Reclaiming Your Bond at the End of Your Tenancy
Usually when your tenancy comes to an end, you get your bond back with no further issues. Unfortunately, things don’t always go this way. We’ve outlined three different scenarios that might happen at the end of your tenancy, and the steps you can take in each scenario to achieve the best possible outcome for you and your landlord.
1. If there are no issues
Most of the time, the property manager will organise for your bond to be returned to you once you’ve signed a bond claim form, they’ve inspected the property and they’ve processed the end of your tenancy.
This is the best outcome when you end your tenancy – the one that you should always be working towards when renting a property. In most situations, all you have to do to achieve this is ensure that you maintain the property in the condition you started with.
Read your lease
To make sure you get this right, read and reread your lease and any additional information your property manager provided at the start of your tenancy. This is the best way to know what your responsibilities are as a tenant.
Don’t take the condition report for granted
Dedicate some time and effort to making sure that you accurately complete your condition report when you move in. Write down any damage or imperfections you can see, and be sure to check the things you can’t see, like fixtures, plumbing and electricity. Then, throughout your tenancy, continue to report any issues (in writing) that arise as soon as possible. This will ensure that there are no surprises for you or the landlord when you reach the end of your tenancy.
End of lease cleaning and maintenance
Move all your belongings out of the property before the date you have to vacate it so you leave enough time for a thorough end of lease clean. You are permitted to leave reasonable wear and tear on the property, but it’s best to make sure you clean it meticulously, including any restoration, such as cleaning marks from the walls.
It can be a good idea to have a final inspection and receive detailed feedback from the property manager so you can get ahead of any issues that may come up.
2. If there’s damage to the property
If there is damage when you leave your rental property, it may be decided that you won’t get your bond back, or you’ll only get part of it back, to cover the cost of repairs. If you know you’ve left something damaged, be up front with the property manager and discuss your options in paying for the cost of the repairs.
3. If things aren’t going the way you think they should
This doesn’t happen too often, but if you do believe that you’ve done everything right but you’re still told you aren’t getting your bond back, you can contact the tenant’s services in your State or Territory for advice and support.
