How to Get Your Full Bond Back When Moving House
Moving home is always stressful, but the thought of losing your bond refund can be especially upsetting. After you’ve ended your lease you’ll have only a few weeks to prepare for your final inspection, when they’ll decide if you’ll get your full bond back. So how do you get your bond back? And how long does it take to get your bond back?
There are some simple tips you can follow to ensure that your real estate is completely satisfied, and your bond gets refunded quickly. This post outlines 3 of our best bond refund tips to help tenants move out and move on.
We’ll also tell you how long it takes to get your bond back in every Australian state.
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1. Focus on the Inspections
Be Diligent Filling Out Your Initial Condition Report
While the focus of getting a bond refund is placed on your final inspection, just as much emphasis should be placed on your initial condition report. When you first move in, you should take advantage of the opportunity to note any specific damage to the property. Even if it seems minor, small problems can compound over time, so be diligent by taking extra photos and notes that you can use as evidence if necessary.
Address Any Repairs Before Your Final Inspection
Whether it’s mould growing in the bathroom, a leaky faucet causing water damage, or any other types of repair, always tell the landlord or real estate agent immediately. As a renter, you’ll be tasked with the responsibility of maintaining the property over the course of your tenancy.
Being extra communicative about property damage will help build good rapport with your real estate agent and landlord. Unresolved issues will at least be on their radar and won’t come as a surprise during the final inspection.
2. A Bond Clean Is a Priority
You’ve hired a GoGet Van, moved out all of your belongings, and now you’re wondering what’s next. Unfortunately, there’s one last step to conquer; your end of lease clean.
Based on your initial condition report (you know, that document that you should have filled out when you first moved in), you’ll have a good idea of how to return your property to its original state. Fortunately, most Australian states recognise that properties will be lived in and have clauses for “fair wear and tear”. Here’s how to perform a proper end of lease clean.
Go Room by Room
Depending on the size of your property, you might not know where to start. The best way to tackle the problem will be by difficulty, one room at a time. Usually, this means starting with the kitchen, the bathroom, and then the rest of the house.
If you’re not exactly sure what to expect, you can use an end of lease cleaning checklist to help prioritise what to do, checking off tasks as you complete them.
Hire Bond Cleaning Professionals
Of course, you’ve might find yourself completely depleted after moving out. If the thought of getting your elbows dirty and scrubbing kitchen floors is too overwhelming, it might be time to call in the professionals.
This is Neat, an end of lease cleaning Sydney service, has this advice:
“You’d be surprised how many tenants leave bond cleaning to the last minute, not realising just how big of a task it can be. Even with teams of two professional cleaners, a two-bedroom apartment can take 3 to 5 hours. If you’re attempting to do it on your own, budget at least a few days into your schedule to give you enough time to clean your apartment.”
3. Do Your Research
The rules and regulations regarding bond refunds differ from state to state, so making assumptions about what to expect can come back to bite you. You should do your research on “fair wear and tear”, the issues a landlord or agent can claim against, as well as the bond refund process.
How long does it take to get your bond back?
Here are the rules stating how long it will take to receive bond refunds for each Australian state, as well as links to more information about rental agreements, bond refunds, and resolving disputes.
How Long to Get Bond Back in NSW?
Since January 30, 2017, your agent or landlord must offer you the option of using the Rental Bonds Online to manage your bond refund. If there are no claims against your bond, Fair Trading will pay your claim after 14 days. For more information, check out Fair Trading NSW and their “Getting Your Bond Back” resource.
How Long to Get Bond Back in QLD?
Queensland’s Residential Tenancies Authority indicate that the best way of getting a bond refund is for the tenant and the property manager to reach an agreement in advance. Refunds are generally processed within 2-3 working days. You can learn more about handling agreements, disputes, and processing times on their Bond Refunds page.
How Long to Get Bond Back in VIC?
The laws for renting property are set out by Consumer Affairs Victoria. Here you’ll find information on, claiming a bond, timeframes, and other rental issues. They state, that bond refund will be processed in 2 to 3 business days.
How Long to Get Bond Back in SA?
While the SA government doesn’t have specific days in which a bond must be refunded by, their bond service, Residential Bonds Online allow tenants to check the status of their claims. Learn more in the renting and letting section of their website.
How Long to Get Bond Back in ACT?
According to the Residential Tenancy Act, if there are no deductions to claim, bond release application must be provided to the tenant within 3 working days. More information can be found from Revenue ACT.
How Long to Get Bond Back in WA?
After the Joint Application for Disposal of Security Bond is submitted, it should take 7 to 10 days for a Bond Administrator to process a refund. You can learn more about releasing or claiming a bond from WA Commerce.
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