Vacating your rental property
We understand that you have provided the appropriate Notice to Leave, signed by all occupants of your rental property, and that you are now preparing to vacate.
We have created this Tenant Vacate Handbook as a guide to help you successfully vacate your rental property, and ensure the final inspection runs smoothly for you.
This handbook outlines what is required by you as the tenant, what our expectations are as the managing agent, and what to focus on to ensure you receive a full bond refund.
Should you have any additional queries after your Property Manager has gone through this handbook with you, please take the time at this meeting to ask questions.
We are here to help you in any way we can to make your moving experience a happy one.
What you are required to do...
Inside the rental property:
You are required to hand your rental property back to us in the same condition it was when you moved in. Some consideration may be given to fair wear and tear given the length of time you occupied the rental property.
Note: Cleaning items and damage are never considered fair wear & tear.
Cleaning list to assist you:
• All windows, tracks and sills to be cleaned inside, & outside where possible
• All light bulbs to be in a working condition – replace as necessary
• All walls washed down to remove any marks and finger prints
• All doors washed down to remove any marks and finger prints
• All cupboard and/or walk in robe shelving to be wiped and cleaned
• All ceiling fans to be cobweb free and wiped clean
• All exhaust fans to be washed and left clean
• All light fittings and skylights to be cobweb and insect free, and wiped clean
• All light switches and power points to be wiped and left clean
• Bathrooms and ensuite to be thoroughly cleaned, including:
o Light fittings, heat/fan units and exhaust fans
o Grout in the bath and shower areas
o Shower screens and mirrors
o Vanity units including sink, doors/drawers and inside the cupboards
o All taps and soap dishes/dispensers
o Wipe down walls and wash floors
o Toilets including around the S Bend at the rear
• Any laundry appliances to be left clean and undamaged including:
o Cleaning lint filters
o Wipe out the washing machine soap dispensers
• Kitchen to be thoroughly cleaned including:
o Wiping out all cupboards and drawers, and pantry if applicable
o Clean range hood including vents, ensuring all are grease free
o Stove/cooktop to be thoroughly cleaned, free of grease & burnt on marks
o Grill to be completely clean/grease free including burnt on marks to trays
o Oven to be completely clean/grease free including trays, racks and rails
o Sinks and taps to be clean and all plugs to be returned
o Kitchen appliances to be returned clean, undamaged and working state
• All carpets are to be professionally cleaned and a receipt is to be provided
• If you had pets, a pest control spray is required and a receipt provided
• If curtains/blinds/verticals are marked they will be required to be cleaned
Note: the backing on rubber backed curtains will perish if washed in a machine
Outside the rental property:
If your rental property has a garden or lawn areas, you are required to attend to these and hand them back in a well-maintained condition. Including:
• All grass areas or lawn is to be neatly mowed and edged
• All garden beds are to be weeded and tidied
• Any plants/shrubs/bushes that have died during your tenancy to be replaced
• Any paved areas or paths are to be weeded and stain free
Any damage caused to grounds / lawn areas etc from tenants or pets will need to be restored back to the correct state. If lawns are damaged, turf will need to be used to ensure that the yard is presented in a neat and tidy condition.
The outside of your rental property will need to be presented correctly. We will be checking items such as:
• All exterior surfaces to be cobweb free
• All balconies, entertaining areas & pathways to be swept, washed and stain free
• Driveways to be pressure washed to ensure any stains are removed
• Garage floors are also to be given back in the same condition so if the floor has been stained in any way these marks will have to be removed
• Mailbox to be cobweb free and undamaged
• Any external light fittings, spot lights or alarm/security measures to be clean and cobweb free. All lights to be free of insects.
If you were provided with hoses or hose connections for your rental property you will need to ensure they are returned, neatly rolled up and stored out of the weather.
If your property has a garden shed or additional storage facility, please ensure this is swept out, cobweb free and remove any rubbish items. This area is to be returned as it was handed to you at the commencement of your lease.
If your property has a swimming pool or spa, this will need to be cleaned and left in a swimmable clean condition.
Additional items to take note of:
Rubbish bins –
Mail redirection –
It is the Tenants responsibility to ensure that the garbage bins are emptied and have been rinsed out to remove any garbage waste.
Please plan ahead to ensure that you put the bins out on the last rubbish collection day before your final inspection to comply with this request.
You are relocating, you will need to arrange for your mail to be redirected to your new address. Mail redirection forms are available from any Australia Post shop.
We suggest this is attended to as soon as you give your notice to leave as this can take 7 – 10 days to become effective and we don’t want your mail going missing after you have vacated the property.
Disconnecting your services –
Please note that we are not able to disconnect your utilities for you. Therefore, you will need to contact all your service providers and arrange for your services to be transferred to your new home, or disconnected after your final inspection.
