Short answer: to get your full bond back in Victoria, leave the property reasonably clean and in the same condition as your incoming condition report (allowing for fair wear and tear), remove all your belongings, and agree the bond claim through the RTBA online. Once everyone agrees, the RTBA usually repays the bond within one business day.
We're cleaners, not lawyers, so this guide sticks to how the process works and what we see at inspections. For your specific situation, check with Consumer Affairs Victoria or Tenants Victoria.
Step 1: Know the standard, "reasonably clean"
Consumer Affairs Victoria's guideline on cleanliness says renters must keep the property reasonably clean. An item is generally reasonably clean if it's free of marks, dirt, cobwebs, stains and dust, and further reasonable cleaning wouldn't improve it.
Two important points:
- It doesn't have to be cleaner than when you moved in. Your incoming condition report is the benchmark.
- Fair wear and tear isn't your responsibility. Normal deterioration from everyday use can't be deducted.
Step 2: Check whether professional cleaning is required
Many renters assume they must hire professional cleaners. In Victoria, under the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021, a rental provider can generally only require professional cleaning if:
- the property was professionally cleaned immediately before your tenancy started, and you were told (for example, in the condition report), or
- professional cleaning is needed to return the property to the condition it was in at the start, allowing for fair wear and tear. Examples include lingering cigarette or pet odours, or wine and urine stains in carpet.
This applies to rental agreements entered into from 29 March 2021, with transitional rules for some older agreements.
Step 3: Clean to a checklist
The items that cause most bond deductions in our experience:
- Greasy ovens and rangehood filters
- Soap scum on shower screens and mould in the grout
- Dusty window tracks and skirting boards
- Marks on walls
- Belongings or rubbish left behind
Use our end of lease cleaning checklist, and see what property managers check at the final inspection.
Step 4: Take photos
Take dated photos of every room after the final clean, including inside the oven, the shower and the window tracks. If there's a dispute, photos matched against the condition report are your best evidence.
Step 5: Claim the bond through the RTBA
Bonds in Victoria are held by the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA), and claims are made online at rentalbonds.vic.gov.au.
- If you and the rental provider agree: the provider lodges the claim and you get an email to accept it. You must accept within 14 days. Once everyone accepts, the RTBA usually repays the bond within one business day.
- If the rental provider wants to claim part of the bond: they must give you at least 3 business days' notice with supporting evidence, such as photos, invoices or quotes, before claiming. That evidence shouldn't contradict the condition report.
- You can start the claim yourself: any renter named on the bond can start a claim after the agreement ends. The RTBA notifies the other parties, who have 14 days to dispute it through VCAT or Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV). If no one disputes it, the bond is repaid at the end of that period.
- Rental providers must start a claim within 14 days of the agreement ending, unless the renter starts it first.
Step 6: If there's a dispute
Talk to the property manager first. Many cleaning disputes are solved with a quick re-clean. If you can't agree, either side can apply to VCAT or RDRV, and their order is submitted to the RTBA to release the bond.
How a professional clean helps
A professional end of lease clean won't change the law, but it cuts the risk of the most common deductions. Look for a written re-clean promise. Ours covers anything on our checklist that's raised within 72 hours, at no cost.
Fresh Plus Cleaning provides end of lease cleaning across Melbourne from $435, with fixed upfront prices and no call-out fee.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get my bond back in Victoria? Once you and the rental provider agree and everyone accepts the claim online, the RTBA usually repays the bond within one business day.
Can my landlord make me pay for professional carpet cleaning? Only in limited situations: if the carpets were professionally cleaned just before you moved in and you were told, or if professional cleaning is needed to restore them to their starting condition, allowing for fair wear and tear.
What if I disagree with a bond deduction? Ask for the evidence, compare it with the condition report and your photos, and try to negotiate. If you still can't agree, you can apply to VCAT or Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria.
Sources: Consumer Affairs Victoria, "How to claim a bond and how long it will take"; Director's Guideline 2 – Cleanliness. Information current as of November 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. For advice on your situation, contact Consumer Affairs Victoria or Tenants Victoria.
