Guide for tenants: end of lease cleaning responsibilities

Is the end of your lease approaching?

Being a renter comes with many responsibilities. Usually, the main obligations involve leaving your rental spotless and damage-free. But what exactly needs to be cleaned?

End-of-lease cleaning goes beyond everyday tidying. Your property manager may have specific expectations, particularly if you want to ensure your bond is returned in full.

In this article, we’ll outline your legal obligations, share practical tips to get your bond back, and provide a room-by-room cleaning checklist to help you get started.

For personalised end-of-lease cleaning Canberra, reach out to Mint Cleaning today. Our team is dedicated to achieving results, with years of experience cleaning all types of properties.

Tenant obligations under ACT law

You might be familiar with most regular tenant obligations in the ACT. For instance, paying rent on time, taking care of the property, and asking the landlord before making any changes.

But what are your tenant cleaning obligations? When your lease is ending, there are two key obligations to keep in mind:

• Remove all personal belongings and furniture
• Ensure the property is in the same condition as it was at the beginning of the tenancy. However, some cases of regular wear and tear may be accepted

Once ready, the landlord and tenant will conduct a final inspection of the property. This is to ensure everything is in order. The landlord will then write up a condition report.

It’s important to check this report to ensure it aligns with your inspection and expectations. If you are responsible for any damages, ACT law also dictates that you must either repair the damage or pay for the repairs.

These repairs should also be recorded in writing for future reference, in case of disputes.

Your room-by-room cleaning checklist

Starting a big cleaning project can be overwhelming. But this checklist will help you break it down into simple, easy steps.

Bedrooms

• Dust and wipe all surfaces
• Wipe skirting boards
• Dust cobwebs
• Clean and polish mirrors
• Clean inside and outside of cupboards
• Spot clean doors
• Clean air-conditioners and air vents
• Vacuum carpets and mop floors

Kitchen

• Clean and degrease the range hood and stovetop
• Wipe benchtops and splashbacks
• Clean and polish the sink and taps
• Clean and filter the dishwasher
• Clean the exterior and interior of all cupboards, cabinets, and pantries
• Polish all stainless-steel surfaces
• Wipe skirting boards
• Vacuum and mop floors

Living and dining rooms

• Spot clean doors
• Wipe down skirting boards
• Vacuum and mop all floors
• Dust high corners

Bathrooms and laundry

• Clean baths and showers
• Polish sinks and taps
• Sanitise toilets and seal toilet seats
• Remove mould
• Clean mirrors and polish surfaces
• Clean interior and exterior of cabinets, drawers, and cupboards
• Spot clean doors
• Clean exhaust fans
• Vacuum and mop floors

Entryways and corridors

• Spot clean doors
• Wipe down skirting boards
• Vacuum and mop all floors
• Dust high corners

Windows

• Wipe down the frames
• Clean the interior and exterior of the windows

Tips for bond return

Your bond is an amount of money paid to the landlord to cover any damages or lease breaches. If you have not caused any problems or needed any repairs done, you should be entitled to the full return of your bond.

In the ACT, when your lease is finished, you or your landlord can request a bond refund from the ACT Revenue Office. If your landlord makes a claim for a deduction of part or all of your bond, and you disagree with their findings, you can dispute it.

However, the best way to get your bond back is to avoid this entirely. You can do so by following these key tips.

1. Make it spotless

Going through our provided cleaning checklist is one of the best ways to ensure you receive your bond. However, if this is too much, a professional cleaning service may be what you need.

They can quickly and efficiently clean every corner of the rental to ensure it is ready for inspection.

2. Documentation and needed repairs

Typically, when you move into a rental property, it is recommended that you take photos of the premises before moving in. This ensures you have documented evidence of the current condition of the property.

If damage is already there, you can’t be blamed for it later. On the other hand, if you have caused damage, getting it repaired before inspection may save you money down the line.

Mint Cleaning

At Mint Cleaning, we offer comprehensive end-of-lease cleaning services. Our experienced and qualified team is practised at cleaning every area your landlord or real estate agent will inspect.

We know the ins and outs of lease cleaning and offer a 100% bond back guarantee. That means if there are any issues with your inspection, we’ll jump back in to fix it at no additional cost.

With fixed-price cleaning and flexible service available every day of the week, you can ensure your rental is ready even at the last minute. Along with our extensive cleaning service, you can personalise our support to suit your needs with a range of cleaning extras.

End-of-lease done right with Mint Cleaning

Are you ready for the end of your lease? If not, that’s no problem. Reach out to our team at Mint Cleaning today for the expert cleaning service you need. Sit back, relax, and secure your bond with professional cleaning services today.

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