When leaving a rental in Victoria, return it reasonably clean and in the same condition as when you moved in, allowing for fair wear and tear. Your entry condition report and dated photos show the property’s starting condition and what changed during the tenancy.
Use the checklist to prepare for the final inspection, compare the property with the entry report and keep a clear handover record. The rental provider checks the property at the end of the tenancy.
Clean to the starting condition
Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) says renters must leave the property reasonably clean. The required standard depends on its condition at the start of the tenancy, as recorded in the condition report and any supporting evidence.
For rental agreements signed from 29 March 2021, the rental provider cannot require professional cleaning unless the property needs to be returned to its starting condition, such as when it was professionally cleaned before you moved in, or it is in a condition that requires professional cleaning. A professional clean, carpet steam-clean or spotless finish is not automatically required. Check the entry report, your agreement and the property’s actual condition.
Use these cleaning prompts, adjusting them to the property and its entry condition:
- Remove your belongings and rubbish, then wipe ordinary reachable surfaces and clear visible dirt and cobwebs.
- Vacuum or clean the floors, taking care to distinguish new stains from existing marks and normal wear.
- In the kitchen, clean the sink, benchtops, stovetop and oven, and wipe cupboard surfaces and food residue.
- In the bathroom and laundry, clean the toilet, basin, shower or bath, and remove visible soap or grime.
- Clear your belongings and rubbish from any outdoor or storage areas included in the tenancy.
Fair wear and tear does not require repair. CAV gives faded curtains and worn kitchen benchtops as examples; ripped curtains and a broken benchtop may be damage. The circumstances matter. Do not repaint or repair ordinary wear simply to make the property look newer.
Photograph and record the property
Take photos and videos after cleaning and before handing back the keys. Tenants Victoria recommends recording the property inside and outside, with both wide views and close-ups. Date and label the files by room or location, as CAV advises for condition-report photos.
Capture each room from more than one angle, then take close-ups of any marks, damage or repairs. Include kitchen surfaces and appliances, bathroom and laundry fixtures, floors, walls, and any outdoor or storage areas covered by the tenancy. Photograph pre-existing marks that appear in the entry report as well as any new issue you want to document.
Keep the original image and video files, along with relevant cleaning or repair receipts, emails and inspection arrangements. Keep enough context with each photo to identify when and where you took it.
Compare the entry report
Work through the original condition report room by room. Compare each item’s recorded starting condition with its condition at move-out, including fixtures, fittings and outside areas. Compare the property with its starting condition, allowing for fair wear and tear.
Separate pre-existing dirt, marks, damage or maintenance issues from anything new. If the report is unclear, or you cannot directly compare an item, note that and keep any relevant photos or written messages. CAV advises dating and labelling photos attached to condition reports.
The rental provider or agent must complete the exit-condition section within 10 days of the rental agreement ending. You must be present or have had a reasonable opportunity to attend, according to CAV. Ask for an inspection time that gives you that opportunity.
Bring these items
Take a copy of the entry condition report and your dated move-in and move-out photos or videos. Bring relevant receipts and written correspondence, plus a short list of points you want to raise during the walk-through. Have all supplied keys, fobs, remotes and other access devices ready for the agreed handover, and record when you return them.
If the inspection notes differ from your records, explain the difference calmly and keep a copy of any written follow-up. Do not sign an agreement to a bond deduction unless you understand and accept what it covers.
Know the bond rules
A rental provider cannot claim bond for fair wear and tear or for damage they were responsible for repairing. If the provider intends to claim bond, CAV says they must notify you and provide supporting evidence at least three business days before lodging the claim. Evidence may include invoices, receipts, quotes or photos, and must not contradict the condition report.
You can start a bond claim after the rental agreement ends. If you disagree with a proposed deduction, keep the condition reports, photos and correspondence together and use CAV’s guidance on resolving bond issues. CAV also refers renters to Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria and other dispute pathways.
