How close to the final inspection should the clean be?

Typically within 24 to 48 hours, because an empty house still collects dust in a week. If carpets are steam cleaned, allow a typical 4 to 8 hours of drying. Ask for the inspection report in writing, because the re-clean window runs from the inspection.

The oven was already dirty when I moved in. Do I still have to clean it?

You have to return it in the condition recorded in your entry condition report, not better. If the report or your move-in photos show it was dirty at the start, you are not required to return it cleaner.

Do I need to steam clean the carpets if I did not have pets?

Usually not. In NSW a lease term requiring professional carpet cleaning is prohibited unless the landlord consented to a pet being kept inside the home and the cleaning is reasonable for that pet. In VIC and QLD a carpet clause is generally only enforceable if it is specific and the carpet was professionally cleaned at the start of your tenancy. Otherwise a thorough vacuum and spot clean is your obligation, unless the carpet is stained or smells, when a steam clean is the cheapest way out.

What should I photograph after the clean?

Every room from the doorway, then the oven, the rangehood filter, the shower screen, the toilet, inside every cupboard and wardrobe, every window track and each floor, in daylight with the lights on and the date stamp kept. If a deduction is claimed, they go to the dispute body with your entry report.

Bond cleaning checklist: what the property manager inspects

What is a bond clean and who inspects it?

A bond clean is the end-of-tenancy clean that returns a rental to the condition recorded in your entry condition report, fair wear and tear excepted. It is also called an end-of-lease, vacate, exit or move-out clean, depending on the state.

The property manager, or a self-managing landlord, inspects the empty property room by room against the entry condition report after you hand back the keys. Anything dirtier than that report can be claimed against your bond. Anything worn rather than dirty is fair wear and tear, which cannot be claimed.

Cleaning is the one bond deduction you fully control. Damage and rent arrears are separate. This page is general information for WA, VIC, NSW and QLD, not legal advice: the official pages linked in the rules table are the source of truth.

the short version

How do I use this bond cleaning checklist?

Clean the property empty, work in the inspector's order, then print the tick sheet and leave a copy with the keys.

1Clean once the property is empty. Furniture hides skirting boards, carpet edges and wall marks.
2Work top to bottom, dry before wet: cobwebs and dusting, then walls and doors, then fixtures, then floors.
3Do the kitchen and bathrooms first. Grease and scale need soaking time and carry most flagged items.
4Open everything and look up. Inspectors open the oven, dishwasher, rangehood and every cupboard, then check light fittings and tracks.

room by room

Bond cleaning checklist: 55 items across 5 rooms

What does the property manager check in the kitchen?

Cleaning deductions usually start in the kitchen, because grease can be found by touch. The property manager runs a finger along the top oven rack, lifts out the rangehood filters, opens every cupboard, pulls the dishwasher filter and checks the floor where the fridge stood.

Kitchen, 14 items
Done	Task	How to do it
	Oven, racks, trays & griller degreased inside and out	Soak the racks; oven cleaner for the full label time.
	Oven door glass cleaned, including between the panes	Check the manual, then slide the inner pane out.
	Cooktop knobs, trivets & drip trays removed and degreased	Pull the knobs off and soak them.
	Cooktop, rangehood & filter cleaned	Slide the mesh filters out and soak them.
	Cupboards and drawers wiped inside and out	Vacuum crumbs, then wipe shelves, fronts and handles.
	Kickboards and cupboard top edges wiped	Damp cloth along each top edge and the kickboard.
	Benchtops, splashback & tiles cleaned	Degrease, then buff dry, grout included.
	Sink and tapware descaled and polished	Descaler at the tap base, then dry to a shine.
	Dishwasher wiped and filter cleared	Twist the filter out, rinse, wipe the seal.
	Microwave cleaned inside and out (if supplied)	Steam a bowl of water, then wipe the roof.
	Fridge cavity cleaned, including the top and the floor behind it	Top of the cavity, wall behind, floor.
	Pantry shelves wiped and crumbs cleared	Vacuum the corners, then wipe each shelf.
	Bin cupboard and floor beneath sanitised	Degrease the cupboard floor where drips land.
	Kitchen floor vacuumed and mopped, edges and corners included	Mop last, kickboard strip included.