These services include:
• Electricity and Gas services
• Telephone and internet services
• Foxtel services
• Content insurance – you will need to advise your insurer you are moving
• Vehicle insurance – please advise your insurer of your new address
Note: Please ensure that your electricity remains connected for 3 days following your final inspection so that your Property Manager may check lights and electrical appliances, and to allow further reinspection if required.
Your rent & final payments - what is required:
Rent -
As you are aware, you are required to pay your rent up to and including your vacate date.
If this is not a full weeks’ rent payment, please contact your Property Manager so they can calculate the exact amount required for you.
It is often a misconception that tenants have a credit based on the initial two weeks rent paid at the commencement of their lease. Please note that this is incorrect as this money was used for your first fortnights rent at the property.
Water usage –
If your property is water compliant and your tenancy agreement states that you are responsible for paying for water, you will be supplied with a final water metre reading and usage invoice straight after your final inspection.
This invoice together with any outstanding water invoices will need to be paid straight away to ensure this doesn’t hold up the release of your bond.
Returning keys –
You are required to return all keys and remotes as provided to you at the start of your tenancy, together with any additional keys you had cut during your lease.
The photocopy taken of the keys at the commencement of your lease will be used as a guide to ensure there are no keys missing.
Should keys be missing, or need replacing, together with any remotes that have been misplaced – this is the Tenants responsibility to attend to this prior to your final inspection. We are happy to assist you with this so please contact your Property Manager if required.
Your final inspection - how this is conducted:
Once you have given your “Notice to Leave”, your Property Manager will be in touch with you to schedule in your final inspection date and time.
At our final inspection we use your original entry condition report as our guide to how the property is to be returned.
We will be checking for the following:
• Any damage caused has been repaired and restored to a professional standard
• All cleaning is to a professional and satisfactory standard
• Carpets have been professionally cleaned and receipt has been provided
• If required, a pest control spray has been carried out and receipt provided
• Gardens and grounds have been attended to and are all healthy, neat and tidy
• All personal items have been removed from the property
• Any rubbish has been removed from the property and bins are empty / clean
• All keys, remotes and or swipes have been returned and are working
• All light bulbs are in place and in a working condition
• Obtain a final water metre reading for the property as at that final day
Note: Should we have to re-inspect your property after your final inspection, you may be charged a reinspection fee of $40.00 + GST each time.
Please do not lock your keys in the property. We ask that you drop the keys and any remotes to our office before close of business on your specified vacate date. This allows us to ensure that the property is secure and that keys are correctly stored at our agency.
If you have any questions prior to your final inspection, please call your property manager.
Bond refund - finalising your tenancy:
When it comes to vacating and moving out of your rental property, we are here to help you as much as we possibly can.
Being prepared and working with the attached checklist will ensure you don’t forget something important and be caught out at the last minute.
Once we have completed your final inspection we can release your bond as soon as:
• Rent up to and including the vacate date has been received in full
• All water invoices have been paid, if applicable
• The property has been returned in the right condition with nothing outstanding
• All keys and remotes have been returned
The fastest way to receive your bond refund is to provide bank details to your Property Manager in writing.
Please note that a bond can only be released with agreement by all parties.
Therefore, if you have a dispute relating to finalising your tenancy, your bond will remain lodged with the RTA until this dispute has been resolved.
Where possible we do recommend that outstanding monies are paid separately by you, and that your bond is refunded in full. This will reflect more positively on your next rental reference.
However, if this isn’t possible minor invoices or cleaning items etc may be paid for by signing over part or all of your bond to cover these expenses.
Tenancy Vacating - Checklist:
( ) “Notice to Leave” issued to my Property Manager on the: _______________
( ) Contacted a removalist and booked in my move for the: ________________
( ) Contacted my electricity provider and arranged for disconnection (minimum 3 days after the vacate date)
( ) Arranged for the power to be connected at my new address
( ) Contacted my phone/internet provider & arranged for transfer to new address
( ) Advised insurance company of new address for contents & vehicle insurance
( ) If using a professional cleaner – booked in for the: _____________________
( ) Professional carpet cleaner arranged – booked in for the: _______________
( ) If Pest control spray required – booked in for the: ______________________
( ) Gardener / lawn mowing required – booked in for the: __________________
( ) Mail redirection arranged – commences on the: _______________________
( ) Final rent amount obtained from agency – Total amount due: ____________
( ) If applicable, all water invoices have been paid
( ) Final inspection arranged with agency for the: ______________ at ________
( ) Any repairs / damage items attended to and fixed
( ) All keys and remotes accounted for and ready to hand in on my vacate date
( ) Bank account details supplied to property manager for bond refund
If you have any questions relating to your final inspection, or about how to prepare your property, please contact your property manager and allow us to assist you.
Trades people & services - to assist you:
At RJR Property we have professional and qualified companies that we know and trust who are willing to help make your move a smooth stress-free experience.
Please contact our office to obtain the details for the following service providers –
