Whether it is a routine inspection or the final one before you move out, the same question comes up: how clean is clean enough? This guide covers what the rules in Victoria expect, the places inspections usually focus on, and a short list for the day before. It is general information, not legal advice.

What the standard actually is

Victoria’s renting laws expect renters to keep the property reasonably clean. Consumer Affairs Victoria’s cleanliness guideline explains that this is measured by average community standards: a surface is reasonably clean when it is free of marks, dirt, dust, cobwebs and stains, and more cleaning would not visibly improve it. It is not “spotless”, and you are not expected to leave a property cleaner than it was when you moved in.

The guideline also notes that renters are not expected to clean at heights where it would be unsafe, such as some ceiling fans — that falls under the rental provider’s maintenance.

Your best reference: the condition report

Before you move in, the rental provider or agent must give you the condition report (two signed copies, or one electronic copy), and you have 5 business days after moving in to return a signed copy with your corrections and comments. At the end, they complete the exit section within 10 days after the agreement ends, and you must be present or given a reasonable opportunity to attend.

Before any inspection, read your copy. If the report noted a stain or mark when you moved in, it is not something you created — but cleaning it where possible still helps the place present well.

Where inspections usually focus

These are the areas where dirt builds up out of sight, and where a quick look tells someone a lot.

Kitchen

  • Oven and rangehood free of grease — the guideline uses these as examples
  • Cooktop, benchtops and the splashback
  • Inside cupboards and drawers, especially near the stove
  • Sink and taps, with no build-up around the base

Bathrooms

  • Shower screen and tiles free of soap scum
  • Grout lines and the corners of the shower base
  • Toilet, including the base and behind it
  • Exhaust fan cover, if you can reach it safely

Floors and walls

  • Carpets vacuumed, with no pet hair or strong odours
  • Hard floors washed
  • Skirting boards, door frames and light switches wiped

Outside

  • Rubbish and recycling disposed of correctly
  • Lawns mowed and garden beds lightly weeded: simple garden upkeep is usually the renter’s job, while bigger work such as major pruning or tree work is the rental provider’s (and the garden’s condition at the start of the tenancy matters)
  • Balcony swept and cobwebs cleared

A checklist for the day before

  • Clear benches, the sink and bathroom vanities
  • Wipe the cooktop, rangehood and oven door
  • Clean the shower screen and toilet
  • Vacuum every room and mop hard floors
  • Empty bins and remove any rubbish outside
  • Open windows for half an hour to air the home
  • Note anything that needs repair and report it in writing — maintenance is separate from cleaning

For the final inspection

The exit inspection compares the property with the entry condition report, allowing for fair wear and tear. Take your own dated photos after the final clean, keep receipts for any cleaning you paid for, and ask for any cleaning concern in writing so it can be checked against the report.

If you are moving out, the end of lease cleaning checklist goes room by room, and our end of lease cleaning service covers the full list for an empty property. Carpets have their own rules — see carpet cleaning when moving out in Victoria.

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Sources

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