It is not legal advice. For official rules, start with the RTA's page on cleaning when you vacate. If you want Zenpure to do the clean, our live inclusions and hours are on the bond cleaning checklist (separate from this process guide).

What QLD expects when you move out

Same condition as the start (less fair wear and tear)

In Queensland, tenants are responsible for leaving the property in the same condition it was in at the start of the tenancy, less fair wear and tear. Your entry condition report (with photos or video if you have them) is the baseline. If you do not have a copy, ask your property manager or owner for it before you start deep-cleaning the wrong things.

You are not responsible for pre-existing damage or poor condition that was already there when you moved in. The manager or owner should allow for fair wear and tear. What they do not have to accept as "wear and tear" is dirt, grime, grease, or damage you caused during the tenancy.

Dirt is not wear and tear

A faded paint patch from years of sun is closer to wear and tear. A greasy oven, mouldy shower silicone you let build up, or sticky cupboard shelves usually are not. When in doubt, compare room by room to the entry report rather than arguing from memory.

Your move-out paperwork (as important as the mop)

Cleaning alone does not finish the job. After the property is cleaned, the RTA's guidance points tenants toward a simple sequence:

• Remove all your possessions — leftover boxes and belongings become someone else's problem (and sometimes a bond conversation).
• Keep or request the entry condition report — Form 1a (or Form 1b for moveable dwellings/sites). It will be compared to the exit report.
• Complete the exit condition report — Form 14a (or Form 14b for moveable dwellings/sites), systematically, room by room. Use extra pages if you need them, then return it to the property manager or owner.
• Bond refund — provide your forwarding address to the RTA and include it on the Refund of rental bond (Form 4).

If something on your lease is stricter or more specific than the usual checklist (extra outdoor areas, particular appliances, furnished inventory), flag it early — whether you DIY or book a cleaner.

Room-by-room checklist for Queensland renters

Work room by room so you do not miss the "small" items agencies notice first. The RTA specifically calls out windows and tracks, skirting boards, light fittings, ceiling fans, air-con vents/filters, insides of cupboards, ovens, outdoor areas if they are part of the lease, rubbish removal, and repairs for damage you caused.

Kitchen

• Oven: interior, racks, trays, door glass; degrease stove top and backsplash
• Rangehood and filters (if accessible)
• Fridge and freezer: empty, wipe interior and exterior; leave doors ajar if power is off and the lease allows
• Microwave: inside and out
• Dishwasher: interior filter and door seals if used during the tenancy
• Sink, taps, drainer
• Cabinets and drawers: interiors and exteriors within reach (crumbs and sticky shelves are common fail points)
• Floors: vacuum then mop; pull out freestanding appliances if that matches how you lived there and it is safe

Bathrooms and laundry

• Toilet: bowl, seat, base, behind
• Shower / bath: glass, screen tracks, tiles, grout, mould on silicone
• Sink, vanity, taps, mirrors
• Exhaust fan / vents within reach
• Cabinets and shelves inside and out
• Laundry tub, cabinet, and dryer lint filter if applicable

Bedrooms and living areas

• Dust all surfaces, skirtboards / baseboards, door frames
• Inside wardrobes and drawers (empty and wipe)
• Windows: interior panes, tracks, and frames
• Blind slats (dust; deep clean if your lease / agency expects it)
• Ceiling fans and light fittings within safe reach
• Air-conditioning filters and vents within reach
• Walls: spot-clean marks you caused (full wall washing is often out of scope for a standard bond clean — see our inclusions page for what Zenpure does and does not include)

Floors and finish

• Vacuum and mop all floors
• Cobwebs
• Replace rubbish bags / remove rubbish from the property
• Final walk-through with the entry report in hand

Outside (if it is part of your lease)

• Balconies / patios swept and wiped
• Gardens: tidy, weed, mow and edge if that was your responsibility
• Check the lease before assuming outdoor work is optional

Furnished rentals

If the property is furnished, check every item against the furniture inventory and put things back where they belong.

DIY vs professional bond clean

DIY can work if the property is lightly lived-in, you have time before the exit inspection, and you are organised with the entry report. Budget more hours than you think — ovens, shower glass, and tracks eat time.

A professional bond clean makes sense when the timeline is tight, the property is large or heavily used, or you would rather pay for a documented checklist than risk a failed inspection. Zenpure's bond cleans are scoped by property size and a fixed inclusions list. See exactly what is in (and out of) a Zenpure bond clean on our bond cleaning checklist, and the service overview at bond cleaning.

We serve Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, and the Gold Coast. Booking is online: book.zenpure.com.au/booknow.

What agencies commonly flag

These show up again and again on exit inspections — and on our own bond jobs:

• Oven and rangehood grease
• Shower glass haze and track grime
• Window tracks
• Skirting boards
• Cupboard interiors
• Exhaust fans and air-con filters
• Mould in wet areas that built up during the tenancy

A short companion read on common traps: The 7 inspection items that catch tenants out.

After handover

Once cleaning and reports are done:

• Keys returned as instructed
• Exit condition report lodged with the manager / owner
• Bond refund process started with the RTA (Form 4 + forwarding address)

Bond outcomes depend on the condition report comparison and any claims — cleaning thoroughly improves your position; it does not guarantee a full refund. For disputes or process detail, use the RTA's official channels (phone 1300 366 311 within Australia).

FAQ

Do I have to hire a professional cleaner to get my bond back in QLD?

No. The RTA notes you may clean yourself or engage a reputable professional. What matters is leaving the property in the required condition and completing the paperwork.

What is fair wear and tear?

Normal ageing and use over time — not dirt, grime, grease, or damage you caused. Use your entry condition report as the comparison.

What is Form 14a?

The Exit condition report for most residential tenancies in Queensland. Complete it carefully, room by room, and return it to the property manager or owner. (Form 14b applies to certain moveable dwellings/sites.)

When should I book a bond clean?

Often one to two days before the final inspection, after furniture is out, so the cleaners are not working around belongings. Confirm against your handover date and agency instructions.

Does Zenpure guarantee I'll get my full bond back?

No reputable cleaner should guarantee a bond outcome. We work to a clear checklist and agreed hours. See what we include. Bond decisions sit with the manager / owner and the RTA process.

Where does Zenpure do bond cleans?

Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, and Gold Coast — locations.