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What happens at the final inspection?

28 quoted answers, each with its source

The short answer

At the end of a Victorian rental agreement the rental provider, property manager or agent does a final inspection, and the renter must be present or have been given a reasonable opportunity to be there. The property must be left reasonably clean and as it was at the start of the lease except for fair wear and tear, and rental providers cannot claim bond for fair wear and tear, but the claims do not settle one uniform cleaning standard: Tenants Victoria says a renter need not steam clean carpets if the property is already reasonably clean even if the lease says otherwise, while commercial cleaning sources say every nook and cranny must be clean and that a professional receipt may improve the chance of a full bond refund. Renters can claim their bond directly with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority without the rental provider's agreement and with no time limit, and from 1 July 2026 they can move their bond to their next rental home under the Portable Rental Bond Scheme.

Every part of this comes from the quotes below. How we write these.

What the rules actually say11

Quoted straight from Consumer Affairs Victoria, the Residential Tenancies Act or a tribunal.

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A Victorian rental provider can only ask for a bond higher than one month's rent where the weekly rent for the property is more than $900 or VCAT has set a higher bond for the property.

first-party
4 quotes from 1 source
In most cases, a bond can't be more than one month’s rent.
A rental provider can only ask for a higher bond when either:
the weekly rent for the property is more than $900
VCAT has set a higher bond for the property. They might do this because of the character of the property or the quality of the fittings and furniture.
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The renter must be present during the final inspection of a Victorian rental property or have been given a reasonable opportunity to be there.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
The renter must be present during the final inspection or have been given a reasonable opportunity to be there.
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Consumer Affairs Victoria gives faded curtains and worn kitchen bench tops as examples of fair wear and tear.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Examples of fair wear and tear might be faded curtains or worn kitchen bench tops. Ripped curtains or broken bench tops might be considered damage.
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Consumer Affairs Victoria states that the law does not define 'reasonable use' of a Victorian rental property.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Reasonable use of the property means use that most people would think is fair. The law does not define ‘reasonable use’.
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The Residential Tenancies Bond Authority is required by law to give notice to all other parties on the bond.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
The RTBA is required by law to give notice to all other parties on the bond and provide other parties with 14 days to contest the claim by making an application to VCAT or RDRV.
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Renters and residents in Victoria must keep the property in a reasonably clean condition.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Renters and residents must keep the property in a reasonably clean condition.
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Tenants Victoria advises that it may be better to let a claim for damage go to VCAT.

1 quote from 1 source
It may be better to let a claim for damage go to VCAT. This is because VCAT can take into account depreciation and the age of the property in deciding if, or how much, you should pay if you caused the damage.
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Tenants Victoria advises renters to attend the final inspection to make sure the rental provider or agent accurately fills in the condition report.

1 quote from 1 source
The rental provider or agent must give you a reasonable opportunity to be at the property at the time they inspect it and complete the condition report [section 35]. You should go to the inspection to make sure the rental provider or agent accurately fills in the condition report.
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Tenants Victoria states that a renter can make a claim for their bond directly with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority without waiting for the rental provider or needing their agreement.

1 quote from 1 source
You can make a claim for your bond directly with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA). To make your claim you do not need to wait for the rental provider, or their agent, nor do you need their agreement [section 411].
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Tenants Victoria states there is no time limit on when a renter can make a bond claim to the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority.

1 quote from 1 source
You will not be charged for claiming your bond back. There is also no time limit on when you can make the claim to the RTBA.

Practical effect5

What is observed to happen in practice, as distinct from what is documented.

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A rental provider, property manager or agent does a final inspection at the end of a Victorian rental agreement.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
A rental provider, property manager or agent will do a final inspection at the end of the rental agreement.
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Tenants Victoria reports that rental providers and agents often try to insist that renters must steam clean carpets or professionally clean the property.

