Table of Contents
Introduction
Bond back cleaning is vital for tenants at the end of a rental tenancy. It assures them of getting their deposits back. This is done to make the property left in proper conditions in which, according to the agreement, it would be easy to get your money back.
This article explains why a tenant must do bond back cleaning. It covers how to do the cleaning and its link to the tenant’s duties in leasing.
Understanding Bond Back Cleaning
Bond back cleaning is the thorough cleaning process that each tenant has to abide by before leaving a rental property. The tenant, through this cleaning, ensures the property is unchanged and free from normal wear and tear. This cleaning process is most important. It is the main purpose of catering and fulfilling all of your obligations under your tenancy agreement. It is to get back your bond money, the deposit.
Disputes often arise between tenants and landlords over failure to conduct proper bond back cleaning. This often translates to big cut-offs from the bond. This makes it necessary for every tenant to understand what it takes to carry out bond back cleaning for a refund of the full deposit.
Tenant Obligations and the Lease Agreement
This confers that the tenants in most of the agreements are obliged to return the property in the exact condition it was on that first day of entry. The initial inspection report, or condition report, usually documents this. Bonding cleaning back is a key part of the tenant’s duty to fulfill it.
The lease often specifies the exact areas to be cleaned, namely:
• Dry Cleaning of Carpet, especially where pets were housed in the property.
• Kitchen: Grease detailed from ovens, stovetops, and range hoods.
• Bathrooms: scrubbing toilets, cleaning showers, removing soap scum and mold.
• Windows: Inside and outside, depending upon accessibility, where appropriate.
Defaulting these responsibilities leads to bond deductions, which makes it difficult for the tenants to receive their full bond refund.
Why Securing Your Bond Deposit is Necessary
The other forms in which bonds may be referred to include bond money. It is the amount of money that is payable to the landlord by the tenant at the commencement of their lease. The RTBA usually holds this amount and is for use to pay for any damages or unpaid rent at the end of a lease. For this reason, one has to secure their bond deposit since it equates to large sums of money, sometimes up to four weeks’ worth of rent.
For tenants, the bond is their hard-earned money, so recovering it must be a priority upon moving out. Social and welfare tenants are able to make availabilities of bond back cleaning, to which they are available for their housing needs.
Most Common Conflicts When It Comes To Bond Money
Discrepancy over bond money is established mainly where the tenant fails to leave a clean property at the end of a tenancy as specified by tenancy law. Landlords or property managers would claim that the property was not cleaned to a satisfactory standard; hence, money would be deducted from the bond.
Thus, to avoid such disputes, there is a need to have a clearly defined requirement to clean so that areas described in the leasing contract will look perfectly clean. This may also be associated with hiring professional experts in cleaning services, which prove to be specialized in bond back cleaning.
The Role of Professional Bond Back Cleaning Services
Professional bond back cleaning services have built up the finesse and gathered the necessary equipment to meet the standard demanded by landlords and property managers. Any such services can start from carpets to windows, leaving any property sparkling clean.
Advantages of Professional Bond Back Cleaning Services
• Experienced: Professionals are well familiar with what a landlord needs during the final inspection.
• Thoroughness: They cover all areas, including hard-to-reach spots.
• Totally Stress-Free: Engaging a professional service allows tenants time and focus for other aspects of moving.
• Bond Back Guarantee: With a bond back guarantee, many services will ensure that they re-clean anything that a landlord is revoking satisfaction of.
End of Tenancy Cleaning Checklist
It’s advisable to follow an end-of-lease cleaning checklist to ensure completed bond cleaning is met to the standard. The cleaning checklist will include all areas that need cleaning to ensure a good bond. Here are some of them:
1. Bedrooms
• Dust all surfaces, items like shelves and wardrobes deferral.
• Wash windows, windowsills, and tracks.
• Vacuum carpets or mop hard floors.
• Wipe the walls and doors to remove the scuff marks.
2. Living Areas:
• Wipe down all surfaces—dust off light fixtures, including ceiling fans.
• Windows, windowsills, and their tracks should be cleaned.
• Vacuuming carpets or mopping hard floors.
• Clean and polish any mirrors or glass surfaces.
3. Carpets and Flooring
• Vacuum all area carpets and rugs.
• Mop hard floors.
• Steam cleaning if necessary under lease agreement terms.
4. Kitchen
• Clean the oven, stovetop, and extractor fan.
• Wipe clean all surfaces, including countertops and cupboards.
• Wipe down the dishwasher, microwave, and refrigerator inside and out.
5. Bathrooms:
• Scrub tiles, clean grout, and remove any mold.
• Wipe down sinks, toilets, showers, and bathtubs.
• Polish mirrors and chrome fixtures.
6. Windows
• Clean all windows from the outside and clean them from the inside of your house.
• Wipe window sills and tracks.
7. Walls and Ceilings
• Remove all spider webs, dust, and wall marks.
• Clean light switches and power points.
Additional Services
1. Pet Hair Removal:
• Fully vacuum throughout to remove pet hairs from carpets, furniture, and upholstery.
2. Wall Cleaning:
• Wipe down and wash walls, focusing on those with marks or dirt, to make them clean and eye-catching.
Legal Counsel and Bond Claims
In such cases, legal advice should be sought regarding bond money disputes. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal gives tenants the right to raise a concern if there are claims from the landlord or property manager. In this case, the tenant should present their case, and evidence such as photos or receipts from professional cleaners can be helpful for the claim.
You should also know your entitlements and obligations according to the Residential Tenancies Act. These include knowing what to do when lodging a claim against the bond correctly or how you can get your bond back if your landlord doesn’t want to return it.
Conclusion
Bond back cleaning is an indispensable part of guaranteeing a refundable deposit when moving out from a rental. By knowing your duty according to the rent agreement and ensuring that every corner is thoroughly cleaned, you will definitely avoid disputes to ensure you receive your full bond refund.
Whether you do the cleaning by yourself or hire professionals, the idea is to leave your rental premises in as good a condition as possible from your landlord’s perspective. This will also ensure that you actually recover your bond deposit, as well as keeping the landlord on the good side, which can really work to your advantage in future rentals, especially when seeking reference from the same landlord.
It’s for this reason that it’s no ordinary last-home-moving touch. Bond back cleaning is crucial when it comes to obtaining your bond money back and easing the tension from your tenant responsibilities. Take the time to clean the property yourself or hire a professional service to avoid any bumps at the end of your lease.
