RentingOnRecord

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Final inspection

28 established claims - 16 refused by the grounding gate

Documented position11

What the body that runs or defines the thing says in its own documentation.

Tenants Victoria advises that it may be better to let a claim for damage go to VCAT.

other
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.

Tenants Victoria advises renters to attend the final inspection to make sure the rental provider or agent accurately fills in the condition report.

other
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.

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.

other
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].

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.

other
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.

The renter must be present during the final inspection of a Victorian rental property or have been given a reasonable opportunity to be there.

other
1 quote from 1 source
The renter must be present during the final inspection or have been given a reasonable opportunity to be there.

Consumer Affairs Victoria gives faded curtains and worn kitchen bench tops as examples of fair wear and tear.

other
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.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that the law does not define 'reasonable use' of a Victorian rental property.

other
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’.

The Residential Tenancies Bond Authority is required by law to give notice to all other parties on the bond.

other
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.

Tenants Victoria states there is no time limit on when a renter can make a bond claim to the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority.

other
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.

Renters and residents in Victoria must keep the property in a reasonably clean condition.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Renters and residents must keep the property in a reasonably clean condition.

Practical effect5

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

Tenants Victoria reports that rental providers and agents often try to insist that renters must steam clean carpets or professionally clean the property.

other
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.

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.
other
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.

VCAT can take into account depreciation and the age of the property in deciding how much a renter should pay.

other
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.

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

other
1 quote from 1 source
A rental provider, property manager or agent will do a final inspection at the end of the rental agreement.

Changed on1

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

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

other
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.

  • 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.
other
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.

Repeated, with no primary source in reach9

Widely repeated in the field. Within the documents this sweep read, it traces only to other repetitions - which is a fact about our reading as well as about the idea, until each one has been searched for on its own.

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.
other
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.

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.
other
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.

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.

other
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?

Best Carpet Steam Cleaning Melbourne states that property managers across Melbourne now use high-resolution digital inspection tools that catch even the smallest details.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Property managers across Melbourne now utilize high-resolution digital inspection tools that catch even the smallest details.

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.

other
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.

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.
other
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.

Refused16

Claims the research produced that the grounding gate would not accept, with its reason. They are here because a site that only shows what passed gives you no way to judge whether the gate does anything.

Show what was refused

Final inspection requires Victorian rental providers to notify the renter in advance if they will be making a claim on the bond at the end of the rental agreement.

Refused: The quote states rental providers must notify in advance about bond claims but does not tie this requirement to a final inspection.

Unsupported: Final inspection requires

What it rested on
Rental providers must notify the renter in advance if they will be making a claim on the bond at the end of the rental agreement and must provide evidence to support the claim.

Final inspection requires Victorian rental providers to provide evidence to support the claim if they will be making a claim on the bond at the end of the rental agreement.

Refused: The quote requires rental providers to provide evidence but does not state that this requirement is imposed by or at the final inspection.

Unsupported: Final inspection requires

What it rested on
Rental providers must notify the renter in advance if they will be making a claim on the bond at the end of the rental agreement and must provide evidence to support the claim.

The final inspection term is a new term in the standard Victorian rental agreement form.

Refused: The quote says a new term allows professional cleaning but does not name or establish a 'final inspection term.'

Unsupported: final inspection term

What it rested on
A new term in the standard rental agreement form, used for all rental agreements from 29 March 2021, allows rental providers, in some circumstances, to require you to have the property professionally cleaned, or cleaned to a professional standard.

The standard Victorian rental agreement form containing the final inspection term is used for all rental agreements from 29 March 2021.

Refused: The quote supports the standard form being used for all agreements from 29 March 2021, but it does not mention or entail that the form contains a final inspection term.

Unsupported: containing the final inspection term

What it rested on
A new term in the standard rental agreement form, used for all rental agreements from 29 March 2021, allows rental providers, in some circumstances, to require you to have the property professionally cleaned, or cleaned to a professional standard.

The final inspection term allows rental providers in some circumstances to require the property to be professionally cleaned.

Refused: The quote refers to a new term in the standard rental agreement but does not identify it as the final inspection term.

Unsupported: final inspection term

What it rested on
A new term in the standard rental agreement form, used for all rental agreements from 29 March 2021, allows rental providers, in some circumstances, to require you to have the property professionally cleaned, or cleaned to a professional standard.

Consumer Affairs Victoria dates the ban on no-fault evictions and the extension of notice periods to 90 days to 25 November 2025, while End of Lease Cleaning Melbourne states those reforms came into effect in November 2024.

