When your lease ends and how long you must pay rent before moving out of the apartments or house. When you return the keys, your rental agreement ends. Pay rent until your notice period ends, or longer if you still have the keys. Immediately after moving out, return the keys.
You may also like to read: What is involved in an end of lease cleaning process?
Renting out For information on ending your lease, see Ending your lease.
- Notifying
- VCAT agreement termination
- Consensual agreement termination
- Agreement Transfer: Lease Transfers and Subletting
Modifications
If you modified the property, such as by adding picture hooks, you must remove them and return it to its original state, minus fair wear and use.
Exceptions:
The rental provider (landlord) states restoration is not necessary, or You have an agreement with the rental provider under Section 64 of Residential Tenancies Act 2021.
If no exemption applies and you don’t return the property to its previous state, the rental provider can lodge a claim against your bond to the civil and administrative tribunal with in 30 days.
Moving out Cleaning
Before March 29, 2021
When you go, leave the property clean [section 63]. Rental companies and agencies typically require renters to steam clean or professionally clean. If the property is “reasonably clean,” you don’t need to do anything, even if your contract says so.
What’s considered “reasonably clean” depends on how long you’ve lived there and its condition when you moved in.
29 March 2021 contracts
A new phrase in the standard rental agreement form, effective March 29, 2021, permits rental companies to request professional cleaning in specified instances.
If…
You were warned about the professional cleaning before you moved in.
Section 27C, rule 12 requires professional cleaning to return the property to its pre-lease state, allowing for fair wear and tear.
If these conditions don’t apply to your rental agreement, you don’t need to arrange for professional cleaning, but you must keep the property “reasonably clean” [section 63].
Leave the property as you found it, with normal wear and tear.
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Damage
You must avoid destroying the property and shared places, such as in a unit block [section 61].
If the landlord suspects you damaged the property, they may ask you to pay for repairs or sue you. Damage from everyday use, such as carpet wear, is not ‘damage’ You’re not responsible for ‘fair wear and tear’
You’re not responsible for pre- or post-move damage. Damage claims may be best handled by VCAT. Victorian civil and administrative tribunal might consider depreciation and the property’s age when considering if you should pay for damage you caused. This may cost less than the rental fee or repairs.
Document
Photos and videos demonstrate the property’s condition. Before returning the keys, take photographs and videos inside and outside the property to document its condition and cleanliness.
In case the rental company tries to make a claim against you, have a family member or friend inspect the property.
Checkup
End of rental agreement condition report [section 35] must be completed by the rental provider or their representative.
You may also like to read: Rental property cleaning checklist
This must be done 10 days after your lease ends. The landlord or agent must let you see the property and complete the condition report [section 35]. Attend the inspection to ensure the landlord or agent fills out the condition report appropriately.
Relationship
After moving out, start the process to receive your bond returned.
Residential Tenancies Bond Authority handles bond claims (RTBA). You don’t require the rental provider’s or agent’s permission to lodge a claim [section 411].
If you and the rental provider or agent agree to return your bond, you can file a joint claim [section 411].
Leftovers
The rental provider, owner, or agent must keep any items you left behind and return them to you.
Contact the rental provider, owner, or agent as soon as possible to schedule pickup. The longer you wait, the more likely they’ll be lost or you’ll be charged for storage.
If the rental provider, owner, or agent broke the law, you can demand compensation. For more, see Lost goods. Before moving out, disconnect gas, water, electricity, phone, and internet.
Some rental companies and brokers advise the utilities must stay on after you move out for the final inspection or to show the property to a prospective renter. It’s unnecessary. On your move-out date, you can and should have the utilities disconnected. If you don’t, you might be charged for the following tenant.
Some utilities need advance notification for termination. Electricity, gas, and water suppliers require early notification to read metres on move-out dates. Disconnection charges may apply. Utility companies should know.
Mail reroute
Post offices provide forms to reroute mail. You must provide identification and pay a nominal cost to divert your mail. Australia Post’s website lets you reroute mail.
Mail redirection
Australia Post redirects mail
Address forwarding
Leave the rental company or agent your forwarding address, email, and phone number. Changed email or phone number? Let the RTBA know. The authority’s website allows this.
You might offer the rental provider or agent a post office box or care of a family member or friend. If you don’t give a forwarding address, you may not get notices if the landlord claims your bond or damages.
If the rental provider’s claim proceeds to VCAT and you don’t attend the hearing, VCAT can reach a judgement on your bond and any other claim in the application, such as a claim for compensation, without your evidence.
Some traditional owners request you to make a complete end of lease cleaning when you move out and may withheld you security deposit if it is not completed. Get the advice form administrative tribunal VCAT if you have any problems
