Top 10 Mistakes Adelaide Tenants Make During Bond Cleaning

Residential rental laws in South Australia are designed to protect both landlords and tenants from unfair deductions, disputes, and disagreements. Under the Residential Tenancies Act SA, landlords are responsible for maintaining a clean property that meets minimum standards. On the other hand, renters must return the property in the same state as when they first moved in, except for normal wear and tear.

Unfortunately, most tenants lose their bond money (equivalent to four weeks’ rent) due to subpar cleaning. Something as minor as dust laden window sills or greasy oven racks can result in bond deductions. This means there is no room for silly blunders. That’s one of the reasons why booking experts for a quality end of lease cleaning Adelaide makes a huge difference. They follow a pre-approved cleaning checklist and clean every inch of the premises to meet the landlord’s strict standards for the final rental inspection.

If you are doing it yourself to save extra dollars, then this guide is for you. We’ve compiled the top 10 mistakes Adelaide Tenants often make during bond cleaning. This article will help you navigate the cleaning process like smooth sailing with a strong hope of bond money retrieval.

Let’s Get Started!

1. Lack of Planning for Bond Cleaning

One of the most common blunders tenants make is starting the cleaning process without any planning or preparation. Not arranging necessary cleaning products, equipment, a checklist and other resources leads to last minute chaos, incomplete cleaning outcomes and rushed work. The chances of missing out critical spots or hard to reach areas, such as ceiling fans, walls, ovens, baseboards, etc are also high without a proper roadmap for a successful bond cleaning.

How to Avoid:

It is good to plan your final cleaning session at least three to four weeks before your final inspection day. First things first, create a proper timeline, declutter your belongings, recycle waste, and arrange all the necessary cleaning supplies for a streamlined process. Preparing your mind is also essential because bond cleaning requires detailed checklists to pass strict inspections.

2. Ignoring the Entry Condition Report

Condition reports are known as ‘Inspection Sheets’ in South Australia. It is a legal obligation for both parties (landlord and tenant) to complete the Inspection Sheet at the start and end of the tenancy. The report documents the general state of repair and condition of the rental home. If any issue arises related to damage or cleanliness, the Condition Report is used as evidence by the Tribunal or Court before making the final decision.

Most tenants forget to refer to the entry condition report and end up losing bond money despite your cleaning efforts. It helps you identify the existing damage and filthy areas, which are thoroughly inspected by a landlord at the end of lease cleaning.

How to  Avoid:

Ensure you compare the entry condition report with the property’s current condition to check for any existing damage or dirt. Professionals also refer to the inspection sheets before performing a top quality end of lease cleaning Adelaide for stress free outcomes.

Tip: Tenants are not responsible for fixing existing damage that is beyond fair wear and tear.

3. Skipping Landlord’s Specific Cleaning Requirements

The majority of Adelaide tenants are unaware of the reason behind bond deductions. According to the report, they clean the property but fail to meet the specific cleaning requirements outlined in a lease agreement. This could be anything, such as carpet steam cleaning, pest control, or upholstery cleaning. Many landlords are particular about cleanliness, and failing to meet their specific requirements could lead to bond deductions.

How to Avoid:

It is good to carefully read your rental agreement to understand the specific cleaning clauses mentioned by the landlord/property manager. This becomes even more crucial when you have pets. You may need to deep clean the carpets, couch or remove pests before the final move out. So, read it and create a tailor made end of lease cleaning checklist to impress your fussy property manager.

4. Overlooking Inside Kitchen Appliances

Cleaning outside the oven, microwave, or refrigerator may not secure your full bond money. You need to clean inside the appliances, including the inner walls, doors, racks, removable drawers, and crannies, to remove burnt food particles, gunk, and splatters. Landlords are strict when inspection a kitchen and might withhold your bond if you fail to restore the shine of your kitchen appliances.

