Rental Inspection Guide — What Agents Check at Move-Out

What to expect at your rental exit inspection

The four areas every Australian tenant should understand before the final walk-through — each one ties back to the bond deductions property managers make most often.

• What agents actually look for during the inspection — The agent walks through every room and compares the property to the ingoing condition report, not to a hypothetical pristine state. They open cupboards, run a finger along skirting boards, look inside the oven, lift the rangehood filter, check grout and silicone seals, look closely at carpet pile, and open every window track. Reasonable wear and tear (faded curtains, light carpet wear in walkways, minor scuffs) is allowed, but anything not documented on the ingoing report — or anything documented as 'clean' or 'professionally cleaned' that no longer is — is treated as tenant-caused and can be deducted. The inspection is about matching the documented starting condition, not about judging your lifestyle.
• How the process works — from booking to bond release — The full exit-inspection process runs over one to two weeks. You book your bond clean at least 5–7 days before handover, leaving room for a re-clean window. The professional team arrives on cleaning day and works for 3–8 hours depending on property size, then hands you a tax invoice and certificate of completion. On handover day you return the keys and attend the exit inspection in person wherever possible. The agent walks the property, fills out the exit condition report, and either signs off there and then or flags items to revisit. The property manager then has a state-specific bond claim window (14 days in NSW and VIC) to lodge any deductions with NSW Fair Trading or the RTBA — if they don't lodge in time, the bond is refunded to you automatically.
• The most common reasons tenants fail the inspection — Six cleaning issues cause the majority of failed inspections and bond deductions. A greasy oven interior where built-up grease hasn't been degreased inside, on the door glass, or on the racks. Mould on bathroom grout and silicone seals that hasn't been treated. Carpets that haven't been professionally steam cleaned with a tax invoice — a standard vacuum is not accepted. Marks and scuffs left on walls that should have been spot-cleaned. Dirty window tracks and sills with years of accumulated dust and dead insects. Cobwebs in the garage and outdoor entertaining areas. Each of these six items appears on the deduction lists of nearly every Australian property manager. Tackle them on cleaning day and you'll prevent the majority of bond disputes.
• How to prepare for the inspection — Attend the exit inspection in person whenever you can — it lets you challenge any unfair deduction on the spot rather than waiting for the bond claim letter. Read your ingoing condition report side-by-side with the exit condition report and write down anything you disagree with before you leave. Take dated photos and short video of every room immediately before handover — oven interior, bathroom seals, carpet condition, walls, window tracks, outdoor areas — with a visible timestamp. Keep your bond clean tax invoice and certificate of completion ready to share. If the agent flags anything, most professional bond cleaning services include a re-clean guarantee — ask your cleaner to return within 72 hours to fix it at no extra cost.