You’ve packed the last box, the removalist has driven off, and all that’s left is the final inspection. For a lot of Melbourne renters, this is the part that decides how much of their bond comes back.
Agents aren’t trying to catch you out. Their job is to compare the property as you leave it with the property as you found it. Knowing where they look makes it much easier to prepare.
It starts with your condition report
Before you moved in, you should have received an entry condition report. In Victoria this document records the state of every room at the start of the tenancy, and it’s the first thing an agent reaches for at the end.
Dig yours out before you start cleaning. If the report notes a stain on the bedroom carpet or a chip in the bathroom tiles, that isn’t your problem. If it describes a clean oven and a spotless rangehood, that’s the standard you’ll be held to.
Victorian law expects renters to leave a property reasonably clean and in the same condition it was in at the start, allowing for fair wear and tear. Consumer Affairs Victoria publishes guidelines with practical examples of what that means. Faded curtains and light scuffs in a hallway are normal after a few years of living somewhere. Built-up grease, mould and pet hair are not.
The kitchen gets the closest look
Ask any property manager and the kitchen is usually where inspections go wrong. Expect them to open the oven and pull out a rack. They’ll look at the glass on the door, the inside walls and the grill.
The stovetop comes next, then the rangehood. Rangehood filters collect a sticky layer of grease that a quick wipe won’t touch.
Cleaner’s tip: Metal rangehood filters are far easier to clean after a soak in hot water with a degreaser. Scrubbing them dry mostly just spreads the grease around.
Agents will also open cupboards and drawers. Crumbs in the corners and marks on the shelves are easy to miss when you’re rushing. The same goes for the dishwasher filter, the inside of the fridge if one was supplied, and the splashback behind the kettle.
Bathrooms and laundries
Soap scum and mould are the two things agents notice straight away in a bathroom. Check the shower screen, the grout lines, and the silicone around the bath and basin. Mould in silicone can be hard to shift. If it’s stained deep into the seal, cleaning alone may not fix it, and that’s worth knowing before inspection day.
Cleaner’s tip: Let your cleaning product sit on the shower screen for a few minutes before you wipe, so it can break down the soap scum. Finish with a squeegee and the glass will dry without streaks.
Toilets get checked properly, including under the rim and around the base. Exhaust fan covers are another common miss, since dust builds up on them over the months.
In the laundry, pull the lint filter out of the dryer if one came with the property, and wipe behind and beside where your washing machine stood. That gap tends to collect a surprising amount of dust.
Floors, walls and the small stuff
Carpets are looked at for stains and general grime. Many renters assume they must always pay for a steam clean, but that isn’t automatically the case in Victoria (see the FAQ below). Read your rental agreement and your entry condition report before booking anything.
Hard floors should be swept and mopped, including under where furniture sat.
After that, agents tend to run a finger along the places people forget:
- skirting boards
- light switches and power points
- door frames and handles
- window sills and window tracks
- ceiling fans and light fittings
- inside built-in wardrobes
Marks on walls are a grey area. Light scuffs are usually accepted as wear and tear. Crayon, heavy marks or Blu Tack residue may be flagged, but scrubbing too hard can strip paint and create a bigger problem, so test a small area first.
Outside areas
If your rental has a balcony, courtyard or garage, it’s part of the inspection. Agents look for cobwebs, leaves and general mess, and they’ll check that anything you brought with you has gone. Check your lease for any garden responsibilities, as these vary between properties.
Keys, remotes and rubbish
A property can be spotless and still hold up your bond if something’s missing. Return every key, swipe card and garage remote listed at the start of your lease. Make sure the bins aren’t overflowing and that nothing has been left in cupboards, sheds or meter boxes.
Doing it yourself or getting help
Plenty of renters handle the clean themselves and do a good job. It helps to allow more time than you think you’ll need, work from the top of each room down, and leave the floors until last.
Others would rather hand the job to professionals, particularly when they’re juggling a move, work and family at the same time. Melbourne services such as Best Bond Cleaning Melbourne work through a room-by-room end-of-lease checklist, and carpet and window cleaning can be added if the property needs them.
Whichever way you go, walk through the property with your entry condition report in hand before you return the keys. Take dated photos of every room as you leave. If there’s a disagreement about the bond later, those photos and the original report are what you’ll rely on.
If something is flagged
Agents will sometimes point out an area that needs attention. Ask for the details in writing. If you can go back and fix it quickly, that’s often the simplest outcome.
If you disagree with a claim against your bond, you don’t have to accept it. Consumer Affairs Victoria explains how bond claims work and how to challenge one.
Quick pre-inspection checklist
- Entry condition report printed or saved on your phone
- Oven, stovetop and rangehood filters degreased
- Cupboards, drawers and splashback wiped
- Shower screen, grout, toilet and exhaust fan cleaned
- Dryer lint filter emptied and the laundry gap wiped out
- Skirting boards, switches, window tracks and fans dusted
- Floors vacuumed and mopped
- Balcony, courtyard or garage cleared
- All keys, swipe cards and remotes ready to return
- Dated photos taken of every room
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to steam clean carpets when leaving a rental in Victoria?
Not automatically. Under Victorian rules, a rental provider generally can only require professional cleaning (including carpet steam cleaning) if the property was professionally cleaned immediately before you moved in and you were told about it, or if professional cleaning is needed to return the property to its entry condition, allowing for fair wear and tear. Otherwise, you need to leave the carpets reasonably clean. Consumer Affairs Victoria’s guidelines cover this in detail.
What does ‘reasonably clean’ mean?
It means the property is left in a clean state that matches the entry condition report, allowing for fair wear and tear. It doesn’t mean showroom perfect.
Can an agent take cleaning costs out of my bond?
A rental provider can claim against the bond if the property isn’t left in the condition required. If you disagree with the claim, you can challenge it rather than accept it.
Who holds my bond in Victoria?
Your bond is lodged with a government authority, not kept by the agent, and is refunded through that authority at the end of your tenancy.
Should I be at the final inspection?
If you can, yes. Being there lets you see what the agent notes, ask questions on the spot, and fix small issues before a claim is made.
A little preparation goes a long way. Most bond problems come down to a handful of spots that were rushed or forgotten.