Often missed:

The rangehood filter
The oven door glass between the panes
The top of the fridge cavity
The floor under the kickboards

What does the property manager check in the bathroom?

The inspector looks for soap scum on the shower screen, limescale on tapware and tracks, and mould in silicone and grout, running a hand along the bottom screen track and looking behind the toilet. Surface mould is part of a bond clean. Mould grown through silicone or plasterboard is remediation.

Bathrooms and toilet, 12 items
Done	Task	How to do it
	Showers, screens, tiles & grout scrubbed	Descaler, non-scratch pad, rinse, squeegee dry.
	Shower screen tracks, frame & seals descaled	Toothbrush and descaler along the track and joins.
	Shower head and drain cover descaled, hair removed	Vinegar soak; lift the cover and clear the hair.
	Bath and surround scrubbed (if present)	Cream cleanser, then wipe the silicone line.
	Toilet sanitised inside and out	Under the rim, then seat, lid and outside.
	Toilet base, cistern & seat hinges wiped	Where the base meets the floor, and behind.
	Vanity, basin and tapware cleaned	Descale tap base and plug; brush the overflow.
	Vanity cupboards and drawers wiped inside and out	Clear every bottle and wipe the sticky rings.
	Mirrors and glass left streak-free	Glass cleaner, dry microfibre, check from the side.
	Exhaust fans dusted	Vacuum the grille, then wipe or wash it.
	Towel rails, toilet roll holder & hooks polished	Wipe and dry each one; chrome shows fingerprints.
	Floors mopped and disinfected	Behind the door and under where the bathmat sat.

Often missed:

The shower screen tracks and the bottom seal
The toilet base and cistern
The exhaust fan cover

What does the property manager check in bedrooms and living areas?

These rooms are inspected empty, so the inspector sees what your furniture covered: the floor under the bed, the wall behind the couch, the skirting behind every door and inside every wardrobe, then the blind slats, window tracks, light fittings and fans.

Bedrooms and living areas, 13 items
Done	Task	How to do it
	Floors vacuumed and mopped / carpets vacuumed	Vacuum slowly in two directions; mop barely damp.
	Carpet edges vacuumed with the crevice tool	That dark line along the skirting is dust.
	Skirting boards, sills & ledges dusted	Brush tool, then a damp cloth along the top.
	Skirting boards behind doors and where furniture stood	Open each door fully and clean behind it.
	Light switches, power points & door handles wiped	Spray the cloth, not the switch.
	Built-in wardrobes cleaned inside and out	Vacuum the floor; wipe shelves, rail and fronts.
	Wardrobe tracks, rails & mirror doors cleaned	Vacuum the track; glass cleaner on the mirrors.
	Interior windows, tracks & flyscreens	Vacuum and scrub the tracks; rinse the flyscreens.
	Sliding door glass and tracks cleaned	Vacuum and wipe the track, then both glass faces.
	Blinds dusted slat by slat, cords & headrails wiped	Close one way and wipe, then the other.
	Curtain rails and pelmets dusted	Wipe the rail and the top of the pelmet.
	Ceiling fans dusted and blades wiped	A pillowcase over each blade catches the dust.
	Cobwebs removed throughout	Cloth wrapped broom along every cornice.

Often missed:

Blind slats, along the top edge
Window tracks and flyscreens
Light fittings and ceiling fan blades
Skirting boards behind doors

What does the property manager check in the laundry?

A quick inspection and an easy deduction. The property manager pulls the dryer lint filter, looks into the tub and its overflow, checks behind where the washing machine stood and looks for a tide mark on the floor.

Laundry, 7 items
Done	Task	How to do it
	Sink, tapware and cupboards cleaned	Cream cleanser in the tub, descaler on the taps.
	Laundry tub overflow and drain cleared and descaled	Bottle brush through the overflow; clear the plug.
	Behind and around appliances wiped	Pull the machine out; clean the floor and wall.
	Washing machine taps, hoses & outlets wiped	Descale the taps; wipe lint off the outlet.
	Washing machine drum, seal & dispenser wiped (if supplied)	Wash the drawer; wipe inside the door seal.
	Dryer lint filter cleared	Brush the filter clean; wipe the drum.
	Floors mopped and disinfected	Corners, under the tub, and where each machine stood.

