End of lease cleaning in NSW: what standard can a landlord expect?
In NSW a tenant must return the property as near as possible to the condition shown in the ingoing condition report, apart from fair wear and tear. It doesn’t have to be spotless, and you generally can’t insist on professional cleaners. The exception is a pet condition, such as a professional carpet clean, set when the pet was approved.
The standard: as it was at the start
NSW law asks the tenant to leave the property as near as possible to the condition it was in when they moved in, as shown in the ingoing condition report, apart from fair wear and tear. It is not a “spotless” or “better than new” standard. If the oven had baked-on grease when the tenant moved in, you can’t ask for it to be like new when they leave.
Can you require a professional clean?
Generally, no. What matters is the result, not who did the cleaning. A tenant who cleans the property well themselves has met the standard.
The main exception is pets. When approving a pet, a landlord can set a condition requiring a professional carpet clean at the end of the tenancy if the animal lives indoors, and professional fumigation if it is an indoor mammal. These conditions apply even if the carpets look clean, and even if the pet has since died or moved out. See our rental law changes guide for the pet rules.
Room-by-room checklist
This is the list we use at final inspections. Share it with your tenant when they give notice.
| Area | What “clean” usually means |
|---|---|
| Kitchen | Oven, cooktop, grill and rangehood (including filters) degreased; cupboards, drawers and benchtops wiped inside and out; sink and dishwasher filter clean |
| Bathrooms and laundry | Shower screen, tiles and grout free of soap scum and surface mould; toilet, vanity, mirrors and exhaust fan clean; lint filter emptied |
| Floors | Carpets vacuumed; hard floors swept and mopped; no rubbish or belongings left behind |
| Walls, doors and switches | Marks and fingerprints wiped where they can be cleaned off |
| Windows and tracks | Inside glass, sills and sliding tracks clean; blinds and curtains dusted |
| Air conditioning | Filters cleaned where they are easy to reach |
| Outdoor areas | Balcony or courtyard swept; garden tidy and lawn mown if the lease makes this the tenant’s job; bins emptied |
| Garage and storage | Emptied and swept |
Cleaning, damage or wear?
| Situation | Usually counts as |
|---|---|
| Grease, dust, soap scum or marks that wipe off | Cleaning: the tenant’s responsibility |
| Carpet stains or burns | Damage: the tenant’s responsibility |
| Foot-traffic wear or furniture dents in carpet | Fair wear and tear: not claimable |
| Faded or slightly chipped paint | Fair wear and tear: not claimable |
| Paint pulled off by adhesive hooks or posters | Damage: the tenant’s responsibility |
| Mould from a leak or a building defect | A repair: the landlord’s responsibility |
If the property isn’t clean enough
Take photos that match the angles in the ingoing report. Where it is practical, offer the tenant the chance to come back and fix it. If they can’t, get a quote or invoice for only the items that need cleaning, and claim that amount from the bond. Our end of lease guide explains the claim process and time limits.
Fewer cleaning disputes start with a good condition report
Golden View Property records the property in detail with photos at the start of every lease, gives tenants a clear vacating checklist, and handles the final inspection and any claim for you.
Areas we manage:Sydney CBDHaymarketChatswoodUpper North ShoreEppingRydeMarrickvilleWolli CreekGosfordWoy WoyAll regions
Sources: NSW Government: fair wear and tear versus damage; NSW Government: keeping a pet in a rental property; NSW Government: getting your bond back. This guide is general information, not legal advice.