The Ultimate Guide To Getting Your Bond Back In Full
The end of the tenancy is one of those crucial phases that can leave tenants or renters overwhelmed and anxious. There is always a risk of losing hard-earned bond money or facing an unnecessary rental dispute.
Thus, tenants must know their roles, duties, and responsibilities during their lease. According to the rental agreement or Residential Tenancy Laws in NSW, landlords or property managers can deduct bond money if tenants breach the agreement or return the property in a dirty or damaged condition.
There are various other aspects you should consider before the end of your lease. Today, we are unveiling an ultimate guide to help get your bond back in full. Read this guide and get your bond back online with ease.
Let’s Get Started!
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Give Sufficient Notice to Your Landlord
Tenants give this point the least importance when reading the rental agreement. However, providing enough notice to your landlord or property manager before moving out of a rental property is a core duty.
In a fixed-term rental agreement, you must give your landlord a minimum of 30 days’ notice. This will help them find new tenants while you can prep the property for the final inspection.
The best part is that it will leave a great impression on your landlord and provide a positive reference when looking for a next rental apartment.
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Do Necessary Repairs
First, refer to your property condition report and compare it with the current condition. It is because you are not liable to pay for the existing damages.
If any damage occurred during your lease, fix it as soon as possible because landlords conduct a rental inspection thoroughly. However, fair wear and tear is acceptable. So, check every nook and cranny of your home and fix the major damages.
For instance, fix leaky pipes and taps, broken window frames, doors, cracked tiles, etc. Make sure you return the property in the same condition as you received at the time of lease.
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Perform a Thorough End of Lease Cleaning
Most rental disputes occur due to cleaning issues. According to the tenancy agreement, tenants must return the premises in a reasonably clean condition. This means removing accumulated dust from hard surfaces, washing windows, vacuuming carpets, mopping floors, degreasing kitchen appliances, polishing sinks and faucets, and disinfecting bathroom surfaces.
Since a landlord thoroughly inspects the property, make sure you hire professionals for expert end of lease cleaning Newcastle. They strictly adhere to a pre-approved cleaning checklist that covers all rooms and important spots. With their assistance, you can retrieve your bond back without any stress.
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Return All Keys
Do not forget to return the keys to your rental property to your landlord or property manager. This leaves a great impression and simplifies the bond retrieval process.
Make sure you return spare keys as well because the property manager might need them for maintenance.
First, clean up your rental property with the help of seasoned end of lease cleaners in Newcastle. They will also sanitise the property before the final inspection. After that, you can return the keys.
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Clear Your Rental Payments or Bills
Tenants in Newcastle must pay outstanding rent and bills before the final move out. This will help them get bond money without any deduction.
If you don’t clear payments, the landlord can deduct the same from your bond money.
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Attend the Final Property Inspection
In NSW, landlords know their rights and conduct a final rental inspection before returning the bond money. This enables them to get a clear picture of the property’s actual condition and to inspect potential issues or dirt-laden areas before the final move-out. Tenants often lose their bond money in this phase.
So, it is good to attend the inspection process to check any issues and hand over the premises in its original state.
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Claim Your Bond Refund
If the landlord is satisfied with the property’s condition, the bond will be refunded within 2-3 weeks. The best part is that you can recover your bond money online as well.
If you have paid your bond online, visit the Rental Bonds Online and receive your bond refund.
If you didn’t use the online method, fill out and sign a claim for bond money refund form, get your landlord’s signature, and submit it to the Rental Bond Board.
What Happens in the Case of Rental Disputes?
However, if there is any disagreement on the retrieval of bond money or any other unreasonable issue, you can make a tenancy application to NCAT. Register your complaint with NSW Fair Trading and show all evidence to support your position.
If parties can’t resolve the dispute via conciliation, a Tribunal member will conduct an inspection, hear the issue, and make the right decision based on the evidence and statements presented.
So, make sure you know your rights as a tenant and perform a quality end of lease cleaning Newcastle to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
Tips to help get your bond back in full:
Wrapping Up
Managing the end of the tenancy process can be challenging for many tenants. However, with the right approach and reliable information, you can get your bond back in full. These are some of the few things to remember as a responsible tenant and pass the final inspection without facing any rental disputes.