millions of dollars in unclaimed money sitting there. 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 name appears 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.
Please note that 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 person to whom money is owed.
Media contact: Scott Chandler on (07) 3237 1832