The end of lease cleaning checklist for Australian renters

Cleaning is one of the most common reasons money is claimed from a rental bond in Australia. The good news is that, unlike damage, it is entirely within your control. This is the checklist our end of lease teams work to, and the parts people most often miss.

Start with your entry condition report

You are not being asked to leave the property spotless. Across Australia, tenancy laws generally require you to leave the property reasonably clean and in the same condition as when you moved in, allowing for fair wear and tear. That starting point is recorded in your entry (ingoing) condition report.

Dig it out before you start. It tells you the standard you have to match, and whether things like carpets were professionally cleaned when you moved in. The exact rules differ between states, so if you are unsure, check your state's consumer affairs or tenancy authority website.

Your bond is held by your state or territory bond authority (for example the RTBA in Victoria, NSW Fair Trading, or the RTA in Queensland). It is released when you and your landlord or agent agree, or when a tribunal decides.

The kitchen is where most claims start

It is also the room that takes longest, so start here.

• Inside the oven. Racks out, glass door cleaned inside and out, grill and trays. This is the first thing most property managers open.
• The rangehood filter, which usually lifts out and can be soaked in hot water and dishwashing liquid.
• The cooktop, including under burner caps and along the edges.
• Inside the fridge and freezer, switched off, defrosted and dried, with the seals wiped. Leave the door propped open.
• Inside every cupboard and drawer. Crumbs in a drawer are an easy thing to note on an exit report.
• The dishwasher filter and seals.
• Splashbacks, benchtops and the sink, including the plughole.

Bathrooms: soap scum and mould

• Shower screens and tiles descaled, not just wiped.
• Grout and silicone checked for mould. Surface mould can usually be cleaned; mould caused by an ongoing leak or poor ventilation is a maintenance issue to raise with your agent.
• Exhaust fan covers dusted.
• Toilet cleaned all the way round, including the base and behind the seat hinges.
• Mirrors, taps and drains polished and cleared.

Every room

• Skirting boards, door frames, light switches and power points.
• Inside windows, window tracks and sills. Tracks are one of the most commonly flagged items.
• Blinds dusted or wiped.
• Air-conditioner filters and heater vents dusted.
• Wardrobes emptied and wiped inside.
• Marks on walls spot-cleaned carefully — scrubbing too hard can remove paint.
• Floors vacuumed and mopped, including the edges.

Outside, if it is part of your lease

Balconies, courtyards and garages often appear on the exit report. Sweep them, clear cobwebs and remove anything you have left behind, including in the letterbox.

Carpets

Only have carpets professionally steam cleaned if your lease or entry condition report requires it, if pets were kept, or if they are stained beyond normal wear. Keep the receipt either way.

If you would rather hand it over

Our end of lease clean covers everything on this list, including the oven, fridge, window tracks and inside cupboards, at a fixed price in Australian dollars including GST:

• Studio — $249
• One bedroom — $299
• Two bedrooms — $399
• Three bedrooms — $499
• Four bedrooms — $649

Extra bathrooms are $50 each. If your property manager raises anything cleaning-related within 72 hours, we come back and re-clean it free.

See end of lease prices and book online — it takes about a minute and you do not need a card to book.