1 quote from 1 source
Rental providers and agents often try to insist that renters must steam clean carpets or professionally clean the property. If the property is already ‘reasonably clean’ you do not need to do this, even if there is a clause in your lease that says you have to.
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Tenants Victoria reports that some rental providers and agents…

  • tell renters the utilities need to stay on for a period after the renters move out.
  • usually say the need for the utilities to stay on after the renters move out is for the final inspection or to show the property to a new renter.
1 quote from 1 source
Some rental providers and agents will tell you that the utilities need to stay on for a period of time after you move out, usually saying this is needed for the final inspection or to show the property to a new renter. You do not need to do this.
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VCAT can take into account depreciation and the age of the property in deciding how much a renter should pay.

1 quote from 1 source
It may be better to let a claim for damage go to VCAT. This is because VCAT can take into account depreciation and the age of the property in deciding if, or how much, you should pay if you caused the damage.

Changed on1

A dated change. This is where advice quietly stops being true.

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From 1 July 2026 a Victorian renter can move their bond to their next rental home under the Portable Rental Bond Scheme.

1 quote from 1 source
From 1 July 2026, you can move your bond to your next rental home with the new Portable Rental Bond Scheme.

Disputed between sources2

Sources that do not agree, presented without picking a winner.

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  • Tenants Victoria states that a renter need not steam clean carpets where the property is already reasonably clean even if the lease says otherwise.
  • O2O Cleaning states that every nook and cranny of the property must be clean.
vendor
2 quotes from 2 sources
Rental providers and agents often try to insist that renters must steam clean carpets or professionally clean the property. If the property is already ‘reasonably clean’ you do not need to do this, even if there is a clause in your lease that says you have to.
The Residential Tenancies Act in Victoria says tenants must leave their rental properties as they were at the start of the lease, except for reasonable wear and tear. This means every nook and cranny of your leased property must be clean.

Often said, but we could not find it in the rules9

Lots of people say this. We went looking for an official source that backs it up and could not find one, so treat it as something people repeat rather than something settled.

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O2O Cleaning states that the…

  • Residential Tenancies Act in Victoria says tenants must leave their rental properties as they were at the start of the lease, except for reasonable wear and tear.
  • requirement for tenants to leave their rental properties as they were at the start of the lease, except for reasonable wear and tear, means every nook and cranny of the property must be clean.
vendor
1 quote from 1 source
The Residential Tenancies Act in Victoria says tenants must leave their rental properties as they were at the start of the lease, except for reasonable wear and tear. This means every nook and cranny of your leased property must be clean.
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O2O Cleaning states that professional…

  • cleaners know the end-of-lease cleaning rules in Victoria.
  • cleaners' expertise boosts a renter's chances of a full bond refund.
vendor
1 quote from 1 source
Professional cleaners know the end-of-lease cleaning rules in Victoria. Their expertise boosts your chances of a full bond refund.
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Best Carpet Steam Cleaning Melbourne states that cleaning-related issues were involved in up to 70% of the 53,000 bond disputes heard in Victoria recently.

vendor
1 quote from 1 source
Did you know that cleaning-related issues were involved in up to 70% of the 53,000 bond disputes heard in Victoria recently?
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Best Carpet Steam Cleaning Melbourne states that property managers across Melbourne now use high-resolution digital inspection tools that catch even the smallest details.

vendor
1 quote from 1 source
Property managers across Melbourne now utilize high-resolution digital inspection tools that catch even the smallest details.
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Best Carpet Steam Cleaning Melbourne states that following its end of lease cleaning checklist is the most effective way to meet the legal 'reasonably clean' standard defined by Consumer Affairs Victoria.

vendor
1 quote from 1 source
Following a professional end of lease cleaning checklist victoria 2026 is the most effective way to ensure you meet the legal “reasonably clean” standard defined by Consumer Affairs Victoria.
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Best Carpet Steam Cleaning Melbourne states that presenting a professional receipt…

  • shifts the burden of proof.
  • makes it harder for a landlord to justify a bond deduction at VCAT.
vendor
1 quote from 1 source
If a landlord claims the carpets are dirty, your professional receipt shifts the burden of proof, making it much harder for them to justify a bond deduction at VCAT.