Guide · Australia
End-of-lease cleaning checklist for operators
What to ask before you quote, what to clean room by room, and what to keep as evidence when the job is done.
Published · Updated
General information, not advice. It doesn’t take your circumstances into account. Check the official sources linked below, and talk to a registered tax agent, accountant or lawyer about your situation.
Before you quote
Ask enough to quote once and avoid surprises on the day.
- Number of bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas
- Whether the property will be empty on the day
- Oven, carpets, inside windows, blinds, balcony or garage
- Pets, smoking, mould or heavy build-up
- Access: keys, codes and parking
- The date of the final inspection
Ask for the condition report
The condition report completed at the start of the tenancy is the reference for what the property should look like at the end, allowing for fair wear and tear. Ask the tenant for a copy so your team cleans to the same standard.
Tenancy rules differ by state and territory. Check the tenancy authority in your state for the current rules.
Kitchen
- Oven, cooktop, rangehood and filters
- Cupboards and drawers, inside and out
- Benchtops, splashback and sink
- Dishwasher and fridge space
- Light switches, power points and skirting boards
Bathrooms and laundry
- Shower screen, tiles and grout
- Toilet, basin, vanity and mirrors
- Exhaust fan covers
- Laundry tub and the space behind the machines
- Floors, including corners and behind the door
Bedrooms and living areas
- Wardrobes and shelves, inside and out
- Window sills, tracks and inside glass
- Light fittings, switches and doors
- Skirting boards and spot-cleaned walls
- Floors vacuumed and mopped; carpets if quoted
Evidence to keep
Take before-and-after photos of every room, with the same angle each time. Keep them with the job, along with the start and finish times and any notes about damage you found but did not cause.
Re-cleans
Say in writing what you will come back for if the agent or landlord raises an issue, and how soon they need to tell you. Don’t promise a bond outcome: the bond is settled between the tenant, the landlord or agent and the state bond authority.
Official sources
- NSW Government: Rental property condition reports (opens in a new tab)
- NSW Government: Getting your bond back at the end of a tenancy (opens in a new tab)
- business.gov.au: Choose a pricing strategy (opens in a new tab)
Checked on 1 Nov 2026. Rules and thresholds change; the official pages are the current version.