Guide · 7 min read

How to get your full bond back in NSW

Your bond is usually four weeks’ rent sitting with NSW Fair Trading, and most tenants get it back in full. The ones who don’t usually trip on the same avoidable things. Here is how the process works and how to protect your money.

How the bond process works

At the end of your lease, your agent inspects the property against the condition report you completed at move-in. If the property is returned in the same condition, allowing for fair wear and tear, your bond is refunded in full. If there’s a dispute, either party can lodge a claim and, if it isn’t resolved, it goes to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).

What property managers actually check

Inspections are detailed. The most common deduction triggers are:

• A dirty oven, rangehood or cooktop
• Mould and soap scum in bathrooms
• Marks on walls, skirting and doors
• Dirty carpets, especially if they were professionally cleaned at move-in
• Window tracks, sills and flyscreens left untouched
• Rubbish or belongings left behind

Fair wear and tear is normal ageing, like slightly worn carpet in a hallway. Damage and dirt are not, and that’s where deductions come from.

Six steps to protect your bond

1. Find your entry condition report. It’s the reference point for the whole inspection.
2. Take dated photos before and after you clean, room by room.
3. Clean to the inspection standard, not just a tidy. Use our end of lease checklist.
4. Handle carpets properly. If the lease requires professional carpet cleaning, keep the receipt.
5. Fix the small stuff like picture hooks, globes and scuffs where you can.
6. Be at the final inspection if you can, so you can address anything on the spot.

Should you DIY or hire a professional?

A DIY clean can work for a small, well-kept property if you have the time and the right products. For larger homes, heavy build-up, or when your lease specifies professional cleaning, a professional bond clean is usually faster and less stressful, and it removes the risk of a re-clean holding up your refund.

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