How Clean Should Your Property Be When Moving Out?
Last modified: 4th July 2024
Hope Turner |
When it’s time to vacate your rental property, there will be some loose ends you’ll need to tie up before you can say goodbye. A major aspect of moving house is cleaning the property to a sufficient level, especially if you want to get your entire rental bond back and leave a good final impression on your property managers.
But how clean does a rental property need to be when you leave? In this easy guide, we discuss everything you need to know about end-of-lease cleaning and some tips to protect yourself in case there are any issues.
Originally published in July 2021.
On this page:
- Why clean a rental property?
- What classes as fair wear and tear?
- How much does a bond cleaner cost?
- DIY vs Bond cleaning: pros and cons
- What is bond withholding?
- Tips to protect yourself
- Need help with your rental bond?
Why clean a rental property?
When vacating a property, you’re expected to leave it in the same condition as when you arrived. This not only protects you from having to pay for any extra cleaning or repairs needed for the property but also protects the owner and the new tenants moving in. Your property manager or landlord will often recommend a professional cleaning company to get your property back in pristine condition.
If you clean the property yourself, you aren’t guaranteed to meet the landlord’s standard of cleanliness. Using a bond cleaner ensures consistency after you leave. Plus, if there are any issues, they’ll usually go back and fix it all up free of charge. This way, if the landlord is still unhappy about the property’s condition, you are no longer accountable.
What classes as fair wear and tear?
Certain aspects of a property are expected to deteriorate over time. From faded paint to scuffed floors, it’s not uncommon to see some light wear and tear when living in a rental property. This kind of wear and tear is the owner’s responsibility to fix, as it is a necessary element of property maintenance.
However, tenants may be liable for more substantial damages done to the property. For example, a dent in the carpet from where a piece of furniture has been is considered fair wear and tear. But if the tenant rips the carpet, then they are liable for the damage done to the property.
Here are some examples of fair wear and tear from NSW Fair Trading:
Fair Wear & Tear | Tenant Damage |
---|---|
Faded curtains or frayed cords | Missing or torn curtains |
Furniture indentations and traffic marks on the carpet | Stains or burn marks on the carpet |
Scuffed-up wooden floors | Badly scratched or gouged wooden floors |
Faded, chipped, or cracked paint | Unapproved, poor-quality paint job |
Worn kitchen benchtop | Burns or cuts in the bench top |
Loose hinges or handles on doors or windows and worn sliding tracks | Broken glass |
Water stains on the carpet from rain through leaking roof or nasty plumbing | Water stains on carpet caused by overflowing bath or indoor pot plants |
Paint worn off the wall near light switches | Damage to paint caused by removing posters stuck with blu-tack or sticky tape |
If you notice any wear and tear that needs fixing, be sure to let your landlord or property manager know at your next routine inspection. Some wear and tear might need more urgent attention, in which case, it is important to contact them as soon as possible.
Sometimes, wear and tear can lead to more significant damage with continued use. By letting your property manager know, you can reduce your liability. This way, things can be fixed before the damage gets any worse.
How much does a bond cleaner cost?
The easiest way to ensure the property is in good condition is to hire a professional cleaner. While it comes at an extra cost, a bond cleaner knows precisely what the agent expects and requires. Plus, most bond cleaners guarantee their work, so they can go back to the property and amend it for free if there's an issue.
Airtasker quotes the median bond cleaner cost at $319, with typical prices ranging from $250 - $400. Cleaning the property yourself may seem like an easy way to save money, but using the bond cleaner does have its advantages.

DIY vs bond cleaning: Which is better?
It may feel like a good idea to save money and just do the rental cleaning yourself. We’ve got some pros & cons here to help make the decision easier if you’re still unsure:
DIY cleaning pros & sons
Pros
- Money saving: The main reason people DIY clean is the cost-effectiveness. Cleaning yourself, if you're confident, could save you hundreds of dollars.
- Detail efficiency: You can control the quality of the cleaning and can spot-check yourself instead of other people.
- Personal knowledge: No one knows your home better than you. DIY cleaning means you can put more effort into areas that need the most attention.
