Moving out is stressful enough without worrying whether you’ll see your bond again. In Victoria, the most common reason tenants lose part — or all — of their bond is a failed final inspection. Not because they were bad tenants, but because the property wasn’t cleaned to the standard a real estate agent expects.
This checklist covers every single thing Melbourne property managers check at a final inspection in 2026, room by room. Use it to prepare the property yourself, or as a guide to what a professional end of lease cleaner will cover for you.
| Quick tip: In Victoria, your bond is held by the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA). Disputes over bond deductions can be taken to VCAT — but the easiest outcome is getting the clean right the first time. |
What Do Melbourne Real Estate Agents Actually Check?
Property managers in Melbourne use a condition report from your move-in day as the baseline for your exit inspection. They’re looking for anything that’s changed beyond fair wear and tear — and cleaning is the most common failure point.
The areas agents inspect most closely are:
- Kitchen — particularly the oven, rangehood, stovetop and behind/under appliances
- Bathrooms — grout, tiles, taps, exhaust fans and behind the toilet
- Carpets — staining, odour, and general condition
- Windows — internal glass, tracks, frames and fly screens
- Walls — marks, scuffs and cobwebs
- Skirting boards, light switches and door frames
- Garage and outdoor areas if applicable
The checklist below covers all of these in detail. Work through it room by room.
The Complete End of Lease Cleaning Checklist — Room by Room
Kitchen
| ✓ | Kitchen — tick off each item |
| ☐ | Oven — interior walls, racks, door glass and seal cleaned and degreased |
| ☐ | Rangehood — filters removed, soaked and cleaned; exterior wiped down |
| ☐ | Stovetop — burners, grates and surrounding surfaces degreased |
| ☐ | Microwave — interior, turntable, door and exterior wiped clean |
| ☐ | Dishwasher — filter cleaned, interior wiped, door seal checked |
| ☐ | Sink and tapware — cleaned and descaled, no water marks |
| ☐ | Benchtops — fully cleared and sanitised, including behind appliances |
| ☐ | Cupboards and drawers — interior and exterior wiped, free of crumbs and residue |
| ☐ | Splashback — degreased and streak-free |
| ☐ | Fridge (if included) — interior shelves, seals and exterior cleaned |
| ☐ | Floors — swept and mopped, including under the fridge and dishwasher |
The oven and rangehood are the single most common cause of bond deductions in Melbourne. If you’re only going to hire a professional for one thing, make it the kitchen.
Bathrooms & Toilets
| ✓ | Bathrooms — tick off each item |
| ☐ | Toilet — bowl, seat, lid, cistern, base and behind the toilet |
| ☐ | Shower — tiles, grout, glass screen or curtain rail, shower head and drain |
| ☐ | Bath (if applicable) — basin, overflow, taps and surrounding tiles |
| ☐ | Vanity and basin — cleaned and descaled, taps polished |
| ☐ | Mirrors — streak-free |
| ☐ | Exhaust fans — dust and grime removed from covers and blades |
| ☐ | Tiles — grout lines cleaned, no soap scum or mildew |
| ☐ | Floors — mopped and free of product residue |
| ☐ | Towel rails and hooks — wiped down |
Bedrooms & Living Areas
| ✓ | Bedrooms & Living Areas — tick off each item |
| ☐ | Walls — marks, scuffs and cobwebs removed |
| ☐ | Skirting boards — wiped along the full length of every room |
| ☐ | Light switches and power points — cleaned (one of the most missed spots) |
| ☐ | Light fittings — dusted, globes checked |
| ☐ | Doors and door frames — wiped down front and back |
| ☐ | Window sills and frames — inside surfaces wiped |
| ☐ | Window glass (internal) — streak-free |
| ☐ | Fly screens — removed, washed and replaced |
| ☐ | Built-in wardrobes — shelves, rails and interior walls wiped |
| ☐ | Carpets — vacuumed thoroughly (steam cleaned if required by lease) |
| ☐ | Hard floors — swept, mopped and free of marks |
| ☐ | Blinds or curtains — dusted or laundered as per condition report |
Laundry
| ✓ | Laundry — tick off each item |
| ☐ | Trough and tapware — cleaned and descaled |
| ☐ | Washing machine (if included) — drum, seal, filter and exterior |
| ☐ | Dryer (if included) — lint filter cleaned, exterior wiped |
| ☐ | Benchtops and shelving — wiped down |
| ☐ | Floors — swept and mopped |
Garage, Outdoor & Common Areas
| ✓ | Garage & Outdoor — tick off each item |
| ☐ | Garage floor — swept and free of oil stains or debris |
| ☐ | Garage walls and shelving — cobwebs and dust removed |
| ☐ | Balcony or patio — swept, furniture cleaned if included |
| ☐ | Outdoor areas — free of rubbish, garden beds cleared of tenant’s items |
| ☐ | Bins — emptied, washed and returned to correct position |
| ☐ | Letterbox — cleared |
| ☐ | Paths and steps — swept |
Do You Need a Professional Cleaner to Get Your Bond Back?
