Moving out is a lot of small jobs at once, and the clean is the one that most often decides how smoothly the handover goes. This checklist walks through the property room by room, then covers the parts people forget: timing, access and the exit inspection.

It is general information, not legal advice. Your rental agreement, the entry condition report and any checklist from your agent come first.

What “clean” means when you move out in Victoria

Consumer Affairs Victoria says renters must leave the property reasonably clean and in the same condition as when they moved in, allowing for fair wear and tear. Its cleanliness guideline describes “reasonably clean” as free of marks, dirt, dust, cobwebs and stains. It does not mean spotless, and you cannot be expected to leave the property cleaner than it was when you moved in.

Two documents tell you what that looks like for your home:

  • The entry condition report. Compare each room with what it says and with any photos you took when you moved in.
  • The agent’s or rental provider’s checklist, if they gave you one. It shows what they will look at.

Kitchen

The kitchen takes the longest, mostly because of grease.

  • Oven: racks, trays, door glass, inside walls and the seals
  • Cooktop, knobs and the area behind and beside it
  • Rangehood: wipe the outside and clean the filters
  • Cupboards and drawers inside and out, including the tops of overhead cupboards you can reach
  • Benchtops, splashback and wall tiles
  • Sink, taps and the plug hole
  • Dishwasher door, seals and filter (if one is provided)
  • Fridge space: the floor and walls where your fridge stood
  • Light switches, power points and the pantry

Bathrooms, toilets and laundry

  • Shower screen, tiles and grout, including soap scum near the base
  • Bath, vanity, basin, taps and the mirror
  • Toilet inside and out, including the base and behind the cistern
  • Exhaust fan cover (wipe what you can reach safely)
  • Laundry tub, taps, cupboards and the space behind the washing machine
  • Floors and skirting boards

Bedrooms and living areas

  • Built-in wardrobes inside and out, shelves and sliding door tracks
  • Skirting boards, doors, door frames and handles
  • Light switches and power points
  • Windows, sills and tracks within reach
  • Marks on walls — but check with your agent before scrubbing painted walls, as some paints mark more if rubbed
  • Floors: vacuum carpets thoroughly; vacuum and mop hard floors

Outside areas

  • Balcony or courtyard swept, cobwebs removed
  • Rubbish and recycling taken away, bins emptied
  • Garage or car space swept
  • Garden areas you are responsible for under your agreement

Rubbish is easy to underestimate. Book a hard rubbish collection or a skip early if you have a lot to remove — cleaners generally cannot take away belongings or rubbish.

Timing the clean

The order matters more than people expect:

  1. Move everything out first, including small items in cupboards.
  2. Have any carpet cleaning done after the furniture has gone, so the whole floor can be reached.
  3. Do the general clean last, so footprints and dust from moving day do not undo it.
  4. Leave time before the key handover in case something needs a second look.

Our end of lease cleaning is booked for an empty property for exactly this reason: once the furniture is gone, every surface can be reached.

Access, keys and utilities

  • Keep the power and water on until after the clean. Ovens, vacuums and hot water all need them.
  • Decide how the cleaner gets in: you on site, keys left with the agent, or a lock box. Share entry details privately, never in a public message thread.
  • Check parking. Apartments often have loading bays or visitor parking that must be booked, and lift bookings may be needed.

Before the exit inspection

The rental provider or agent completes the exit section of the condition report within 10 days after the agreement ends, and you must be present or given a reasonable opportunity to attend. Before that:

  • Walk through every room with your copy of the entry condition report.
  • Take your own dated photos of each room after the clean.
  • Keep receipts for any cleaning you paid for.
  • Agree how the bond will be finalised before signing a bond claim form, and only sign one that shows the amount you will receive.

If the agent raises a cleaning item afterwards, ask for the specific area in writing so it can be checked against the condition report.

Want this done for you?

The instant quote prices an end of lease clean from the number of bedrooms and bathrooms — a one-bedroom apartment starts at $319 + GST and a two-bedroom apartment at $379 + GST, for a property in normal condition. Our clean covers the indoor rooms on this list for an empty property. Carpet steam cleaning and wall washing are priced per room, and other extras such as a fridge clean or a garage sweep are added only if you choose them. We cannot remove rubbish or do garden work.

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Sources

Rules change. Check the official source for your situation; this guide is general information, not legal advice.