Often missed:

The dryer lint filter
The laundry tub overflow
The floor and wall behind the washing machine

What does the property manager check throughout the home?

Last come the things that belong to no single room: walls beside light switches, doors and frames, air-conditioning filters, light fittings, and any balcony or garage on the lease. A scuff is cleaning and is expected to be gone. A nail hole, dent or chip is damage, which no cleaner fixes.

Throughout the home, 9 items
Done	Task	How to do it
	Spot-clean of walls (marks & scuffs)	Magic eraser on scuffs, test a hidden patch first.
	Air-con filters and vents dusted	Slide filters out, rinse, dry; wipe the louvres.
	Doors, frames and architraves wiped	Both faces, the frame, and the top edge.
	Light fittings and shades dusted in every room	Wipe shades and glass once cool.
	Smoke alarm dusted, not removed	Vacuum brush only; never unclip it.
	Entry, hallway and stairs vacuumed and mopped	Stair edges and the strip under the handrail.
	Front and back doors, glass & security screens wiped	Both sides, plus the handle and frame.
	Internal bins emptied, rinsed and left dry	Rinse and leave open to dry.
	Final detail and quality check before sign-off	Daylight, every light on, then photograph each room.

Often missed:

The top edge of every door
The air-conditioning filter
The wall beside each light switch

how long it takes

How many hours does a bond clean take by property size?

A bond clean takes roughly 3 to 4 person hours for a studio and 12 to 16 or more for a five bedroom home. A two person crew halves the clock, so the studio is about 1.5 to 2 hours on site and the five bedroom home about 6 to 8.

Typical bond clean hours by property size
Property size	Person hours	Two person crew, on site
Studio	3 to 4	1.5 to 2
1 bedroom, 1 bathroom	4 to 5	2 to 2.5
2 bedroom, 1 bathroom	5 to 7	2.5 to 3.5
3 bedroom, 2 bathroom	7 to 10	3.5 to 5
4 bedroom, 2 bathroom	9 to 13	4.5 to 6.5
5 or more bedrooms	12 to 16 or more	6 to 8 or more

Typical hours for an empty property in average condition, no add-ons. One person on site takes the full person hours. Carpet steam cleaning is on top, typically 30 to 45 minutes a room plus 4 to 8 hours of drying.

Why do websites give different answers for how long a bond clean takes?

They measure two different things and call both hours. One site says a three bedroom bond clean takes 4 hours, another says 8 to 10, and both can be right: the first is elapsed time for a two person crew, the second is total labour, people multiplied by hours.

How long does a bond clean take? What adds time and how to plan the day

what it costs

What does a bond clean cost by property size?

Through the Local Bunch Cleaning network a bond clean starts from $189 for a studio or one bedroom property and from $549 for a five bedroom or large home, fixed by property size before the clean. The right hand column is the published 2026 market range for the same size across Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, lowest low to highest high. A from price is an empty, average condition property with no add-ons.

Bond clean starting prices by property size beside the 2026 market range
Property size	Local Bunch network	Published market range, 2026
Studio / 1 bed, 1 bath	from$189	$150 to $520
2 bed, 1 bath	from$259	$210 to $650
3 bed, 2 bath	from$329	$210 to $650
4 bed, 2 bath	from$429	$280 to $960
5+ bed / large home	from$549	$280 to $960

Market range: CleaningSearch 2026, base clean only, GST inclusive, oven and walls sometimes billed on top. It groups 2 to 3 bedrooms and 4 or more, so a band appears twice.

What does a bond clean cost in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth?

In 2026 a 2 to 3 bedroom bond clean is quoted at $250 to $650 in Sydney, $230 to $600 in Melbourne, $210 to $550 in Brisbane and $230 to $580 in Perth. The Local Bunch Cleaning starting prices are the same in all four cities.