Refused: The Consumer Affairs Victoria quote only dates the rent-increase notice period change to 25 November 2025 and says nothing about a no-fault eviction ban or other notice periods.

Unsupported: Consumer Affairs Victoria dates the ban on no-fault evictions and the extension of notice periods to 90 days to 25 November 2025

What it rested on
From 25 November 2025, the minimum notice period for rental providers to issue a rent increase notice will change from 60 to 90 days.
Victoria has introduced significant rental reforms that came into effect in November 2024, including banning all types of rental bidding, extending notice periods from 60 to 90 days for rent increases and notices to vacate, and prohibiting no-fault evictions.

Consumer Affairs Victoria gives ripped curtains and broken bench tops as things that might be considered damage.

Refused: The quote states CAV's examples of damage but does not mention a final inspection setting.

Unsupported: final inspection

What it rested on
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.

Final inspection has a documented position that Victorian rental providers must start a bond claim with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority within 14 days of the rental agreement ending, unless a renter initiates a claim first.

Refused: The quote supports the 14-day RTBA bond claim rule but does not state that 'Final inspection' has any documented position; that attribution is unsupported.

Unsupported: Final inspection has a documented position

What it rested on
Rental providers must start a claim with the RTBA within 14 days of the rental agreement ending, unless a renter initiates a claim first.

With respect to final inspection, a Victorian renter must accept a rental provider-initiated bond claim within 14 days.

Refused: The quote states the 14-day acceptance rule but never mentions final inspection.

Unsupported: With respect to final inspection

What it rested on
Renters must accept the claim within 14 days or the claim will no longer be available to complete.

With respect to final inspection, if a Victorian renter does not accept a rental provider-initiated bond claim within 14 days, the claim will no longer be available to complete.

Refused: The quote supports the 14-day acceptance deadline but does not mention final inspection.

Unsupported: With respect to final inspection

What it rested on
Renters must accept the claim within 14 days or the claim will no longer be available to complete.

The Residential Tenancies Bond Authority is required by law to provide all other parties on the bond with 14 days to contest a renter-initiated claim by applying to VCAT or Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria.

Refused: The quote says the RTBA must provide 14 days to contest 'the claim' but does not state the claim is renter-initiated.

Unsupported: renter-initiated claim

What it rested on
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.

Final inspection records the condition of a Victorian rental property at the end of the tenancy.

Refused: The quote says the exit condition report records the property's condition, not that a final inspection does.

Unsupported: Final inspection

What it rested on
The exit condition report records the condition of the property at the end of the tenancy.

When a Victorian rental agreement ends, the final inspection requires that the rental provider or agent complete the 'Exit condition report' section of the original condition report within 10 days.

Refused: The quote says the rental provider or agent must complete the exit condition report section within 10 days, but it does not mention a final inspection requirement.

Unsupported: the final inspection requires

What it rested on
When a rental agreement ends, the rental provider or agent must complete the ‘Exit condition report’ section of the original condition report within 10 days.

Final inspection echoed the claim that End of Lease Cleaning Melbourne states that Victoria's rental reforms banning rental bidding came into effect in November 2024.

Refused: The quote supports End of Lease Cleaning Melbourne's statement about the November 2024 rental reforms but does not show that Final inspection echoed it.

Unsupported: Final inspection echoed the claim

What it rested on
Victoria has introduced significant rental reforms that came into effect in November 2024, including banning all types of rental bidding, extending notice periods from 60 to 90 days for rent increases and notices to vacate, and prohibiting no-fault evictions.

Final inspection echoed the claim that End of Lease Cleaning Melbourne states that Victoria's rental reforms extending notice periods from 60 to 90 days came into effect in November 2024.

Refused: No cited quote shows Final inspection echoing anything; the quote only shows End of Lease Cleaning Melbourne's blog stating the reform facts.

Unsupported: Final inspection echoed the claim

What it rested on
Victoria has introduced significant rental reforms that came into effect in November 2024, including banning all types of rental bidding, extending notice periods from 60 to 90 days for rent increases and notices to vacate, and prohibiting no-fault evictions.

Final inspection echoed the claim that End of Lease Cleaning Melbourne states that Victoria's rental reforms prohibiting no-fault evictions came into effect in November 2024.

Refused: The cited quote supports the rental reform statement from End of Lease Cleaning Melbourne but never mentions final inspection echoing it.

Unsupported: Final inspection echoed the claim

What it rested on
Victoria has introduced significant rental reforms that came into effect in November 2024, including banning all types of rental bidding, extending notice periods from 60 to 90 days for rent increases and notices to vacate, and prohibiting no-fault evictions.