Ray White Goulburn
Dear valued Ray White Goulburn Tenant
As you embark on the next chapter of your journey, we extend our sincere appreciation for the time you've spent as part of the Ray White Goulburn family. Your decision to vacate is a significant milestone, and we want to ensure that this transition is as seamless and stress-free as possible.
This comprehensive booklet has been carefully crafted by our dedicated team to guide you through every step of the vacating process – from navigating the intricacies of end-of-lease cleaning to facilitating a smooth move-out and providing insights on reclaiming your bond.
Additionally, we've included valuable information to assist you in finding your next ideal rental property with our agency.
At Ray White Goulburn, our commitment to your satisfaction extends beyond the tenure of your lease, and we are here to support you every step of the way Thank you for choosing us as your trusted real estate partner, and we wish you all the best in your future endeavors
Sincerely,
Liz Du Bois Business Manager Ray White Goulburn
END OF LEASE CLEANING GUIDE
As you prepare to vacate your property, a crucial aspect of this process is the end-of-lease cleaning, and we have compiled a comprehensive guide to assist you every step of the way. It is imperative that you carefully read through the information provided below, as it outlines your responsibilities in maintaining the property's condition as per the initial inspection report
When returning the keys, you are essentially presenting the property in a state that will be compared against this report Any necessary cleaning or repairs identified post key return will be documented and cross-referenced, with associated costs deducted from your bond
We appreciate your cooperation, and should you have any questions, please contact your Property Manager as our team is ready to assist you!
Kitchen:
Cooking Areas: Wipe down all surfaces, removing any traces of food and spills
Oven: Remove the toughest grease, clean oven racks, Rangehood, and extractor fan.
Stored Chemical Cleaners Room: Ensure a safe and clean environment.
Sink: Clean taps, water spout, and drain. Wipe down all surfaces and walls.
Dishwasher: Clean inside, including racks and rubbers. Remove food from the filter.
Refrigerator: Once you Pull out and move your fridge, clean the cavity property.
Living Areas:
Walls: Clean using sugar soap, scrub off marks, fix any dents, and repaint if necessary.
Cobwebs: Remove from windows, mirrors, and walls.
Cupboards and Drawers: Empty, wipe, and clean edges
Windows and Doors: Clean inside and out, including window tracks and blinds
Lights: Clean all light switches and replace any non-working bulbs
Appliances and Furniture: Clean and leave in the condition received
Floors: Vacuum, sweep, and mop Steam clean carpets
Bathroom and Laundry:
Mirrors: Clean and remove any wipe marks
Toilet: Scrub and disinfect under the seat, around, and outside of the bowl
Shower: Clean glass, taps, and showerhead
Remove mold from grout
Basin: Clean and dry, wipe down all benchtops
Wall Tiles and Taps: Wipe down soap holders, towel rails, and tiles.
Outside Section:
Yard: Mow the lawn, weed the garden, trim trees, and sweep paved areas.
Bins: Clean with detergent, disinfect, and scrub using a cloth.
Patio: Hose down, remove spiderwebs, and clean appliances, including barbecues.
Windows: Clean, remove cobwebs, and wash and dry pets' living areas.
Pool and Spa: Remove debris, clean filter, and maintain water quality.
Garage: Empty and clean, remove marks or dirt, and wash and dry rubbish bins.
MOVING OUT
Here are our key tips for a smooth moving-out process:
Plan Ahead
Begin the moving-out process well in advance. Schedule your move, organize packing materials, and book any necessary services, such as a moving truck or professional cleaners.
Update Your Details
Notify relevant parties of your change of address, including utility providers, the postal service, and any subscription services you use This ensures a seamless transition in receiving important communications
Create a Checklist
Develop a detailed checklist to keep track of tasks Include items like notifying your landlord, forwarding mail, packing, and scheduling cleaning or repairs
Declutter and Donate
Take the opportunity to declutter your belongings
Donate or discard items you no longer need This not only makes the packing process more manageable but also reduces the amount you need to transport
Pack Systematically
Pack room by room, labeling boxes with their contents and the room they belong to. This will make unpacking at your new place much easier.
Consider Professional Cleaning
Arrange for professional cleaning services to ensure the property is left in pristine condition. This not only meets your obligations.