2026 bond clean market range by city
City	Studio or 1 bedroom	2 to 3 bedrooms	4 or more bedrooms
Sydney, NSW	$180 to $520	$250 to $650	$340 to $960
Melbourne, VIC	$170 to $480	$230 to $600	$320 to $890
Brisbane, QLD	$150 to $440	$210 to $550	$280 to $810
Perth, WA	$160 to $460	$230 to $580	$310 to $860

Source: CleaningSearch, Bond Cleaning Calculator and Price List Australia 2026. Base clean only, GST inclusive, fetched 15 September 2026. A cleaning directory, not government data.

What do bond clean add-ons cost?

Add-ons are jobs a standard bond clean does not include but a lease or entry report sometimes requires, quoted on top of the base price. Whether one is needed turns on whether the agent expects a receipt.

Bond clean add-ons and when each is needed
Add-on	Starting price	Needed when
Carpet steam clean (per room)	from$35	A specific carpet clause, pets, or visible stains
Whole-home carpet steam clean	from$120	The same, for three or more carpeted rooms
Pest control, flea fumigation	from$120	A cat or dog kept under a pet clause
Exterior windows	from$60	Reachable glass only, nothing above two storeys or on a roof
Wall washing (per room)	from$40	Marks covering whole walls, such as cooking film
Garage / balcony sweep & tidy	from$45	A garage or balcony with oil stains or leaf build up
Blind cleaning (per blind)	from$15	A grease film that dusting will not shift

rather have a provider do the lot?Get a Free Quote

the boring-but-important bit

Who holds my bond and where do disputes go in WA, VIC, NSW and QLD?

Your bond is never held by the property manager. In WA, VIC, NSW and QLD it is lodged with a government bond authority, and a cleaning deduction has to be agreed by you or decided by that state's dispute body, named in the table below.

Bond and move-out cleaning rules in WA, VIC, NSW and QLD
State	Who holds the bond	Move-out standard	Can a professional clean be required?	Disputes go to	Official page
WA (Perth)	Bond Administrator (WA)	Similar condition to move-in, fair wear and tear excepted	No WA rule requires it. Check the lease and the entry report	The Commissioner for Consumer Protection (via Bonds Administration), then the Magistrates Court on appeal	Consumer Protection WA
VIC (Melbourne)	Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA)	Reasonably clean, and not better than at move-in	No, not as a blanket standard lease term	Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV), then VCAT	Consumer Affairs Victoria
NSW (Sydney)	NSW Fair Trading (Rental Bonds Online)	Reasonably clean, having regard to the condition of the premises at the start of the tenancy (Act s 51)	Carpet cleaning only if the landlord consented to an indoor pet and it is reasonable for that pet. Fumigation only if that pet is a mammal	NSW Fair Trading, then NCAT	NSW Fair Trading
QLD (Brisbane)	Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA)	As recorded in the entry condition report, fair wear and tear aside	A general professional cleaning clause is not automatically enforceable	The RTA dispute resolution service, then QCAT	RTA

In all four states you cannot be charged for fair wear and tear, and your entry condition report and move-in photos are your strongest evidence. General information, not legal advice: check the linked official page before relying on any row.

Rules for all eight states and territories, with the Act and the bond process for each

What is the difference between dirt and fair wear and tear?

Dirt is anything cleaning removes. Fair wear and tear is the gradual deterioration of ordinary living, and it cannot be claimed against your bond in any state. Grease on the rangehood filter is dirt. Faded paint is wear. A hand mark on the wall is dirt. A worn patch of hallway carpet is wear. A cracked tile is damage, which is neither.

the fine print

What is not included in a bond clean?

A bond clean is a clean, not a repair, a removal or a pest service, whoever does it.

What a bond clean does not include, and why
Not included	Why
Mould remediation beyond surface cleaning (health & safety)	Surface mould is cleaned; mould through silicone or plasterboard is a specialist job.
Pest control unless added on	A licensed job with a receipt, usually only where a pet was kept.
Carpet steam cleaning unless added on	Carpets are vacuumed. Steam cleaning is a separate machine and charge.
Rubbish or furniture removal	Everything you own must be gone before the clean starts.
Cleaning that requires working above 2 storeys / on a roof	Gutters, roof glass and high windows are not tenant tasks.
Repairs, painting or patching of walls	Marks are cleaned. Holes, chips and peeling paint are a repair.
Garden, lawn or outdoor area maintenance	Mow the lawn if the lease requires it, but that is a garden job, not a clean.

backed in writing

What does the 72 hour re-clean guarantee cover?

