Bond cleaning · Brisbane
Bond Cleaning Brisbane: The 12 Spots That Cost Renters Their Bond
You scrubbed for two days. You mopped last. Then the email arrives: “Cleaning deduction — $340.” It is almost never the obvious stuff.
What Queensland law actually requires
Under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, a tenant must leave the property in the same condition it was in at the start of the tenancy, fair wear and tear excepted. That’s the whole test — not “hotel clean”, but same as the entry condition report.
- Your entry condition report is your best defence. If the oven had baked-on grease when you moved in and you noted it, that’s not your problem now.
- You must complete an Exit condition report (Form 14a) and give it to the agent when you hand back the keys. They then have 3 business days to inspect, add comments and return a signed copy.
- Photos are evidence. The RTA specifically recommends taking them. Date-stamped photos of every room have won more bond disputes than any amount of scrubbing.
You are not being judged on perfection. You’re being judged against a document — read it before you start cleaning.
The 12 spots that cost Brisbane renters their bond
1. The oven — especially the racks and door glass
The single most common deduction in Queensland. Agents open the oven first, every time. Baked-on carbon between the two panes of door glass is the giveaway that it was wiped, not degreased. Fix it: caustic oven cleaner overnight; racks soaked in a bathtub with hot water and dishwasher powder.
2. The rangehood filter
Slide it out. If it drips when you tilt it, you’ll lose money. Fix it: soak in boiling water with dishwashing liquid and bicarb for 20 minutes.
3. Window tracks and flyscreens
Brisbane dust plus summer storms equals a black paste in every sliding door track. Agents run a finger along them. Fix it: vacuum first, then a stiff brush and an old toothbrush for corners. Flyscreens come out and get hosed.
4. Behind and under the fridge and washing machine
The floor under white goods is a documented deduction area. Pull them out — you will find more than you want to.
5. Air conditioner filters
Split system filters pop out in ten seconds and are almost always forgotten. Some Brisbane agencies now photograph them specifically.
6. Bathroom and laundry exhaust fans
Dust-clogged vent covers on the ceiling.
7. Skirting boards, door frames and light switches
Not the flat top of the skirting — the scuffed vertical face, and the grubby ring around every light switch.
8. Shower screen mineral build-up
Cloudy glass reads as “not cleaned” even when it is. White vinegar or a soap-scum remover, then a squeegee.
9. Grout and silicone in wet areas
Mould in the silicone bead where the shower base meets the wall. If it’s black it needs replacing, not cleaning — and that’s a repair, not a clean.
10. Inside cupboards, drawers and the dishwasher filter
Crumbs in drawer runners. And yes, the dishwasher has a filter at the bottom that unscrews.
11. Marks on walls
Handprints around door handles, scuffs at kid height. Use a magic eraser lightly — scrub too hard on flat paint and you’ll burnish it, which looks worse than the mark.
12. The outside: garage, letterbox, cobwebs, lawn
Cobwebs under the eaves, an overflowing letterbox and unmown grass all appear in exit reports.
How much does bond cleaning cost in Brisbane?
| Property | Typical range |
|---|---|
| 1-bed unit | $220 – $320 |
| 2-bed unit | $300 – $420 |
| 3-bed house | $400 – $550 |
| 4-bed house | $500 – $700 |
| Carpet steam clean (add-on) | $35 – $55 per room |
| Pest control (if in lease) | $120 – $200 |
Prices move with condition, not just size. A note on “bond back guarantee”: it usually means the cleaner returns once to re-clean anything the agent flags — not that they refund your bond.
DIY or hire a professional?
Do it yourself if it’s a small unit, you have two full days, and your entry report shows the property wasn’t spotless when you moved in.
Hire a professional if carpet steam cleaning is a special term in your lease (very common in QLD), the oven is badly baked on, or you’re handing back keys within 48 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to get the carpets professionally cleaned in Queensland?
Only if it’s written into your tenancy agreement as a special term, or if the carpets are dirtier than fair wear and tear allows.
How long does a bond clean take?
A professional team typically takes 4–8 hours depending on size and condition. Doing it yourself, allow two to three days.
What is fair wear and tear in QLD?
Deterioration from normal everyday use — faded paint, minor carpet flattening in walkways, small scuffs. Damage from accident, neglect or misuse is not fair wear and tear.
Can the agent keep my bond just for cleaning?
They can claim for cleaning costs, but must justify the claim with evidence. You have 14 days from the Notice of claim to dispute it through the RTA.
When should I book my bond cleaner?
Two to three weeks before handover. The last week of the month is the busiest period in Brisbane and good cleaners book out.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For current rules, forms and the dispute process, see the Residential Tenancies Authority at rta.qld.gov.au.
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