Document the Condition
Before handing over the keys, document the condition of the property with photos or videos. This can serve as evidence in case of any disputes over the return of your bond.
Return Keys Promptly
Return keys and access devices promptly to avoid any unnecessary charges. Check the terms of your lease agreement for specific instructions regarding key return
Final Walkthrough with your Property Manager
If possible, conduct a final walkthrough with your landlord or property agent. This provides an opportunity to address any concerns or questions they may have about the property's condition.
Prepare for Property Showings
We will contact you to make arrangements to start showing prospective tenants through the property ahead of your departure. We understand there will be some disarray while you're packing, which is fine, but if you could please ensure that the property is in good condition for these inspections, it would be much appreciated
Secure Your Bond Return
Ensure your forwarding address is provided to the landlord or property manager for the prompt return of your bond Address any outstanding issues promptly to expedite the process
Remember, communication with your landlord or property manager is key to a smooth transition during this process Happy moving!
Ask us how we can help you make your move
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raywhite com/concierge
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HOUSEHOLD HINTS
Adhesive Marks
Remove these with methylated spirits.
Ants
Black pepper. baby powder or Borax sprinkled under rugs will deter ants.
Bird droppings
If fresh, wash with warm water. If dried, scrape off excess with a mix of mild detergent and water, adding a few drops of ammonia to remove stain
Carpet
Where carpet has been flattened by heavy furniture, place ice cubes on the area and the carpet will lift as the ice melts To deodorise carpet, sprinkle generously with baking soda before vacuuming
Carpet stains
Wine: If just spilt, soda water can be used with a paper towel If it has been there for some time, dampen the spot and apply Borax Leave Borax on the stain until is is dry then vacuum Pouring table salt directly onto freshly spilt red wine can also absorb the wine, use a mixture of baking soda and white vinegar for any stubborn stains - dab, don't rub
Fruit juice: Make a solution with one teaspoon of Borax and 1/2 litre of warm water to sponge over the area.
Dog urine: Sponge with white vinegar and spray carpet with deodoriser e.g. Febreze.
Lipstick: Dampen the spot with eucalyptus.
Oil: If just spilt, put talcum powder on the spot to absorb oil, then sponge with eucalyptus.
Excreata and vomit: Remove solid matter and mop up excess moisture. Sponge with white vinegar or soda water. Add a few drops of "Nilodor" to offset the smell.
Drains
Pour a small amount of bleach down the sink to bring drains up nice and bright. This also works well removing hair in shower drains.
Doors
A damp cloth is normally sufficient to clean doors, however if they are heavily marked use a detergent solution. Do not use a scouring pad.
Eaves
Use a garden hose and stiff broom to remove cobwebs, dirt and dust
Flies
Keep crushed mint on the kitchen bench to deter flies from entering the kitchen, or leave some bay leaves on your window sills Mint also deters fleas
Grouting
For coloured grouting use Epsom salts and a soft brush to clean off residue For white grouting use bleach with a soft brush to remove residue
Guttering
Gutters should be cleaned out regularly, especially prior to winter to avoid damage
Hairspray
To remove hairspray marks from mirrors, rub with a soft cloth with methylated spirits.
Insects and pests
Sprinkle Borax powder around skirting boards or appliances to repel unwanted guests. Warning: Borax can be toxic to children and pets so use with caution.
Kitty litter
Good for soaking up engine oil from driveways.
Labels
Sticky Labels can be removed by rubbing with eucalyptus, tea tree oil, acetone or Brasso.
HOUSEHOLD HINTS
Laminex
Most stains and marks can be removed by rubbing with toothpaste on a soft cloth.
Mirrors
To prevent bathroom mirrors from steaming up, rub the mirror with a cloth dipped in glycerine and polish off with a soft brush.
Oil on concrete
Mix 6 parts of kerosene to 1 part detergent Leave on the area for approximately five minutes then hose off
Oven
A damp cloth dipped in baking soda will remove grease and stains from the glass To clean the oven, warm for 15 minutes, turn off and place full strength ammonia in a saucer on the top shelf and a pan of boiling water on the bottom shelf Leave overnight with the door closed The next morning open the door for 30 minutes (avoid the fumes) and wash off grease with detergent and hot water Orange peel heated in the oven will remove any lingering smells Cloudy ammonia is good for use on oven racks, trays and rangehood filters Simply soak overnight and wipe clean Line griller tray and under elements on electric cook-tops with aluminium foil to catch food scraps and drips and remove and replace it when dirty
Picture hooks
Contact your property manager before using. any hooks at all. Even removable hooks can remove paint if not removed carefully.
