The Focus Way · Cleaning guide
End of lease (bond) cleaning checklist for NSW
By the Focus Cleaning team · Published
The short answer
This is a practical checklist, not a legal requirement. In NSW, tenants should leave the property clean and in a similar condition to when they moved in, as recorded in the ingoing condition report, allowing for fair wear and tear. Read your lease and condition report, clean room by room, take dated photos, and attend the final inspection if you can. No cleaner can guarantee how a bond is decided.
Before you start
What you'll need
- Your lease, ingoing condition report and move-in photos
- General-purpose cleaner, dishwashing liquid and glass cleaner
- Microfibre cloths, sponges and non-scratch pads
- Vacuum with attachments, mop and bucket
- A stable step ladder
- Rubbish bags
Safety first
- Use a stable step ladder for high cupboards, fans and light fittings. Don't stand on chairs or benchtops.
- Don't use bleach and ammonia-based products in the same session, for example when doing bathrooms and the kitchen on the same day.
- Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaning products. Some combinations release toxic gas.
- Keep the room ventilated: open a window and run the exhaust fan while you work.
- Wear gloves, read the label on any product, and follow its directions.
- Store products in their original labelled containers, out of reach of children and pets.
Check the surface
- Compare each room with the ingoing condition report: marks noted at move-in are not yours to fix.
- Fair wear and tear (normal deterioration from everyday use) isn't something cleaning needs to undo.
- Test wall-mark removal on a small hidden area first: scrubbing painted walls can lift the paint.
- Check the lease for any special terms, for example about carpets, and whether they're consistent with NSW rules.
Step by step
- 1
Read the condition report
Go through the ingoing condition report room by room and note what was already there when you moved in.
- 2
Empty the property first
Clean once furniture and boxes are out, so nothing hides marks, dust or cobwebs.
- 3
Kitchen
Clean the oven, racks, cooktop, rangehood and its washable filter, inside and outside cupboards and drawers, benchtops, splashback, sink, taps and dishwasher.
- 4
Bathrooms and toilets
Clean the shower screen, tiles, bath, vanity, cabinet, mirrors, taps, toilet (including the base), exhaust fan cover and drains.
- 5
Bedrooms and living areas
Dust light fittings, fans and air-con vents, remove cobwebs, wipe skirting boards, doors, switches and power points, and clean inside built-in wardrobes.
- 6
Windows and tracks
Clean windows inside (and outside where safe to reach), sills, sliding door tracks and fly screens, and dust the blinds.
- 7
Laundry
Clean the tub, taps and cupboards, and the floor where the washing machine and dryer stood.
- 8
Floors last
Vacuum everywhere, including wardrobes, then mop hard floors.
- 9
Outside areas
Sweep balconies, patios and the garage, and remove all rubbish.
- 10
Take dated photos
Photograph each room, the oven and the bathrooms, and keep the photos until the bond is finalised.
- 11
Attend the final inspection
The landlord or agent must give you a reasonable opportunity to attend. Bring your condition report.
What the Focus team recommends
Leave time between the clean and the key handover, so anything missed can be fixed calmly. Working from the condition report, rather than a generic list, keeps the focus on what actually matters for your property.
Questions
Is a professional end of lease clean required by law in NSW?
Not as a general rule. Tenants need to leave the property clean and in a similar condition to move-in, allowing for fair wear and tear, and can do the cleaning themselves. Check your lease, and NSW Fair Trading if a term seems unclear.
What counts as fair wear and tear?
Deterioration from normal, everyday use, even when the property is looked after. Damage beyond that is the tenant's to repair or pay for. The condition report is the main evidence if there's a disagreement.
Is bond cleaning the same as end of lease cleaning?
Yes. Bond cleaning, end of lease cleaning, vacate cleaning and move-out cleaning all describe a full clean before you hand back the keys.
What if I disagree with a bond claim?
Ask for the specific items in writing and compare them with your condition report and photos. NSW Fair Trading explains how bond disputes are handled, including through the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).
Sources and further reading
- Moving out of a rental home · NSW Government (Fair Trading)
- Rental property condition reports · NSW Government (Fair Trading)
- Getting your bond back · NSW Government (Fair Trading)
Appliance and product manuals always take priority over general advice.
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Focus Cleaning looks after homes on Sydney's Northern Beaches and North Shore. End of lease & bond cleaning