What To Do If The Agent Fails The Bond Clean Inspection In Gold Coast

Bond clean inspections are critical for both landlords and tenants in Queensland. Under this, a rental property is thoroughly scrutinised from top to bottom, including crannies and hard to reach areas, before releasing the bond. Getting through these examinations means smooth sailing, encouraging tenants to move out of their rental with confidence. But what if you fail the final rental inspection? That can trigger a rush of anxiety as nobody wants to lose hard earned bond money, which is equal to four weeks’ rent.

Tenants often fail their final inspection due to half baked cleaning. Whether it’s your streaky windows or oil smeared ovens, these could become the reason for bond deductions, penalties, and rental disputes. If you’ve ever found yourself in the midst of a failed property inspection, you need this guide. In this article, we’ll explore the steps you, as a tenant in Gold Coast, should take if your agent isn’t satisfied with the bond clean. You can still protect your bond money and move out of your property or raise a dispute in case of disagreement. From arranging professional bond cleaners Gold Coast for a free re clean to knowing your rights, this guide covers everything for your peace of mind.

Let’s Get Started!

1. Why is a Failed Final Rental Inspection a Problem for Tenants?

Landlords and property agents conduct a property inspection at the end of the tenancy to ensure the rental home is in reasonably clean and well maintained condition. They check for any maintenance, repair, cleanliness and safety issues before releasing the bond money. Failing the rental inspection can lead to serious repercussions, including bond deductions, disagreements, and disputes. Some even face difficulties in finding new rentals due to a poor rental history.

However, it is important to find the key reason by communicating with your landlord or property agent. It is also good to know your legal rights in case of any disagreement over cleaning or rental inspections, so that you can resolve the issue faster without a hint of stress.

Note: The landlord/property agent must provide supporting evidence when holding back your bond or disputing a bond refund request.

2. Common Reasons Why Renters fail the inspection

In Gold Coast, property agents/landlords conduct a stringent final rental inspection, referring to the Entry Condition Report. They don’t want to deter potential occupants due to dirt and grime. So, every nook and cranny is thoroughly scrutinised, and agents may fail the inspection due to the following reasons:

Property Damage Beyond Fair Wear and Tear:

Agents look for potential damages, such as leaky taps, broken window frames, major marks on walls, cracked tiles, and dysfunctional devices, before passing the rental inspection. Make sure you know the difference between normal wear and tear vs actual damage, and take repair work seriously.

Lack of Cleanliness:

Dust Laden Hard Surfaces, greasy kitchen appliances, clogged drains, heavy soiled carpets, scuff marks on walls, rusty bathroom fixtures, overlooked windows, unattended spills, and dingy floors are some of the major reasons why agents fail the inspection. In fact, the majority of rental deductions happen because of cleaning issues. That’s why it is always good to hire professionals for a top quality bond cleaning Gold Coast.

Non Compliance with Specific Cleaning and Maintenance Requirements:

Not adhering to the specific property maintenance and cleanliness requirements outlined in the lease agreement can also lead to a failed inspection. These requirements may range from lawn mowing and garden upkeep to steam cleaning carpets (if you have pets) and pest control. Most tenants don’t read their rental agreement, which clearly mentions specific cleaning clauses and requirements, which can save you from awful experiences.

3. Communicate with Your Agent to Know the Reason

If you fail the bond clean inspection, it is your right to ask your agent or landlord about the specific issues. Establishing effective communication with your agent can help prevent unfair bond deductions. Since tenants are required to return the property in a ‘reasonably clean’ condition as it was at the start of a lease, you don’t need to worry about spotless or meticulously clean outcomes.

Ensure you request a detailed list of the cleaning issues the agent identified during the inspection process. It is your responsibility as a tenant to thoroughly review the inspection report and comments to determine what areas didn’t meet the standard. You can look for skirting boards, ceiling fans, air vents, carpets, walls, kitchen appliances, rangehoods, etc, to see the area of concern.

4. Compare the Exit Condition Report with the Entry Condition Report

The next step is to comparing the final inspection report with the Entry Condition Report (which you signed when you moved into the property). It is a legal document that outlines everything, including all rooms, important spots, and exterior areas. Under the Residential Tenancies Laws in QLD, a rental property must be restored to its original condition beyond fair wear and tear. This also means landlords can’t claim your bond for existing dirt or damage. That’s one of the reasons why it is vital to take photos and videos when inspecting the property before moving in.

This will help you raise concern if you’re sure the inspection was handled unfairly. If the reason is valid, you may need to re clean the property to get your bond back.

5 Contact the Professional Cleaners for Re Cleaning

If you hired professional cleaners, call them immediately. Most reliable and experienced companies offer a guaranteed bond cleaning Gold Coast with a free re clean within 72 hours (Ts and Cs apply). This means they will return to re clean the missed spots if a landlord is not happy with the first clean. Make sure you provide the inspection report to cleaners, allowing them to understand the areas of concern.

Don’t forget to take before and after photos to support your case in case of unfair deductions. If you have performed a DIY bond cleaning, address the area of concern and fix it instantly.

6. Ask Your Agent for Re Inspection

Once you have recleaned the property, contact your property agent or landlord to schedule a reinspection. It is good to be present during the re inspection and bring your cleaning receipt and before and after photos in case of any disagreement. Make sure you politely clarity what’s been rectified based on the agent’s report.

7. Make Fair Negotiations if Issues Persist

If the agent still finds the issue, make sure you negotiate it instead of accepting a deduction from your bond. Negotiating a solution and reaching an agreement on the bond refund is essential. If there is minor dirt or grime, offer to fix the issue proactively or discuss a fair cleaning fee instead of a big chunk of deposited security.

Tip: Do proper research to hire experts for a quality bond cleaning Gold Coast that leaves no signs of dirt and grime behind. They can help you secure full bond as they know what agents look for during the inspection.

8. What Happens If a Landlord Unfairly Deducts Your Bond: Know Your Rights

Is your landlord still failing your final rental inspection? If yes, then you can directly lodge a dispute with the Residential Tenancy Authority or RTA before your bond money is released. The authority will provide a free dispute resolution solution to help both parties reach a mutual decision.

If the landlord issues a ‘Notice of Unresolved dispute’ and deducts your bond money, you can apply to the QCAT to support your claim. Ensure you present photos and videos as evidence to claim your full bond at the end of your tenancy.

Infographic: How to Manage If the Agents Fails the Rental Inspection in Gold Coast?

Wrapping Up

Nothing is more annoying than losing a large part of the bond money at the end of a tenancy. It is vital to understand the reasons behind failing the bond clean inspection so that you can take corrective actions to fix the issue and claim your deposited security back. Hopefully, you can easily navigate through the process if the agent fails the final inspection in Gold Coast.