The short answer: not legally required, but strongly recommended for most Melbourne rentals.
Since the changes to Victoria’s Residential Tenancies Act in 2021, landlords can no longer require tenants to use a professional cleaner. However, they can still deduct from your bond if the property isn’t returned in the same condition it was rented in — and that standard is harder to hit than most tenants expect.
A professional end of lease cleaner in Melbourne will:
- Work from the same checklist property managers use
- Clean areas most people miss — exhaust fans, behind appliances, skirting boards, window tracks
- Use commercial-grade products for oven degreasing, grout cleaning and carpet treatment
- Save 6–10 hours of your time during an already stressful move
The cost of a professional end of lease clean in Melbourne typically ranges from $250–$500 for a standard apartment to $400–$800+ for a larger home, depending on size and condition. Compare that to the cost of even a partial bond deduction — for most rentals, a professional clean pays for itself immediately.
| CleanClub Melbourne provides professional end of lease cleaning across Bayside Melbourne — Elwood, St Kilda, Brighton, Caulfield, Elsternwick and surrounding suburbs. Our team cleans to real estate agent inspection standard. |
Frequently Asked Questions
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Does Victoria law require professional cleaning at the end of a lease?
No. Since 2021, Victorian landlords cannot require tenants to use a professional cleaner. However, the property must be returned in the same condition as at the start of the tenancy — and failing to meet that standard can still result in bond deductions. A professional clean is the most reliable way to ensure the standard is met.
What happens if I fail the final inspection?
If the agent is not satisfied, they will typically give you the opportunity to rectify specific items before bond funds are released. Some agents allow a re-clean; others move directly to a claim on the bond. Getting it right the first time avoids this process entirely.
Do I need carpet steam cleaning at the end of a lease?
This depends on your lease agreement and the condition report from move-in. If carpets were professionally steam cleaned before you moved in and your lease requires you to return them in the same condition, a steam clean at exit will be expected. Your lease agreement will state this. [LINK: ‘carpet steam cleaning Melbourne’ → /service/carpet-cleaning/]
How far in advance should I book an end of lease clean in Melbourne?
We recommend booking at least 5–7 days before your final inspection, and ideally after your furniture has been moved out. The end of the month is the busiest period for cleaning services across Melbourne — booking early avoids missing out.
Do you service Elwood, St Kilda, Brighton and Caulfield?
Yes. CleanClub Melbourne covers Elwood, St Kilda, Brighton, Elsternwick, Caulfield, Bentleigh, Sandringham and surrounding Bayside suburbs for end of lease cleaning. [LINK: See our full service areas → /service-areas/]
| Ready to Book Your End of Lease Clean? CleanClub Melbourne provides professional end of lease cleaning across Bayside Melbourne, cleaned to real estate agent inspection standard. Police-checked staff, eco-friendly products, flexible scheduling. Get a free, no-obligation quote— we’ll confirm availability and pricing within 2 hours. → Get a Free Quote |