Cons
- Time-consuming: Cleaning yourself can take up lots of time. So unless you’re willing to give up your weekend, you may have to take time off work to get it done
- Cleaning supplies: When you clean yourself, you will have to purchase all the necessary supplies, which, if you don’t have, could end up costing you a similar amount as just hiring someone. E.g. a carpet cleaner alone will cost almost $50 to rent!
- Extra help: If you have a bigger property, it can be daunting to detail clean it yourself. Relying on family and friends to help can become stressful if plans change.
- Missing steps: Without professional help, you could easily miss crucial details that could create issues with the realtor and your bond return
The decision is yours on the cost vs. stress. Also, it’s important to consider the amount of your bond you’d like returned. If you decide to clean yourself, you are at a higher risk of having a portion of your bond withheld if it is not up to the standard the realtor expects.
What is bond withholding?
If the landlord deems the condition of the property to be unsatisfactory, they might withhold part of your bond to pay for any repairs. Many landlords will expect a property to be left in pristine condition, even if this wasn’t how it appeared to the tenants upon entry.
Although the official standard for a vacated property is to be left “reasonably clean,” this definition also takes into account how long the tenants lived there and the state of the property on arrival.
Upon vacating a property, you should submit a bond refund application. Once lodged, the landlord has 14 days to dispute the application if they are unhappy with the condition of the property in most states & territories. From there, the burden of proof falls on the landlord, as they have to show the biggest areas of concern compared to the entry report.
If the landlord fails to dispute the claim in 14 days, the tenant will get a full refund of their bond. If the claim is disputed, tenants may be tempted to go along with the landlord’s demands and cop the loss of bond money. However, it is important to know your rights as a tenant to make sure you aren’t being ripped off.
If you think that your bond application is being unfairly disputed, you can take your claim to your state’s rental tribunal. This is where the entry report can become your most valuable piece of evidence. Rental tribunals exist to protect the rights of tenants.
The dispute can be settled easily by comparing the property’s entry report with its condition upon exiting. Again, the property’s cleanliness needs to meet the definition of reasonably clean, not pristine condition.
Tips to protect yourself and your rental bond
As a tenant, you may often feel powerless against the landlord’s decisions. Sometimes, it might seem easier to accept the loss of bond instead of challenging disputes. That being said, there are a few things you can do to make sure the property is in the best condition possible. And if it comes to it, give yourself the best chance at getting your bond back.
Beginning - Entry report
If disputes do get taken to the rental tribunal, the biggest piece of evidence you have is the entry report. This shows the property’s condition before you moved in.
The entry report should be considered a benchmark for how you leave the property. This can be helpful when cleaning the property so that you have a frame of reference as to how each aspect is supposed to look. Any damage that occurred during the tenancy won’t be present on the entry report, so you may be liable for that in case of a dispute.
During - Communication
It’s a good idea to keep in regular contact with your property manager or landlord. Your property manager will conduct routine inspections to make sure the property is being maintained. This is your chance to let them know about any issues you have, including any wear and tear that needs attention.
Following these inspections, they will notify you of anything they are concerned about. Make sure you keep copies of all correspondence with property management, as it can be used as evidence should disputes arise.
End - Bond cleaners
While you don’t have to use the bond cleaners recommended by property management, it can be a good idea to absolve yourself of liability. Bond cleaners are guaranteed to get the property in ‘pristine’ condition.
This exceeds the tenant’s responsibility to leave the property reasonably clean. So, if the landlord has any further issues with the property’s condition, you know it’s not your fault.
Ensure you keep a receipt from your bond cleaner, just in case.
Need help with your rental bond?
One of the most stressful parts of the cleaning process is not knowing what you’ll get back from your rental bonds. Couple that with the fact you’ll most likely have to pay the rental bond on your new property before you move, meaning you won’t have the previous one back yet.
So, if you’re ready to move and need a little extra boost to get through the move, we have tailored personal loan options for rental bonds that can help!
You can get in touch with Hope via hopet@jacarandafinance.com.au.