Moving Out of a Rental
Moving Out of a Rental? Make Sure Your Vacate Cleaners Are Legit
Leaving a rental can be stressful enough without last-minute cleaning dramas. Between packing boxes, organising removalists and getting ready for your final inspection, cleaning often becomes a rush job — and that’s when costly mistakes happen.
When moving out, tenants are responsible for returning the property in the same condition it was in at the start of the lease (apart from fair wear and tear). To meet this standard, most people hire professional vacate cleaners — but not all cleaners deliver what they promise.
Recently, Consumer Protection has warned tenants to be cautious when choosing cleaning services. There have been cases where tenants paid for a full vacate clean only to find parts of the job missed, damage caused during cleaning, or cleaners refusing to come back or offer refunds once payment was made.
Here are a few simple tips to protect yourself:
- Check credentials: Make sure the cleaning business has an ABN and good reviews or references.
- Avoid paying upfront: Only pay once the work is finished and you’re satisfied.
- Do a walk-through: Show the cleaner exactly what needs to be done before they start.
- Inspect before handing over keys: Double-check everything is clean and damage-free.
- Keep records: Hold onto receipts for services like carpet or window cleaning.
Remember, cleaning is just one part of your move-out responsibilities. Be sure to take all personal items, repair any damage beyond normal wear and tear, and leave the home as close as possible to the condition it was in when you moved in.
Your Property Condition Report is your best friend here — it shows what the property looked like at the start of the tenancy and can help sort out any disputes about cleaning or repairs when it’s time to claim your bond. Keeping copies of reports and receipts can make the bond refund process much smoother.
For further details or advice, visit the Consumer Protection WA website.