Moving out of a rental property in Sydney? Your bond — often four to six weeks of rent — depends on returning the property in the same condition it was when you moved in. This checklist covers every requirement agents and landlords inspect during a final bond inspection.
What Sydney Landlords Actually Inspect
Sydney real estate agents follow a standardised condition report. The most commonly failed areas are: oven and rangehood, grout and tiles, carpet condition, window tracks, and marks on walls. Getting these right is the difference between a full bond refund and a dispute.
Complete End of Lease Checklist
Kitchen
- Oven interior, door glass, and racks — no grease residue
- Rangehood filter degreased or replaced
- All benchtops and splashbacks wiped clean
- Inside all cupboards and drawers wiped out
- Sink scrubbed and taps polished
- Dishwasher filter cleaned
Bathrooms & Laundry
- Grout scrubbed white on tiles and floor
- Shower screen free of soap scum and limescale
- Toilet cleaned including under the rim and behind the cistern
- Exhaust fans dusted
- Washing machine drum and rubber seal cleaned
Living Areas & Bedrooms
- All walls spot-cleaned for marks and scuffs
- Carpets professionally steam-cleaned (most Sydney leases require this)
- Hard floors mopped and free of streaks
- Window glass cleaned inside and tracks vacuumed out
- Light fittings dusted and globes working
- All skirting boards and door frames wiped
Outdoor Areas
- Balcony or courtyard swept and mopped
- BBQ degreased if applicable
- Garage floor swept and oil stains treated
⚠️ Important: Under NSW tenancy law, landlords cannot require professional cleaning unless the property was professionally cleaned when you moved in. Check your entry condition report.
Why a Professional Bond Clean Pays for Itself
A professional end-of-lease clean from Northline Cleaning typically costs $300–$600 for a Sydney apartment. A failed bond inspection, however, can result in re-clean charges, delayed bond refund, and disputes with Fair Trading NSW that drag on for weeks. Our bond cleaning comes with a re-clean guarantee — if the agent isn't satisfied, we return at no extra charge.
Book Your Bond Clean
Northline Cleaning services all of Sydney's North Shore for end-of-lease and bond cleaning. We work around your settlement date and can be booked with as little as 48 hours notice. Request a quote now.
Where Sydney Tenants Lose Bond Money Most Often
Real estate inspection reports across Sydney follow a remarkably consistent pattern. After hundreds of end-of-lease cleans, these are the items that show up over and over in failed inspections:
Oven, stovetop, and rangehood
Almost every failed bond inspection cites the oven. Real estate agents lift racks, check the underside of the door, and inspect the glass between the door panels. Rangehood filters need to be removed, soaked, and cleaned — not just wiped. If your stovetop is gas, the burners and trivets need to come off and be soaked too.
Bathroom grout and silicone seals
Discoloured grout and mouldy silicone are the second-most-cited inspection failure. Mould on silicone usually can't be cleaned out — it grows into the silicone. If yours is black or dark grey, you may need to remove and re-apply the silicone before the inspection rather than try to bleach it.
Window tracks, sliding door tracks, and flyscreens
These are often forgotten entirely. A clean home with grimy tracks fails inspection. Tracks need to be vacuumed, then scrubbed with a stiff brush; flyscreens should be removed, hosed down, and dried before re-installing.
Inside cupboards, drawers, and the dishwasher
Empty doesn't mean clean. Crumbs in cutlery drawers, sticky shelf liners, food residue at the back of the pantry, and a slimy dishwasher filter are all common. Dishwashers should be run on a hot cycle with citric acid or a dishwasher cleaner before the inspection.
The 24 Hours Before Your Inspection
Even if you've booked a professional clean, the day-before details make the difference between a pass and a callback:
- Empty all bins — including outside, recycling, and the bin storage area. Wipe the bins out.
- Replace burned-out lightbulbs — agents check every fixture. Even one dead bulb is often noted.
- Garden quick-tidy — mow lawn, sweep paths, remove obvious weeds from beds. Even on a "tenant clean only" lease, a tidy outdoor area sets the tone.
- Smoke alarm test — if it beeps low-battery during the inspection, you'll be charged for replacement.
- Final walkthrough with checklist — open every cupboard, wardrobe, and drawer. Look at corners and ceilings for cobwebs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to professionally clean the carpets?
Most Sydney leases require a professional carpet clean if pets were on the property, and many require it regardless. Your lease and the original ingoing inspection report will specify. If unsure, get a steam clean and keep the receipt — it's the simplest way to satisfy the requirement.
Can I clean the property myself and pass inspection?
It's possible but uncommon. Real estate inspectors look for the standard a professional clean produces — including areas like inside the oven, window tracks, and grout — that take 6–10 hours of focused work for a 3-bedroom home. If you have time and access to commercial-grade products, you can do it. Most tenants find the time-vs-cost trade-off favours professional cleaning.
What happens if the agent fails my clean?
You'll typically receive a re-clean notice listing specific items. You then have a short window (usually 24–48 hours) to address them or the agent will engage a cleaner and deduct the cost from your bond. A bond-back guarantee from your cleaning company means they'll return free of charge to fix any cited items.
How much does end-of-lease cleaning cost in Sydney?
Northline Cleaning end-of-lease services start from $625 for a one-bedroom unit. Pricing varies by property size, condition, and inclusions like carpet steam cleaning, oven cleaning, or window cleaning. We provide transparent quotes within 24 hours and our service includes a bond-back guarantee.
Should I be present for the end-of-lease clean?
Not required. Most clients hand keys to the cleaner the morning of moveout, then collect them after for the inspection. We work faster without the client present, and the ingoing inspection report is the reference document we work to — not on-site direction.