Tenants in NSW generally pay the equivalent of four weeks of rent as a bond on their rental home. The bond is returned to the tenant in full at the end of the lease …. but only if a few key things happen.
The key thing is that the home needs to be left in the same condition that it was in when you moved in, fair wear and tear excepted.
Fair Wear and Tear
When you live in a home for many years, over time there is wear and tear: the carpets may become worn, the paint may need touching-up, cupboard door hinges may become loose and so on. These sorts of things are expected and anticipated over time. However, this is different to things such as burn marks or stains on the carpet, dents in the walls and damaged light fittings.
Cleaning Cleaning: how to clean your rental home and get your bond back
It’s important to thoroughly clean the home before you return the keys. Some tenants choose professional cleaners for this, but you can also choose to clean the home yourself. Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathroom. The gardens need to be neat as well, the carpet vacuumed and the windows cleaned inside.
Removing your Items
Also important is removing your items and belongings. Check cupboards, draws, the shed, storage under the stairs / in the attic etc and remove everything that is yours.
Your condition report is key
At the start of a tenancy, the owner / property manager and tenant complete a condition report. This important document records the condition of the property at the start of the tenancy, and it is this document that the property manager / owner will refer to when they consider the condition of the property at the end of the lease. It is important to ensure as far as possible that the condition you are leaving the property in matches the condition that the home was in at the start of the lease. In NSW, the law states that a rental property should be returned “reasonably clean”.
What about pets?
If you had pets residing in your home, the property manager / landlord can ask for additional cleaning to be done before you vacate such as having the carpet professionally cleaned.
Why didn’t I get my bond back?
There are some common reasons for property managers retaining part or all of the bond. These include:
The tenant owes rent
The tenant has not removed their items and so bond is being taken to pay for their removal
The garden has been left in an overgrown state and so bond money is being taken to pay for a gardener
The property was not left clean and so the bond is being used to cover the cost of professional cleaners
There were repairs needed that are not considered fair wear and tear
The property has been damaged and it is not considered fair wear and tear
Unpaid utility bills such as water, if the tenant was required to pay for water
The tenant is breaking the lease
The tenant hasn’t handed back all copies of the keys that were provided
It’s always advisable to do all that you can and need to do to get your full bond back. Claims against your bond must be disclosed in future rental applications, so a claim against your bond may impact your ability to secure a rental home in the future.
Melissa Maimann is a licensed real estate agent, buyer's agent and rental search / relocation agent in Sydney. She saves tenants time and frustration offering an affordable service that finds and secures the best rental properties quickly, easily and efficiently. If you need a Licensed Real Estate Agent to find your next rental home for you, don't hesitate to make contact.