While no one enjoys the inconvenience of packing up and moving out of a rental property, it does have one major perk…getting your rental bond back! And we’re going to teach you how to get your rental bond back.
Rental bonds can be hundreds – sometimes thousands – of dollars back in your own hands. It’s the next best thing to finding a forgotten $50 note in the pocket of an old pair of jeans.
It’s not uncommon though for tenants to have a lingering fear in the back of their mind that they won’t get all (or any) of their bond back, for one reason or another.
The most common reasons for tenants not getting their rental bond back include damage to the property, rental arrears or failure to clean up properly when vacating.
Here are six things tenants can do to get their rental bond back in full. And if you need to learn more about renting, Soho has your back, from filling out bond loan applications to bond assistance.
1. Complete the ingoing and outgoing condition report carefully
When first moving in to your rental home, make sure you take the time to carefully check every item in the ingoing condition report and document any damage or imperfections you notice that may have been overlooked.
This will save you from getting the blame when it’s time to move out one day.
This could be anything from a broken or ill-performing appliance, a stain on the carpet or a chip in the paintwork.
While completing the report may seem a painstaking task, you only need to do it once and you’ll thank yourself in the long run if anything was to come of it.
2. Take photos when you move in and right before you move out
While you’re doing the condition report, it’s a good idea to take some photos of the property in case any disputes arise when you are moving out.
Take photos of each room overall as well as any flaws you have noted in the condition report.
More importantly, you should take time-stamped photos right before you move out. That way, if any damage happens to the property after you’ve handed the keys in you won’t get the blame.
Say for instance a family member of the landlord moves in temporally after you move out, causes some damage and tries to blame it on you, you’ll have photographic evidence and an outgoing report to prove otherwise.
3. Read your tenancy agreement carefully
Are there any conditions in your tenancy agreement which might affect you getting your full rental bond back?
There are usually clauses which state that if you break the lease within in a certain time frame you will lose the bond in order to cover the landlord’s expenses of finding a new tenant earlier than expected.
You should check the agreement for any other clauses that might affect you getting your bond back.
Normally, 2-6 weeks is how long your landlord has to refund your bond.
4. Ask permission for any alterations
If you decide to repaint the walls in your rental, hammer in some nails for a gallery wall, rip up some carpet in the bedroom or make any other permanent alterations without your landlord’s permission, don’t expect to get your rental bond back in full.
Always ask your landlord if you’d like to make any changes, even if it’s something as simple as putting a nail in a wall.
Without their permission, such alterations can be considered malicious damage and the costs for repair will be taken out of your bond.
5. Fix any damage you made
As a tenant you will be responsible for repairing any damage you cause to the property. This could be getting the carpet professionally cleaned to remove the red wines stains you made or fixing the window your child smashed while playing frisbee.
If you don’t make this repair yourself, the costs for doing so can be taken out of your bond. Fix any damage as it happens to ensure you get your full bond back at the end.
You can read more on who is responsible for damage in a rental property here.
6. Keep it clean
When you move out, you will need to ensure that the property is properly cleaned and ready for the new tenant to move in. Whether you do it yourself or hire a cleaner, the aim is to leave it looking clean. If you do hire someone, you can research how much a bond clean is to prepare yourself.
As a general guide this should include vacuuming, dusting cleaning the kitchen (paying special attention to the oven and stovetop), removing all rubbish and belongings and thoroughly cleaning the bathroom, especially the shower and toilet.
If the property manager does not believe you have left the place sufficiently clean you may need to pay for the costs of hiring as professional cleaner, and this can be taken out of your bond.
There may also be special cleaning clauses in your tenancy agreement so make sure you’re aware of this. For example, if you keep a pet at the property there may be a condition that you must have the carpets professionally cleaned when vacating and will need to supply a receipt as proof.
Make sure everything is spic and span when you leave. If you don’t think you can do a good enough job yourself you can always hire a professional cleaner – your property manager should be able to recommend a reliable service.
