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Move-Out Checklist for Renters: How to Leave Without Losing Your Bond
The last 48 hours of your tenancy determine whether you get your bond back in full. Here is a complete move-out checklist built for renters in Australia and New Zealand.
Why Move-Out Documentation Is as Important as Move-In
Most tenants focus on cleaning when they move out. Cleaning matters - but documentation matters just as much. Even a spotlessly clean property can result in a disputed bond if you have no photos proving its condition at handover.
Your move-out photos, taken the same day you return the keys, create a timestamped record of the property's condition at the moment your tenancy ended. Combined with your move-in photos, this is the before and after comparison that wins bond disputes.
Victorian Law - October 2026
From 13 October 2026, rental providers must provide supporting evidence with any bond claim notice before the claim is lodged. Your move-out photos and BondProof report are the evidence that makes a claim harder to sustain.
Move-Out Checklist - Cleaning
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Kitchen Cleaning
Oven - interior, trays, door glass, seals
Cooktop - all burners or elements
Rangehood - filter cleaned or replaced
Dishwasher - interior, filter, door seal
Inside all cupboards and drawers
Benchtops and splashback
Sink and taps - limescale removed
Behind and under fridge space wiped
Flooring - mopped, grout cleaned
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Bathroom Cleaning
Tiles and grout - mould removed
Shower screen - limescale and soap scum
Toilet - bowl, under rim, cistern, seat
Basin and taps - limescale removed
Mirror cleaned
Exhaust fan cover wiped
Flooring and grout cleaned
Sealant areas - mould treated
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Windows and Blinds
Window glass - inside and outside if accessible
Window tracks - dust and grime removed
Window sills wiped
Blinds - dusted or wiped
Curtains - washed if applicable
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General Areas
All walls - marks wiped where possible
Light switches and power points wiped
Skirting boards dusted and wiped
Carpet vacuumed - steam clean if required
Hard flooring swept and mopped
Light fittings - dust removed
Air conditioning filters cleaned
Wardrobes - inside wiped
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Outdoor and Garage
Balcony or courtyard swept and cleaned
Garden tidied if your responsibility
Garage floor swept
Bins emptied and cleaned
Clothesline cleared
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Move-Out Checklist - Documentation
Once the property is clean and before you return the keys, complete your move-out documentation with BondProof. Photograph every room using the same angles as your move-in inspection.
01
Open BondProof and start a move-out inspection
Select the same property as your move-in inspection. BondProof will guide you through the same rooms in the same order.
02
Photograph every room at the same angles
Wide shots first, then close-ups of any areas that might be questioned. Make sure the property is empty - photos taken after furniture is removed show the true condition of walls and floors.
03
Document any cleaning you arranged
If you organised professional cleaning, photograph the property after the cleaners have finished and keep your receipt. This demonstrates the standard it was returned in.
04
Generate your move-out PDF report
BondProof generates a PDF with both your move-in and move-out photos side by side. Save this and keep it until your bond is returned in full.
05
Return keys and confirm in writing
Confirm handover of keys in writing - text or email. Note the date and time. This establishes when your tenancy officially ended.
What to Do If the Landlord Makes a Claim
With a BondProof move-out report in hand, respond in writing to any claim you dispute. Attach your PDF report and note specifically which photos demonstrate the item was clean or undamaged at handover.
Most claims are dropped at this stage. If not, apply to your state tribunal. In Victoria that is VCAT. In New Zealand that is the Tenancy Tribunal. Your BondProof report is structured to present cleanly at a hearing.
Do I need a professional cleaner to get my bond back?
Not necessarily. You need to return the property to the standard it was in at move-in, accounting for fair wear and tear. If it was professionally cleaned before your tenancy, professional cleaning on exit is reasonable. If it was not, a thorough personal clean may be sufficient.
When should I take my move-out photos?
Take move-out photos after all cleaning is complete, after your furniture is removed, and before you return the keys. Empty rooms reveal the true condition of walls and floors. Time-stamp everything.
Can a landlord claim bond for marks I noted on the condition report at move-in?
No. If damage was documented on the condition report at move-in, the landlord cannot claim it as new damage at move-out. This is why noting everything on the condition report - and photographing it - matters.
What if the landlord does not return my bond after I vacate?
Contact the relevant bond authority in your state. In Victoria, contact the RTBA directly. If the landlord has lodged a claim you dispute, respond formally and apply to VCAT if needed.
How long should I keep my BondProof report after the tenancy ends?
Keep it until your bond is fully returned and no further claims are possible. In most Australian states this is at least 6 months after the tenancy ends. If a dispute arises, keep all documentation until it is fully resolved.
Create your evidence before the dispute starts.
10 minutes at move-in. A timestamped PDF report that holds up. Available now on Android.