A pre-lease clean is the owner’s clean. It happens after the outgoing renter has left and any repairs are finished, and before the listing photos, the entry condition report and the new renter’s keys. Because it sets the standard the next tenancy is measured against, it is worth doing to a checklist rather than by feel.

This checklist is for property managers and owners preparing a vacant rental in Victoria. The rules mentioned are general information, not legal advice.

What the clean has to achieve

Three rules shape the job:

  • Vacant and reasonably clean on move-in day. Under section 65 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997, the rental provider must make sure the property is vacant and in a reasonably clean condition on the day agreed for the renter to move in. If it is not, the renter does not have to move in, and does not pay rent until they actually do.
  • The entry condition report comes before move-in. Consumer Affairs Victoria says the rental provider or agent must give the renter two copies (or one electronic copy) of the signed condition report before they move in. The renter then has 5 business days after moving in to return a signed copy. The report should describe the property as cleaned, so the clean comes first.
  • Minimum standards apply from the advertisement. The property must meet the rental minimum standards when it is advertised or offered to let, and before the renter moves in. Cleaning cannot fix a minimum-standards problem, but a pre-lease clean is a good time to spot one.

Before the clean: check and report

  • Trades are finished — painting, repairs, new flooring. Cleaning before the last trade means cleaning twice.
  • Anything the previous renter left behind has been dealt with by the agency. A cleaner should not decide what is kept or thrown out.
  • Mould or damp: the minimum standards require rooms to be free from mould and damp caused by or related to the building structure. Report it to the owner as a repair — surface cleaning does not remove the cause.
  • Bins: rubbish and recycling bins must be supplied and vermin-proof. Check they are there, empty and clean.
  • Curtains and blinds in living and sleeping rooms open, close, block light and give privacy. Note broken ones for repair.
  • Lights work in every room and hallway — the minimum standards require access to working lights, and a blown globe hides dust.
  • Power and water are on, so the cleaner can work.
  • Access is sorted: keys, lock box, building fob, lift booking and parking.

Room-by-room cleaning checklist

Kitchen

  • Oven, racks, trays and door glass
  • Cooktop and rangehood, including the filters
  • Cupboards and drawers, inside and out
  • Benches, splashback, sink and taps
  • Dishwasher filter and door seals, if one is supplied

Bathrooms, toilets and laundry

  • Shower screens, tiles and grout
  • Bath, basin, vanity and taps
  • Toilet, including the base and behind it
  • Mirrors and cabinets, inside and out
  • Exhaust fan covers within reach
  • Laundry trough, taps and cupboards

Bedrooms and living areas

  • Wardrobes, shelves and drawers
  • Skirting boards, doors, frames and handles
  • Light switches and power points wiped
  • Window sills, tracks and glass within reach
  • Blinds dusted
  • Marks on walls spot-cleaned — full wall washing is a separate extra

Floors

  • Hard floors vacuumed and mopped
  • Carpets vacuumed, or steam cleaned if their condition calls for it

Book carpet steam cleaning early enough for the carpet to dry before photos and move-in — see how long carpet takes to dry.

Outside and storage

  • Balcony or courtyard swept, and balcony glass wiped
  • Front entry and letterbox area
  • Garage or storage cage, if the work order includes it
  • Driveway and paths — pressure washing is booked as an extra

After trades: what needs a second look

Trades leave a particular kind of mess, and it is easy to miss on a quick walk-through:

  • fine paint and plaster dust on skirting boards, sills and inside cupboards
  • protective film and stickers on new appliances, glass and fittings
  • grit in window and sliding-door tracks
  • footprints and adhesive marks on new floors

If work happened after the clean, ask for a touch-up rather than a full clean. Our guide to rental turnover cleaning explains where each clean fits in the turnover.

The final check before the condition report

  • Walk through in daylight, room by room, against this list
  • Take dated, labelled photos for the condition report — Consumer Affairs Victoria recommends attaching them
  • Record wear and damage as wear and damage, not as cleaning
  • Count the key sets, fobs and remotes for the new renter
  • Leave the bins empty and in place

Booking a pre-lease clean with us

Our real estate agency cleaning covers pre-lease and pre-sale cleans, carpet steam cleaning, and key pickup and return as arranged. Pressure washing of driveways and paths, wall washing and window cleaning within reach can be added. We do not do trades work, repairs or painting. Each clean is priced from the property size at the same rates as our online calculator, or by agreement for your agency. Send the job using our cleaning work order checklist and say what has changed since the property was vacated.

Talk to us about your site

See exactly what our real estate agency cleaning includes, or go straight to the next step.

Agency work-order enquiry What our real estate agency cleaning includes →

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Sources

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