01

Start with the correct ending process

The notice, vacate date and bond process depend on the state or territory where you rent.

Before packing, check your rental agreement and the current official rules for your address. Confirm how much notice is required, whether the tenancy is fixed-term or periodic, what happens if you leave early, and which bond authority holds your money. Do not rely on a checklist from another state or an old social-media post.

  • Check the end dateWrite down the date your tenancy legally ends and the date you will hand back possession and keys.
  • Use the right channelFind the official bond authority or tenancy service listed for your state, and use its current online service or form.
  • Keep RentSeekr organisedSave your next rental shortlist and moving tasks in one place while you work through the final steps of the current tenancy.
02

Give notice and plan the handover

A clean handover starts with a written timeline.

  1. Give notice in the form and timeframe required by your state, agreement and reason for leaving.
  2. Ask the agent or rental provider how the final inspection and key return will be arranged.
  3. Confirm the address, email and bank details the bond authority should use for the refund.
  4. Book cleaners, trades or disposal services early, but do not agree to work that is not your responsibility without checking the evidence.
  5. Keep every notice, email, receipt and appointment confirmation in a move-out folder.
03

Clean and repair to the right standard

You generally need to return the property as required by your agreement and local law, allowing for fair wear and tear.

Use your entry condition report, photos and written agreement as the starting point. Remove your belongings and rubbish, clean the areas you are responsible for, mow or maintain outdoor areas where required, and fix tenant-caused damage that is beyond ordinary use. Keep invoices and photographs. Do not repaint, replace fixtures or arrange major work just because an agent prefers a newer look without checking your obligations.

Illustrated split comparison of a rental entry condition report and a move-out inspection, with a fair wear and tear note.
Compare dated records and the original condition report rather than relying on memory or a general cleaning list.Source: RentSeekr editorial team - original illustration created for this article.
04

Complete the final inspection and return everything

The last handover should leave a clear record of possession being returned.

Take wide and close-up photos after cleaning, including floors, walls, appliances, bathrooms, outdoor areas, meters and any existing marks. Record the date and keep the original files. Attend the final inspection if your state gives you that opportunity, or ask for a reasonable opportunity to be present. Return every key, remote, access card and device and obtain written confirmation of how and when they were received.

  • PhotosUse consistent angles and enough detail to show the condition of each room and included item.
  • Condition reportComplete the exit section or response required by your state and keep your copy.
  • Keys and accessList what you returned and keep the receipt, email or timestamped handover message.
  • Utilities and addressArrange final readings or account changes and update your forwarding contact details.
05

Request the bond refund through the official authority

The route changes by state, but the principle is the same: use the official record and keep your confirmation.

After the tenancy has ended and possession has been returned, follow the current bond authority process. In NSW, tenants can use Rental Bonds Online to claim after the tenancy ends. In Victoria, the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) repays the bond when the parties agree or there is a VCAT order. In Queensland, the RTA uses a bond refund request such as Form 4 and provides a notice-and-dispute process when a claim is made. Other states and territories have their own authority, forms and timeframes.

Illustrated bond refund pathway from vacating and checking condition to an official refund or dispute.
The exact forms, timeframes and tribunal depend on the state or territory where the property is located.Source: RentSeekr editorial team - original illustration created for this article.
06

If the landlord or agent claims against your bond

Ask for the reason and evidence, then respond through the correct process.

Read the claim carefully and compare it with the entry report, your move-out photos, invoices and messages. Ask for an itemised explanation and supporting evidence where the local process provides for it. You can negotiate an amount you genuinely agree is owed, but do not sign or accept a claim just to make the conversation end if you disagree with the basis or amount.

07

Your final move-out checklist

Use this short list before you close the door.

  1. Notice given correctly and end date confirmed.
  2. Rent and other agreed charges checked through the handover date.
  3. Property cleaned and tenant-caused damage addressed with receipts kept.
  4. Entry report, exit report, photos and correspondence saved.
  5. Keys, remotes and access devices returned with written proof.
  6. Official bond refund submitted and confirmation saved.
  7. Forwarding contact and bank details updated with the bond authority.
  8. Any disputed claim answered through the correct state or territory process.
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