Quarry tiles
If glazed, wipe with kerosene on a soft dry cloth. If unglazed, mop with an equal mix of linseed oil and turpentine.
Rubber stains
Rubber stains can be removed from kitchen floors with tea tree oil.
Sand
Sand is good for absorbing spills and oils on outside areas.
Toilets
To clean stains from the toilet bowl, squirt with household bleach and leave overnight The lid should be removed regularly to avoid build up under the seat
Remove the lid by loosening the two wing nuts at the back of the bowl and slide off
Unknown stains
For unknown stains the safest ingredient to use is eucalyptus Just dab eucalyptus on the affected area
Vaseline
Vaseline is good for use on door hinges to stop doors squeaking
Walls
Walls should be washed down with warm soapy water and not spot cleaned A new or clean squeeze mop is good to clean walls
Windows
To clean windows add 1/2 cup of methylated spirits to a bucket of water.
FORMALITIES
You should have received advice of the rent that is payable to your vacate date together with any break lease fees payable.
Please note that a final water read will be completed when we do your outgoing condition report and a usage calculation billed to your tenancy account
As per your Residential Tenancy Agreement you must keep paying rent up to your vacating date
For your information we have listed the extract from your Residential Tenancy Agreement relevant to vacating your property.
Extract from Residential Tenancy Agreement:
18. The tenant agrees, when this agreement ends and before giving vacant possession of the premises to the landlord:
18 1 to remove all the tenant’s goods from the residential premises, and
18.2 to leave the residential premises as nearly as possible in the same condition, fair wear and tear excepted, as at the commencement of the tenancy, and
18 3 to leave the residential premises reasonably clean, having regard to their condition at the commencement of the tenancy, and
18 4 to remove or arrange for the removal of all rubbish from the residential premises in a way that is lawful and in accordance with council requirements, and
18 5 to make sure that all light fittings on the premises have working globes, and 18 6 to return to the landlord all keys, and other opening devices or similar devices, provided by the landlord
Sale of the premises
21 The landlord agrees:
21.1 to give the tenant written notice that the landlord intends to sell the residential premises, at least 14 days before the premises are made available for inspection by potential purchasers, and
21 2 to make all reasonable efforts to agree with the tenant as to the days and times when the residential premises are to be available for inspection by potential purchasers.
22 The tenant agrees not to unreasonably refuse to agree to days and times when the residential premises are to be available for inspection by potential purchasers
23 The landlord and the tenant agree:
23 1 that the tenant is not required to agree to the residential premises being available for inspection more than twice in a period of a week, and
23 2 that, if they fail to agree, the landlord may show the residential premises to potential purchasers not more than twice in any period of a week and must give the tenant at least 48 hours notice each time
Break fee for fixed term of not more than 3 years
51 The tenant agrees: that, if the tenant ends the residential tenancy agreement before the end of the fixed term of the agreement, the tenant must pay a break fee of the following amount if the fixed term is not more than 3 years:
51 1 4 weeks rent if less than 25% of the fixed term has expired,
51.2 3 weeks rent if 25% or more but less than 50% of the fixed term has expired, 51.3 2 weeks rent if 50% or more but less than 75% of the fixed term has expired,
51 4 1 week’s rent if 75% or more of the fixed term has expired This clause does not apply if the tenant terminates a fixed term residential tenancy agreement for a fixed term of more than 3 years or if the tenant terminates a residential tenancy agreement early for a reason that is permitted under the Residential Tenancies Act 2010.
Note Permitted reasons for early termination include destruction of residential premises, breach of the agreement by the landlord and an offer of social housing or a place in an aged care facility, and being in circumstances of domestic violence. Section 107 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 regulates the rights of the landlord and tenant under this clause
52 The landlord agrees: that the compensation payable by the tenant for ending the residential tenancy agreement before the end of the fixed term of not more than 3 years is limited to the amount specified in clause 51 and any occupation fee payable under the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 for goods left on the residential premises
Note. Section 107 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 also regulates the rights of landlords and tenants for a residential tenancy agreement with a fixed term of more than 3 years.
