End of lease cleaning

Moving out of a rental is stressful enough without a fight over the bond. The guides in this section explain what "reasonably clean" means in Victoria, how condition reports and photos protect you, how bond claims work and how to plan your final clean.

The guides in this section

• End of lease cleaning in Victoria The standard you need to meet, and what fair wear and tear means.
• Condition reports and photos Recording the property at the start and end of a tenancy.
• Bond disputes in Victoria How bond claims work and what to do if you disagree.
• Move-out checklist A room-by-room plan for your final clean.

The short version

• Read your rental agreement and your entry condition report.
• Clean to a reasonable standard, room by room, comparing against the entry report.
• Fair wear and tear is not your responsibility.
• Take dated photos and videos after your final clean.
• Keep receipts for any cleaning services.
• If the bond is claimed and you disagree, get advice and use the formal process.

Taking useful photos

Photos are only useful if they clearly show what you need them to. Take them in good light, from the doorway first to show the whole room, then close-ups of specific areas such as the oven, shower, carpet and walls. Make sure the files are dated, or include something that shows the date. Take short videos walking through each room as well. Store copies in more than one place, such as your phone and a cloud folder. Do this at the start of a tenancy, and again after your final clean.

Timing your move-out clean

Moving is busy, and cleaning often gets squeezed. Plan backwards from the date you hand back the keys. Book any professional services, such as carpet cleaning if it's genuinely required, well in advance. Clean after most belongings are out, since it's much easier to clean empty rooms. Allow time to fix anything you notice, and leave a buffer in case the move runs late. If you're hiring end-of-lease cleaners, confirm the date, the scope and what happens if the agent raises issues after the final inspection.

DIY or hire a professional?

Doing it yourself saves money and lets you control the result, but a thorough clean takes time and energy, especially when you're also moving. Hiring a professional can save time, and some businesses offer to return if issues are raised at the final inspection. Whichever you choose, the standard is the same: the property must be reasonably clean, compared with the entry condition report. If you hire a cleaner, check them first (see checking a cleaning business) and keep the receipt.

Tackling the oven

Ovens are one of the most time-consuming cleaning jobs and a common sticking point at final inspections. Remove racks and trays and soak them. Follow the oven manufacturer's instructions and the cleaning product's label; some oven cleaners are strongly caustic, so wear gloves and eye protection, ventilate the room and keep children and pets away. Don't use oven cleaners on self-cleaning ovens unless the manufacturer allows it. Clean the door glass and seals, and don't forget the rangehood filter.

Renters: know where to get help

If you rent in Victoria, Consumer Affairs Victoria is the main source of information about your rights and responsibilities, including condition reports, cleaning, repairs and bond. Tenancy advice services can help if you're facing a dispute, and Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria and VCAT can decide disagreements you can't resolve yourself. Keep your rental agreement, condition report, photos, receipts and messages together, because they're your evidence if questions arise.

A note on products and brands

We don't recommend particular cleaning brands, and we're not paid to mention products. When choosing a product, look for one that's designed for the surface and the job, read the label in full, and check the directions, safety warnings and first aid instructions before you start. Products sold for similar jobs can differ a lot in strength and ingredients, so don't assume one works like another. If a label is unclear or missing, don't use the product. Choosing the mildest product that does the job is usually the safest and cheapest approach.

Making it work for your household

Every home is different. A small apartment, a family house with young children, a share house and a home with someone living with a disability or health condition all have different needs. Adapt the advice in this guide to suit your space, your time and the people you live with. Focus first on the tasks that affect health and safety, such as kitchens, bathrooms, mould and safe storage of chemicals, and then on the tasks that matter most to you. Good enough, done regularly, usually beats perfect, done rarely.

Five habits for a cleaner home

1. Little and often: short regular cleans beat occasional marathons.
2. Ventilate: use exhaust fans and open windows to keep moisture and mould down.
3. Never mix products: the Victorian Department of Health warns never to mix bleach with ammonia or acids.
4. Store products safely: in original containers, out of reach of children and pets.
5. Keep records: quotes, receipts, condition reports and dated photos.

About these guides

Cleaners Melbourne is an independent information site. We aren't a cleaning company, agency, tenancy advice service or government body, and no business pays to appear in our guides. We don't publish prices or rank cleaners or products. We write every guide in our own words and list the official sources we used, such as Consumer Affairs Victoria, the Residential Tenancies Act, VCAT decisions, the Victorian Department of Health, healthdirect and the Fair Work Ombudsman. Rules change, so check current details with the relevant agency.

How we keep these guides current

We review each guide against official sources and show the date it was last checked. If you notice something out of date, please tell us through our contact page, and we'll check and correct it.