End-of-Tenancy Cleaning and Getting Your Bond Back

Getting your full bond back comes down to two things: leaving the property in the condition your tenancy agreement requires, and knowing how the actual refund process works.

What condition is actually required

Most residential tenancies require the property to be left "reasonably clean and tidy" at the end of the tenancy — not immaculate, and not necessarily professionally cleaned, unless your specific agreement says otherwise. Check your tenancy agreement for the exact wording rather than assuming a standard applies.

A regular weekly-clean standard usually isn't enough. Ovens, cupboard interiors, window tracks, extractor fans, and skirting boards are the details a "reasonably clean" inspection actually checks — and the ones a normal clean often skips.

Worth knowing: "reasonably clean and tidy" is the actual standard, not "professionally cleaned." A landlord can't require professional cleaning just because it's easier for them to check — and a clause saying carpets must be professionally cleaned at the end of the tenancy is one Tenancy Services lists as unenforceable. Your agreement can still add reasonable requirements of its own, and when it's unclear, its exact wording matters more than a general rule of thumb.

Normal wear and tear

Fair wear and tear is the gradual deterioration that happens just from a property being lived in normally — faded curtains, carpet worn thin in high-traffic areas, small marks on walls from furniture over time. You're not responsible for it, and a landlord can't deduct from your bond to fix it. The distinction that matters is normal use versus damage: carpet worn from years of foot traffic is wear and tear; carpet stained from something spilled and left uncleaned is damage.

Cleaning room by room

• Kitchen — oven (inside, racks, glass door), stovetop and rangehood/extractor filter, cupboards and drawers inside and out, fridge and freezer emptied and wiped out.
• Bathroom — toilet, shower and shower screen (soap scum is the usual sticking point), vanity and mirrors.
• Living areas and bedrooms — floors vacuumed or mopped, skirting boards wiped, cobwebs cleared, obvious marks on walls addressed where you can.
• Windows and window tracks — worth doing properly if they're visibly dirty; tracks collect grit that's easy to miss.
• Outside areas — rubbish cleared, lawns and gardens brought back to a reasonable state if your agreement makes you responsible for them.

Common things that get picked up at the final inspection

The same handful of things come up again and again: a dirty oven or greasy stovetop/rangehood, food left in cupboards or the fridge, rubbish not taken out, carpet stains, soap scum or mould in the bathroom, and window tracks nobody thought to check. None of these need professional-grade cleaning — they just need to actually be done, not skipped because they're out of sight.

Final-clean checklist

Before you hand back the keys

1. Do the final clean on your actual move-out day, not before — an empty property can pick up dust again if there's a gap before the inspection.
2. Take dated photos of every room, including cupboards and appliances — your best evidence if there's ever a disagreement over the bond.
3. Check your agreement for a carpet-cleaning clause, and whether it can be enforced — Tenancy Services lists "carpets must be professionally cleaned" among clauses that are unenforceable. The usual exception is a condition your landlord set when agreeing to an indoor pet.
4. Keep your cleaning receipt if you hire a professional — useful evidence the standard was genuinely met.

How the bond refund actually works

Bonds are refunded through Tenancy Services' Bond Hub, not by paper form. In plain terms:

1. Your landlord logs into Bond Hub and submits the refund request, including any amount they want to withhold.
2. You're notified — usually a text or email with a link and a one-time password — and have 12 working days to respond.
3. You click through and either agree or disagree. Agree, and you add your bank details and the refund is processed.
4. Disagree, and the refund is cancelled with nothing paid out — you and your landlord sort out the amount directly, and they submit a new request once you have.

If your landlord hasn't submitted a request and isn't responding, Tenancy Services (0800 TENANCY) can help you submit one directly.

What if the landlord wants to deduct money?

You don't have to simply accept a deduction you disagree with. Ask for their reasoning and any evidence — photos, invoices, a quote — and compare it against your own move-out photos. A lot of disputes come down to normal wear and tear being treated as damage, so it's worth checking that distinction first.

Disagreeing through Bond Hub stops the refund going through as-is until it's resolved. From there, the usual paths are talking it through directly, mediation through Tenancy Services, or, if that doesn't work, the Tenancy Tribunal — either side can apply, and it can make a binding decision on who pays.

This is general guidance, not a substitute for your specific tenancy agreement — check the exact wording there, and contact Tenancy Services directly if a dispute comes up.