watchman said… The landlord can also lodge the bond form without the tenants signature and often do.
Yes that’s correct, but in those circumstances and IF they’ve been provided with a forwarding address by the outgoing tenant, the Rental Bond Board will write to that tenant to advise them about the Landlord’s Claim, and to provide them with a opportunity to dispute it before any payment whatsoever is made to the Landlord.
So the message for outgoing tenants in NSW is to always provide a forwarding address directly to the Rental Bond Board before leaving rental premises.