End of Lease Cleaning Checklist for Adelaide Renters

End of lease cleaning is one of the most stressful parts of moving out. In South Australia, getting it wrong can cost you part or all of your bond. Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1995 (SA), tenants are required to return the property in the same condition it was in at the start of the tenancy, fair wear and tear excepted. That means a thorough clean is not optional.

Here's a comprehensive room-by-room checklist used by Scrubhubb's end of lease team across Adelaide.

Kitchen

• Oven: inside cavity, racks, door glass, and cooktop degreased
• Rangehood and filters cleaned and degreased
• All cupboards wiped inside and out, including doors and handles
• Benchtops, splashback, and sink scrubbed and disinfected
• Dishwasher filter cleaned and interior wiped
• Exhaust fan grilles dusted and wiped
• Floors mopped and skirting boards wiped

Bathrooms and Toilets

• Toilet bowl, seat, lid, tank, and base scrubbed
• Shower recess scrubbed including tiles, grout, and screen
• Bath tub cleaned and taps polished
• Vanity, mirror, and light fittings wiped
• Exhaust fan cleaned
• Floor tiles mopped and grout scrubbed
• All surfaces disinfected

Bedrooms and Living Areas

• All built-in wardrobes wiped inside and out, rails dusted
• Ceiling fans, light fittings, and vents dusted
• Windows cleaned inside and out, tracks wiped
• Blinds wiped or vacuumed
• Walls spot-cleaned for marks and scuffs
• Carpets vacuumed and professionally steam cleaned if required
• Hard floors vacuumed and mopped
• Skirting boards, door frames, and door handles wiped

Outdoor Areas

• Balcony or patio swept and mopped
• Garage floor swept and cobwebs cleared
• Bins cleaned and any rubbish removed
• Garden generally tidy (check lease for specific obligations)

Common Reasons Bonds Are Withheld in SA

Property managers in Adelaide conduct detailed exit inspections using the original condition report. The most common reasons tenants lose part of their bond are:

• Oven and rangehood not properly degreased
• Carpet not professionally steam cleaned when required
• Mould in bathroom tiles or grout not removed
• Window tracks left dirty
• Walls with marks or scuffs not spot-cleaned
• Garage or outdoor areas left dirty

DIY vs Professional End of Lease Cleaning

Many tenants attempt the end of lease clean themselves and still lose part of their bond on inspection. Professional end of lease cleaners in Adelaide work to the REISA (Real Estate Institute of South Australia) checklist, which matches what property managers look for. Scrubhubb offers a bond-back guarantee: if your property manager raises a cleaning issue, we come back and fix it at no extra cost. For most tenants, the cost of a professional clean is small compared to the risk of losing hundreds of dollars from their bond.