Professional bond cleaning across Canberra and the ACT — accepted by ACAT and every major Canberra real estate agency
Canberra's rental market runs on the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (ACT), with bonds held by the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT). A professional bond clean to the standard of your ingoing condition report — combined with an ACAT-aligned certificate of completion — is the difference between a full bond refund and an ACAT dispute, especially during Canberra's cold winters when bathroom mould can set in fast.
ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) — Residential Tenancies holds every residential tenancy bond in the ACT. Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (ACT), the bond is capped at Equal to 4 weeks' rent (regardless of furnished or unfurnished), and the lessor has 14 days from the date you vacate to lodge a claim.
A lessor must apply to ACAT within 14 days of the tenant vacating to claim any amount from the bond. ACAT handles all residential tenancy bond disputes in the ACT, and cleaning standards must match the ingoing condition report — not just "generally clean".
Pricing below is indicative for standard Canberra rentals. Final quotes depend on property size, condition, and any extras such as carpet steam cleaning or wall spot-cleaning.
| Property Type | Low End | High End |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $90 | $140 |
| 1 bedroom | $130 | $190 |
| 2 bedroom | $190 | $260 |
| 3 bedroom | $240 | $310 |
| 4 bedroom house | $290 | $400 |
Add carpet steam cleaning from $80–$150 for a standard 2-bedroom property.
BondBack teams service every ACT suburb and the surrounding Queanbeyan corridor. Here are the most-booked:
In the ACT, the bond is held by the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) — not by the landlord or agent. The lessor must lodge the bond with ACAT at the start of the tenancy. It is released once all parties agree on the refund, or after a dispute is decided by ACAT under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (ACT).
A lessor must apply to ACAT within 14 days of the tenant vacating to claim any amount from the bond. If they do not, the bond is refunded to you in full. Disputes about deductions are heard by ACAT, which favours the party with the better documentation.
Yes — but only if the property is not returned in the same condition as the ingoing condition report (reasonable wear and tear excepted). A receipted, professional bond clean with a certificate of completion accepted by ACAT is the strongest protection against this deduction.
Yes. ACAT expects a tax invoice plus a certificate of completion before releasing the bond. Without it, your lessor can more easily claim the cleaning was "unprofessional" or not to ingoing-report standard, and deduct a larger amount from your bond.