End of Lease Cleaning

Generally, no. In most states landlords cannot mandate professional cleaning; you must return the property to its entry-report condition, allowing fair wear and tear. Exceptions include carpet cleaning or pest treatment clauses where you kept pets. In practice, a professional clean with a receipt heads off most bond disputes.

A promise that if your property manager flags cleaning issues at the final inspection, the cleaner returns to fix them free within a set window, commonly 72 hours to 7 days. It covers cleaning items on their checklist, not damage, gardens or excluded items, so read the inclusions before booking.

A professional team typically takes three to six hours for a two or three bedroom home, longer for large or heavily soiled properties, with ovens and bathrooms consuming the most time. Book at least a few days before your final inspection so there is time for a re-clean if anything is flagged.

Doing it yourself is legitimate and can save $300 to $600 if you are thorough, but agents check details tenants miss: window tracks, rangehood filters, skirting boards, behind appliances. If your entry report was detailed and your bond is $2,000 or more, a guaranteed professional clean is cheap insurance.

The kitchen (especially oven, rangehood and splashback), bathrooms (grout, shower glass, exhaust fans), carpets, windows and tracks, marks on walls, and outdoor areas including cobwebs and the garage floor. They compare everything against the entry condition report and photos, which is why keeping your own copy matters.