The last day of a tenancy is usually rushed. Someone's packing a van, someone's on hold with the electricity company, and the oven still hasn't been cleaned. It's also the day that decides how the bond is settled. A calm, well-recorded exit inspection protects both sides, and it takes less effort than the argument it prevents.
The one rule: compare, don't remember
An exit inspection only means something when it's compared with the entry condition report. The question isn't “is the property in good condition?” It's “is it in the same condition as when the tenancy started, apart from fair wear and tear?” Every step below comes back to that comparison. If you're unsure where wear and tear ends and damage begins, read our guide to fair wear and tear vs damage first.
For tenants
Two weeks before you move out
- Find your copy of the entry condition report and read it room by room. Note anything you flagged at the start; you'll want to check those items again.
- Make a list of anything you've damaged and decide whether to fix it properly before you go. A quality repair is usually cheaper than a bond deduction.
- Arrange cleaning. Aim for the condition the property was in when you moved in, not showroom condition.
- Confirm the final inspection time with your landlord or agent, and ask to be there if you can.
On moving day
- Photograph every room after it's empty and clean, in the same order as the entry report, from similar angles. Include inside cupboards, the oven, the bathroom, and any marks you noted at the start.
- Take a photo of the meter readings for electricity, gas and water, where you have access.
- Gather every key, remote and access card you were given, and return them as agreed. Keep a record of when and to whom.
- Give the landlord or agent your forwarding address in writing, so the report and any bond paperwork reach you.
After you hand back the keys
- Read the exit report carefully. If you disagree with anything, say so in writing, with your photos, as soon as possible.
- Don't sign a bond claim you disagree with. Every state has a process for disputed bonds through its bond authority and tenancy tribunal.
For landlords
Before the inspection
- Pull out the signed entry condition report and any routine inspection reports. You'll need them side by side.
- Offer the tenant a time to attend. Doing it together resolves most questions on the spot.
During the inspection
- Go room by room in the same order as the entry report, and record each item's condition with clear photos.
- For anything that's changed, sort it into one of three groups: cleaning (dirt, rubbish, grime), damage (burns, holes, breakage) or fair wear and tear (ageing, fading, normal use). Only the first two can be claimed.
- Check the things that are easy to miss: keys and remotes, smoke alarm covers, window locks, flyscreens, oven racks, garden and bins.
After the inspection
- Give the tenant a copy of the exit report promptly.
- If you plan to claim part of the bond, gather the evidence first: entry and exit photos of the same item, quotes or invoices for repairs, and the age of the item.
- Keep claims proportionate. An old carpet isn't replaced at the tenant's expense because of one small mark.
The tenant completes the exit condition report (Form 14a) first and hands it in with the keys. The property manager or owner then adds their comments, and must send a completed copy to the tenant's new address within three business days. If they claim against the bond, they must give the tenant supporting evidence within 14 days. Other states have their own forms and timeframes; see our tenant guide or landlord guide.
Where exit inspections usually go wrong
- No entry report, or one with no photos. Without a baseline, any disagreement turns into one person's word against the other's.
- Different rooms, different order. If the exit report doesn't follow the entry report, items get missed or compared with the wrong thing.
- Treating age as damage. Faded curtains and worn carpet after years of use are wear and tear.
- Leaving it too long. An inspection done weeks after the keys come back is easy to challenge.
How Roost Inspect helps
Roost runs the exit inspection on the same room-by-room list as the entry inspection, so nothing is skipped or compared out of order. Photos are time-stamped as they're taken. Both sides can add comments and their own photos, and once the report is signed, it's locked so neither side can change it afterwards. The entry vs exit comparison then shows exactly what changed in each room. That gives both of you the same evidence to agree on, before anyone talks about money.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Forms, timeframes and bond processes differ between states and territories, so check your state's official guidance.
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