The guarantee covers the clean, not the bond. If your property manager flags anything on the original move-out checklist within 72 hours of the final inspection, the provider assigned to your clean returns and re-cleans those areas free of charge. The property must be vacant and in the same condition as when it was cleaned.

It is not a bond-back guarantee. The bond also covers damage and unpaid rent, which cleaning cannot fix, so nobody can honestly guarantee your whole bond. What is guaranteed is that any flagged item on the original checklist is re-cleaned within the window at no charge.

Who actually does the clean?

Local Bunch Cleaning arranges a network of independent, insured, police-checked local cleaning providers. It is not the cleaner. When you request a quote you are matched with a vetted provider near the property, who gives the fixed quote, cleans to this checklist and honours the re-clean guarantee.

good questions

Checklist questions

After. Property managers inspect an empty property, and furniture hides the carpet edges, skirting boards and wall marks they look for. Move out, clean, then hand back the keys.

See all end-of-lease cleaning FAQs

Sources

Consumer Protection WA, Bond disputes Disputed bonds go to the Commissioner for Consumer Protection, then the Magistrates Court.
Consumer Affairs Victoria, Resolving bond disputes RDRV, then VCAT.
NSW Government, Residential tenancy agreements Prohibited lease terms, including carpet cleaning and fumigation.
NSW Government, Dealing with bond disputes for tenants NSW Fair Trading and the NCAT time limit.
Residential Tenancies Authority, Carpet cleaning and pest control When a QLD carpet or pest clause is enforceable.
Residential Tenancies Authority, Disputes RTA dispute resolution, then QCAT.
CleaningSearch, Bond Cleaning Calculator and Price List Australia 2026 Base clean only, GST inclusive, fetched 15 September 2026. A cleaning directory, not government data.

The bond cleaning checklist: what property managers inspect, and how to do each item

What is a bond clean and who inspects it?

How do I use this bond cleaning checklist?

Bond cleaning checklist: 55 items across 5 rooms

What does the property manager check in the kitchen?

What does the property manager check in the bathroom?

What does the property manager check in bedrooms and living areas?

What does the property manager check in the laundry?

What does the property manager check throughout the home?

How many hours does a bond clean take by property size?

Why do websites give different answers for how long a bond clean takes?

What does a bond clean cost by property size?

What does a bond clean cost in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth?

What do bond clean add-ons cost?

Who holds my bond and where do disputes go in WA, VIC, NSW and QLD?

What is the difference between dirt and fair wear and tear?

What is not included in a bond clean?

What does the 72 hour re-clean guarantee cover?

Who actually does the clean?

Checklist questions

Sources

Let's get your bond back. No stress.

The bond cleaning checklist: what property managers inspect, and how to do each item

What is a bond clean and who inspects it?

How do I use this bond cleaning checklist?

Bond cleaning checklist: 55 items across 5 rooms

What does the property manager check in the kitchen?

What does the property manager check in the bathroom?

What does the property manager check in bedrooms and living areas?

What does the property manager check in the laundry?

What does the property manager check throughout the home?

How many hours does a bond clean take by property size?

Why do websites give different answers for how long a bond clean takes?

What does a bond clean cost by property size?

What does a bond clean cost in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth?

What do bond clean add-ons cost?

Who holds my bond and where do disputes go in WA, VIC, NSW and QLD?

What is the difference between dirt and fair wear and tear?

What is not included in a bond clean?

What does the 72 hour re-clean guarantee cover?

Who actually does the clean?

Checklist questions

Should the bond clean happen before or after the removalists?

How close to the final inspection should the clean be?

The oven was already dirty when I moved in. Do I still have to clean it?

Do I need to steam clean the carpets if I did not have pets?

What should I photograph after the clean?

Sources

Let's get your bond back. No stress.