What To Expect During a Final Rental Inspection On The Sunshine Coast

Moving out of a rental home in Queensland is one of the stressful phases for tenants. No matter how well you kept the property during your lease, ensure you return it in the same condition as you moved in, beyond normal wear and tear. Unfortunately, only about half of renters receive their full bond money (equivalent to four weeks’ rent) at the end of their tenancy.

The most common reason behind bond deduction is substandard cleaning. Tenants often fail to meet the landlord’s set expectations and end up failing their final rental inspection. Since nobody wants to lose their hard earned money because of barely visible dust bunnies or overlooked grimy spots, ensure you carefully read your pre determined cleaning clauses and responsibilities outlined in your lease agreement. However, many tenants still feel unsure about what inspectors look for before releasing a bond.

Worry not! In this guide, we’ll explore what happens during a final rental inspection on the Sunshine Coast, what landlords check, and how to pass it for the sake of your security deposit. This comprehensive guide makes your move out journey a smooth sail.

Let’s Get Started!

1. What Does a Final Rental Inspection Mean?

A final rental inspection is carried out at the end of a tenancy to check the overall condition of the property. It is often performed by landlords/property managers/inspectors to check for any repair, maintenance, cleaning, and safety issues before releasing the bond money to the tenant. Landlords in Queensland refer to the entry condition report and are strict about inspections to protect their investment and find new occupants quickly for consistent rental income. That’s one of the reasons why many tenants fail their rental inspection or end up with disputes.

If you are concerned about your hard earned bond money, outsource trained bond cleaners Sunshine Coast to achieve peace of mind.

2. When the Final Property Inspection Happens

It is performed once a tenant returns the key at the end of a tenancy. A landlord or property manager will schedule the final inspection day. Make sure you thoroughly prepare the property, pack all your personal items, remove large furniture pieces and empty your fridge. It is good to attend the final inspection to let landlords discuss the raised issues except for fair wear and tear before deducting your hard earned money.

3. Understanding the Role of the Entry Condition Report

The Entry Condition Report is a legally binding document that records the condition of the property, including all rooms, fixtures, fittings, appliances, and outdoor areas at the start of the tenancy. The purpose is to ensure that the property and each item listed in the report is clean, working and undamaged.

The best part is that as a tenant, you have the right to agree or disagree with the condition report. Make sure you walk through room by room and fill in each section after a detailed inspection. It is good to jot down everything you see, such as stains, marks, filthy appliances, and paint damage, and take photos and videos.

The role of the entry condition report is crucial at the end of the tenancy. You can refer to it and compare it with the current condition before fixing any damage or sprucing up the property. It is because you are not liable for existing damage. These can protect you from unfair deductions. You can use photos and videos as proof to claim your bond back in case of any dispute. Landlords also consider the report when inspecting the property.

4. What to Expect During a Final Rental Inspection: Landlords Look For

When you know what landlords or inspectors expect at the end of a tenancy, the journey becomes a bit easier. Under the Residential Tenancies Laws in QLD, landlords can withhold a full or partial bond amount if they find dirt, damage, grime, and grease on appliances during the inspection. They look for:

• General Cleanliness:

They look for visible dust, dirt, pollen, stains and grime across the property, including all rooms and surfaces.

• Property damage:

Normal wear and tear, such as fading of wall paint, minor scuff marks, and loose door frames, is acceptable. However, landlords may deduct money if they notice major damage to the property, stubborn stains, graffiti, broken window frames, or deep scratches, among other issues.

• Appliances and Fixtures:

They inspect the inside and outside of your oven, microwave, refrigerator, stovetop, and other appliances for grease, food particles, grime, and other debris. Limescale on faucets, sinks or accumulated dust on light fixtures can also hold back your bond money.

• Safety and Maintenance:

They inspect smoke detectors, security and locks to ensure they are in working condition. They also check for hazards such as electrical issues and leaks.

• Bathroom Hygiene:

Every fixture and fitting in the bathroom is strictly inspected for functionality and cleanliness. They check showers, glass doors, bathtubs, a toilet seat, tiles, grout lines, etc, before returning your bond.

• Windows, Walls and Floors:

They check for minor scuff marks, adhesive stains, grime, grease and mould on windows, sills, tracks, ceiling walls, mouldings and baseboards. Floors are also thoroughly inspected to ensure they are clean and damage free.

• Carpets and Rugs:

Landlords compare the condition of carpets and may hold back your bond if they are not in a clean state.

• Outdoor Areas:

If a rental property has a patio, yard or garage, the landlord carefully inspects these areas. They check for green rubbish, stubborn stains, and gunk on hard surfaces, such as driveways.

It is always good to hire experts for a top quality bond cleaning Sunshine Coast to secure your full bond money without any dispute.

5. Tenant’s Guide: How to Prepare for the Final Rental Inspection

Here’s a quick checklist to help you spruce up the entire property according to the agent’s expectations:

• Do necessary repairs that are beyond fair wear and tear. You can hire a professional handyman to fix leaky faucets, damaged door or window frames, pests, and other issues.
• Remove accumulated dust, cobwebs from high ceiling walls, fans, air vents, light fixtures, fittings,  and other hard surfaces. Clean from top to bottom
• Clean inside, outside and above the cupboards and shelves
• Wash windows inside and outside, vacuum blinds and wash curtains. Clean windows outside if accessible. Ensure you remove water streaks and stains using all natural cleaners.
• De grease kitchen cabinets, inside and outside oven, racks, microwave, fridge, etc
• Scrub and sanitise the sink and taps
• Clean and refresh the garbage disposal
• Clean the rangehood and filters
• Remove soap scum, hard water stains, and mould stains from shower heads, glass doors, faucets, walls, bathtubs, sinks, counters, and mirrors.
• Clean and disinfect inside the toilet seat, behind the rim area, etc
• Gently scrub tiles and grout lines
• Vacuum carpets and rugs to remove embedded dust, pet hair and grime. You can outsource a professional carpet cleaning service to tackle stubborn stains, mould and germs.
• Clean the baseboards and skirting boards.
• Sweep and mop the floors.
• Remove cobwebs and dirt from patio areas, garage walls and driveways.

Check for pest infestations and consider pest treatment before the final inspection.

6. What Happens After Passing the Rental Inspection?

If your landlord passes your final inspection, they will confirm the RTA to release the bond. Tenants can also submit a bond refund request online by completing a form. The official body can process your bond on the same day, and it will be transferred into your bank account within 3 days.

In the event of unfair deductions or any issues, you can apply for dispute resolution with the RTA before proceeding to QCAT. Ensure you present photos and videos and a copy of property condition report as proof to the tribunal to claim your bond. To avoid this chaos, ensure you book the best bond cleaning Sunshine Coast experts as they follow a pre approved cleaning checklist for a stress free experience.

Infographic: A Complete Guide on Final Rental Inspections on the Sunshine Coast

Wrapping up

A final rental inspection on the Sunshine Coast determines the fate of your bond money. Hopefully, this guide has helped you prepare everything in advance to avoid last minute disagreement and dispute over property’s cleanliness and maintenance.