How to Avoid:

• Cleaning an oven inside and outside:Remove racks and soak them in hot, soapy water for half an hour. Meanwhile, apply a baking soda and warm water paste inside the oven (except for heating coils). Leave it for a few minutes. Next, scrub the interiors with a damp sponge. For grease residue, spray a vinegar solution and clean the outside of the appliance as well. Also, scrub the racks.
• Restore Your Microwave: Add warm water, white vinegar, and lemon juice to a microwavable bowl and microwave for 2 minutes. Leave the door closed to let the steam break down the gunk. Next, use a damp cloth or sponge to gently wipe down the inside of your microwave. Use the same solution to clean the knobs and panels.
• Clean your Fridge:Empty your fridge, remove drawers and soak them in hot water. Next, spray the vinegar solution inside the fridge and wipe it down with a cloth. You can use a soft bristled brush to clean the rubber gaskets and crannies of your refrigerator.

5. Scrubbing Carpets Abrasively

Vacuuming may remove embedded dirt, pet hair and pollens; but won’t tackle ink stains, build up grease, coffee stains and mould infestation. To remove that, many tenants scrub the delicate fibres with harsh brushes and end up damaging it. This could lead to hefty penalties, or landlords may deduct your bond to cover repair costs.

How to Fix:

You should always blot the affected area, rather than rubbing or scrubbing. Use a damp cloth and blot it over the stain until the stain transfers onto the cloth. You can also steam clean carpets to prevent permanent damage or discolouration.

6. Neglecting Hidden Spots

Many tenants pay attention to visible areas, such as floors, carpets, bathtubs, and a toilet seat and forget to clean hidden spots. These areas include ceiling fans, air vents, light fixtures and fittings, cabinet top, shelves, door handles, window sills, under heavy appliances, etc, that the landlord strictly inspects before the final move out.

How to Avoid:

You should always create a proper cleaning checklist and follow a top to bottom cleaning approach. This will help you remove dust, dirt and stubborn stains from vents, ceiling fans, and every cranny with perfection.

7. Ignoring Scuff Marks on Walls

Many tenants overlook wall marks, adhesive stains and crayon marks, which could become the main reason for bond deductions. Make sure you remove cobwebs from the walls, and remove stains using a vinegar solution or a magic eraser.

If the wall damage is beyond normal wear and tear, fix it before the final rental inspection to avoid disputes or deductions.

8. Not Disinfecting Bathroom Fixtures and Fittings

Cleaning bathrooms is not enough when preparing for the rental inspection. Many tenants make this silly mistake and lose a part of their bond. Potential occupants often reject the property due to a lack of hygiene, and bathrooms are the main reason.

How to Fix:

First, remove soap scum and hard water stains from all surfaces, such as showers, glass doors, bathroom tiles, toilets, and sinks. Next, spray rubbing alcohol or disinfecting wipes to kill lingering germs that could lead to health related concerns if not treated properly.

9. Skipping Outdoor Areas

Almost all renters focus on interior parts when performing a quality end of lease cleaning Adelaide. However, landlords have the right to deduct the bond amount due to outgrown lawns, filthy driveways and dirty exterior windows. Here are a few things you can do:

• Clean the lawn by removing dry fallen leaves and green rubbish
• Remove stains from driveways and concrete floors
• Clean patio areas
• Wash exterior windows
• Remove cobwebs from garage walls

10. Not Documenting the Cleaning Process

Failing to take photos and videos of a cleaning property can be a serious mistake. You may lose your bond money if you don’t have evidence to support your claim in case of unfair deductions. Make sure you click before and after cleaning photos for a stress free move out. If you are hiring experts, do necessary preparations to avoid last minute mess.

Infographic: Tenant’s Guide: Common Bond Cleaning Blunders to Avoid

Wrapping Up

Bond cleaning is one of the crucial tasks, determining the fate of your hard earned bond money. It is important to avoid silly pitfalls when sprucing up your rental home to avoid bond deductions or disputes. Hopefully, this article has helped you navigate through the common blunders to ensure a hassle free inspection journey.