The bond payment roadblock (and how to remove it)

You hit send on the approval email.

The landlords have already popped a bottle of bubbles.

The tenant? They’ve vanished into the abyss of unanswered calls.

If you’ve been in property management for longer than five minutes, you know this moment all too well.

It’s not ghosting in the dating sense, but it can feel just as frustrating.

And more often than not, it’s not about the property. It’s about the money.

That awkward pause after “Yes”

For most tenants, the bond is the biggest upfront cost.

In Australia, that usually means four weeks’ rent – plus two weeks in advance, removalists, cleaning and the odd “essential” trip to Bunnings.

It’s a bill that can easily tip into the thousands.

Even solid, reliable tenants can get stuck waiting for their next pay cycle, or for the bond refund from their previous rental.

It's no wonder tenants pause before sending off their signed contract.

Why that pause costs you

A vacant property isn’t just an empty lounge room.

It’s rent your landlord isn’t collecting and extra work for you – more opens, more applications to sift through, more check-ins with a landlord who’s wondering why their “done deal” hasn’t moved in.

If this pause turns to a pull-out, you’re back to square one.

How a bond loan removes the roadblock

Services like Reapit’s 2Apply Bond Loans give approved tenants a short-term loan to cover their rental bond (and sometimes rent in advance or moving costs).

The tenant repays in instalments – RentBond offers 21 days interest-free and fee free if the loan is paid in full.

From your side of the desk, that means:

• Tenants can move in without waiting for payday
• Deals don’t collapse over cash flow timing
• Landlords start earning sooner

The earlier you mention it, the better

2Apply has seen higher uptake when tenants hear about bond loans early…even before they’ve been approved.

It’s a psychology thing.

Knowing they’ve got a plan B makes them more confident applying in the first place.

Easy ways to plant the seed:

• Add a “Need help with the bond?” link in your rental listings
• Bring it up in application calls
• Include it in your standard approval email

Not charity, just smart business

Offering a bond loan isn’t about bailing out tenants who can’t afford rent.

It’s about bridging a short-term gap.

Think about it…plenty of tenants have the funds coming, just not right now.

Maybe their last bond refund is still in limbo.

Maybe they’ve just covered removalist costs.

Maybe school fees hit the same week.

A bond loan takes the sting out of move-in week. Less stress for them means less follow-up for you, fewer late starts on rent and a smoother tenancy from day one.

One little offer that tips the scales

If two agencies are offering near-identical properties, the one that can say “We have a bond loan option if you need it” instantly looks more tenant-friendly.

It’s also a great pitch for winning over landlords:

Try this line: “By offering a bond loan, we can cut vacancy by up to two weeks, which means you’ll bank your first rent payment sooner.”

Don’t let a bond payment be the speed bump that slows everything down.

The faster tenants move in, the sooner landlords get paid, and the sooner you can focus on your next win.

Check out 2Apply Bond Loans or speak with our team at Reapit Lettings to see how this simple service can fit into your onboarding process.

Because sometimes, closing the gap between “approved” and “moved in” is as easy as giving tenants a different way to pay.