UniRenter — Lease Transfer Board

Broken lease board

Find or transfer a lease
in Melbourne.

Whether you need out of a lease, or you're looking for one to take over — UniRenter guides you through the process safely and legally.

What brings you here today?

Choose your path — each has its own legal guidance and Cob support.

🔄

I need to transfer my lease

I'm the current tenant and need someone to take over my lease so I can move out early.

Post my lease →

🔍

I want to take over a lease

I'm looking for an existing lease to take over — shorter wait time, move in sooner.

Browse leases →

🤠

Cob here. Lease transfers involve real legal obligations for both sides. I'll walk you through what you need to know before anything else — takes 2 minutes and could save you thousands.

Transferring your lease

⚖️

Before you post your lease

You remain legally responsible for this lease until the transfer is complete. Read and acknowledge each of the following — this protects you.

📋

You remain liable for rent until transfer is complete

Until the landlord approves a new tenant and the lease is formally assigned, you are still responsible for paying rent. Stopping payments before this is done can result in debt, bad references, and tribunal orders against you.

Consumer Affairs Victoria — Lease assignment →

✍️

Landlord must give written consent

Your landlord cannot unreasonably refuse an assignment, but they must approve the incoming tenant in writing. A verbal agreement is not enough — get it in writing before the incoming tenant pays anything or moves in.

Assignment requirements →

📸

Document the property condition NOW — before anyone else moves in

Your bond is at risk if the incoming tenant causes damage and the landlord can't distinguish it from yours. Photograph and video every room thoroughly before the handover. UniRenter's condition walkthrough (Session 27+) will guide both of you through this.

💸

You may owe a lease break fee — check your agreement

Some leases include a break fee (typically 1–6 weeks rent depending on how far into the lease you are). Check your lease agreement now. If you're unsure, Tenants Victoria offers free advice.

Tenants Victoria — free legal advice →

🚫

Never accept payment outside UniRenter at this stage

Do not accept a deposit, bond transfer, or any money from an incoming tenant before landlord consent is obtained and both parties have completed the condition walkthrough. Accepting money prematurely exposes both of you legally.

🤠

Cob will support you through every step

Once your listing is live, Cob will guide both you and the incoming tenant through the contact, inspection, landlord consent, condition walkthrough, and key handover stages. You don't need to figure this out alone.

International students: If English is not your first language, Tenants Victoria can connect you with an interpreter. tenantsvic.org.au

Taking over a lease

ℹ️

Before you browse — a quick awareness check

Taking over someone's lease is a significant step. Read through the following so you know what to expect — this could save your entire bond.

📋

Landlord must approve you in writing

You cannot take over a lease without the landlord's written consent. Both you and the current tenant must get this before any money or keys change hands. A verbal agreement from the outgoing tenant is not enough.

Consumer Affairs Victoria →

🏠

Always inspect the property in person first

Never pay a bond, deposit, or any money without physically inspecting the property first. Anyone asking for payment before an inspection is a scam. UniRenter arranges inspection contact only — we never facilitate payment.

⚠️

Critical: you may be inheriting someone else's wear and tear

This is how students lose their entire bond. When you take over a lease, the entry condition report was completed at the start of the original tenancy — not when you move in. When you eventually leave, you'll be judged against that original report.

Before you sign anything:

→ Walk through every room with the outgoing tenant
→ Photograph and video every wall, floor, fixture
→ Compare what you see against the original condition report
→ Never transfer bond money until the condition is documented and agreed

Entry condition reports →

💰

Bond must go through the RTBA — not to the outgoing tenant

In Victoria, bonds must be lodged with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) — not handed to a landlord or outgoing tenant. If anyone asks you to transfer bond money directly to them, that is a scam.

RTBA — lodge and transfer bonds →

📜

You are taking on the remaining lease term as-is

Read the full lease agreement before agreeing to anything. You're inheriting all existing terms — including any obligations the previous tenant had. Understand the lease end date, rent amount, and any special conditions.

Understanding rental agreements →

🤠

Cob will guide you through every step safely

Once you connect with a listing, Cob walks both parties through the inspection, condition documentation, landlord consent process, and key handover. The platform keeps your contact details private until you\'re both ready to inspect.

International students: Review your rights at Consumer Affairs Victoria or call Tenants Victoria for free advice.

Post your lease transfer

Tell us about the property — no personal details needed here. We only exchange an inspection address and contact method once a genuine match is confirmed.

Your email * Required — we'll verify before posting

Find or transfer a leasesafely.

Asked for payment before inspection

Refuses a video call or in-person meeting

Rent seems significantly below market rate

Creating urgency — "3 other people want it"

Bond not going through RTBA

Find or transfer a lease
safely.