It is a common misconception amongst tenants that a Property Manager wants to keep their rental bond. In reality, a Property Manager’s dream is actually for tenants to leave a property in the same condition they received it in, as per their Entry Condition Report, minus fair wear and tear.  The purpose of the rental bond is to protect the landlord’s asset and should not be used for the payment of rent which may be owing at the end of a tenancy. Here are Steps for Getting a Full Bond Refund:

1. Tenants should clean the property (as per their Entry Condition Report) and should follow the cleaning guide provided to them in their vacate packs and at their sign-out appointment. The tenants can either choose to clean the property personally or engage a professional cleaner to tend to the bond cleaning on their behalf. While most tenants opt to do the cleaning themselves, using a professional cleaner removes the onus from the tenant, thus it would be the bond cleaner’s responsibility to tend to any items they may have missed at the vacate inspection.
2. All keys provided to tenants at the start of their tenancy need to be returned accompanied by any copies they may have given to family or friends. If keys are missing, the tenant will either be charged for cutting of the key or the lock to be re-keyed. The tenant will have the opportunity to pay these costs separate from their bond.
3. If the property has carpets the tenant will need to provide a copy of their carpet cleaning receipt as proof of a professional carpet clean.
4. If the tenant has had pets at the property, an internal and external FLEA treatment must be carried out by a professional. A receipt must be provided to the Lessor/Agent.
5. Depending on your lease agreement (if you have a pool), tenants may be required to provide the Lessor with proof that the pool chemicals are balanced.
6. Some items that may hinder the return of a rental bond may include extra hooks that have not been approved in walls, carpet stains or burns, walls that are marked or damaged, yard is unkept and these are just to name a few. It is recommended that any repairs are carried out by a professional tradesperson. Tenants are required to inform their Agent or Lessor of any damage to the property.
7. Depending on your lease agreement, you may be responsible for the maintenance of the gardens at the property for example, lawns and weeds. It is important to note, the gardens should be returned in the same condition they were in at the commencement of their tenancy.
8. It is important to note that a tenant’s ENTRY Condition Report forms the basis for the EXIT Condition Report. At the sign-out appointment, tenants are provided with a copy of their original Entry Report and a blank Exit Report so that any differences between the condition of the property at the tenancy commencement and the current condition at the vacate can be noted.

Once the keys have been returned, the vacate inspection will take place within 3 days. The tenant is given 24 hours to tend to any items they may have missed. The property will then be reinspected and if there any items which remain outstanding, the Agent or Lessor will authorise their tradespeople to tend to those items on the tenant’s behalf. The tenant will then have the opportunity to pay these invoices separate from their bond (if they agree to them) or they can dispute the claim and the RTA will act as a third party mediator between both parties. It is important to note the RTA will not release any funds from a tenant’s bond unless the tenant has either (a) agreed to the claim or (b) has allowed for the response timeframe to the claim to lapse.