Additional term - Procedure on Termination
71 Upon termination of this agreement, the tenant must vacate the premises in a peaceful manner and return all keys, security cards and other opening devices to the landlord or the landlord’s agent
72 If the tenant fails to comply with clause 71, the tenant must continue to pay rent to the landlord, at the amount payable immediately prior to termination of this agreement until:
72 1 all the keys, security cards and other opening devices are returned to the landlord or the landlord’s agent; or 72 2 the landlord or the landlord’s agent has replaced/changed the locks to the premises and the landlord is able to gain access to the premises.
73 The tenant is liable, and must compensate the landlord, for the costs incurred by the landlord in replacing/changing the locks under clause 72 2 74 The landlord may apply to the Civil and Administration Tribunal (NCAT) for an order to recover:
74 1 the rent payable by the tenant for the period from the date of termination to the date the landlord gains access to the premises; and
74 2 the costs incurred by the landlord in replacing/changing the locks under clause 72 2
Notes
3 Ending a fixed term agreement If this agreement is a fixed term agreement it may be ended by the landlord or the tenant by giving written notice of termination The notice may be given at any time up until the end of the fixed term but cannot take effect until the term ends The landlord must give at least 30 days notice and the tenant must give at least 14 days notice.
4 Ending a periodic agreement If this agreement is a periodic agreement it may be ended by the landlord or the tenant by giving written notice of termination The notice may be given at any time The landlord must give at least 90 days notice and the tenant must give at least 21 days notice.
GETTING YOUR BOND BACK
Some or all of the bond can be claimed for anything left undone by the tenant in relation to the tenancy, such as unpaid rent, damage to the property, items missing, cleaning or gardening.
Getting your bond back
When vacating the premises it is our goal to assist you in securing your bond refund. Your property manager will need to inspect the property, referencing the initial and ongoing property condition against your outgoing condition report, this helps to determine whether there are any areas of the property that will require further rectification work by you, such as cleaning or repairs. Your property manager will discuss this with you in detail and provide you with a written report and list on any areas that are your responsibility Attending to these matters quickly helps expedite the process
Some or all of the bond can be claimed for anything needing to be rectified by the tenant - relating to the tenancy, such as unpaid rent, damage to the property, missing items and cleaning or gardening maintenance
Refunding the bond
When the inspection has been completed, and providing everything is in order, the bond refund form is completed online by the property manager The form is then sent to the state specific Rental Bond Board Refunds are made by direct credit and all your specific bank account numbers must be provided at the time of completing the form Please note that bond refunds usually take up to three to five working days to process.
It a refund amount is not agreed
If the tenant and the property manager cannot agree on the amount of costs that should be taken out of the bond, then either the tenant or the property manager (or both) can make an application to the Tenancy Tribunal for mediation and dispute settlement. There may be a fee for this dispute hearing,
The application will then be given to a mediator, who will contact the parties involved and set up a time for a mediation, which may be done by phone or in person. Both the property manager and tenant will be able to discuss the claim being made on the bond and, with the mediator's help, may be able to reach a mutually agreeable outcome. The mediator will then write an order as to how the bond is to be paid out. This order is binding as a court order. If no settlement is reached in mediation, the application will be set down for a hearing in the Tenancy Tribunal.
Important things to note around bond refunds
A property manager does not have to release any of the bond before the tenancy ends, in order for there to be sufficient bond for the next rental property(the same goes for any bond transfers)
There is no required time-frame around how long after a tenancy ends in which a bond should be refunded, however the time-frame should be reasonable and if there are any delays these should only be due to outstanding invoices or repairs and damages
Although it is recommended, the tenants do not have to be present when the final inspection is carried out The property manager has the right to complete the inspection on their own
Failure to hand back all the keys for a property can delay bond refunds or result in charges being deducted for lock and key replacements. Please ensure that all keys are accounted for at the end of the tenancy.
AS WE CONCLUDE THIS INFORMATIONAL GUIDE, THE ENTIRE RAY WHITE GOULBURN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TEAM EXTENDS OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE
