04Jan2021
What Is Bond Cleaning? How To Get Your Bond Back In Sydney?
Bond cleaning as the name suggests, is the deep cleaning of the rented property at the end of the tenancy to get the security deposit back. It is a legal obligation besides being a moral one on the part of the tenant to tidy up the premises before handing over the keys.
According to the Residential Tenancies Act 2010(NSW), the property must be in the same condition in which it was at the beginning of the lease period. It should be reasonably clean barring fair wear and tear and must be devoid of all the rubbish.
If the real estate agent or the landlord is not satisfied with the cleanliness, they can claim a part or whole of the bond. As aresult, most tenants rely on trusted and professional end of lease cleaning in Sydney to safeguard their deposit from finicky property managers.
Getting the bond back is one of the significant needs of the tenants as they have to bear a variety of expenses at the termination of the lease. From booking removalists to paying the utility bills and installations in the new house, they have several tasks lined up during the move.
Thus, it can become immensely taxing to undertake the enormous chore of comprehensive cleaning while you are managing the move. However, you cannot take chances with the valuable bond which can prove beneficial when you have the bills piling up. So here is how you can get your bond back in Sydney to enjoy a stress-free relocation.
At the end of the lease term, the tenant must fill out the claim for Refund of Bond Money’ form provided by NSW Fair Trading. If the bond was submitted online using Rental Bonds Online, then you can get the refund online using pay or bank transfer.
When both the parties are in agreement of the bond amount to be refunded, they can sign the form and submit it to Fair Trading. The money gets credited in the tenant’s bank account, or a cheque is sent to the new postal address.
In case there is a disagreement because the landlord is claiming a part of the bond, you can still fill out the form with the amount you consider as fair refund and submit it. In this scenario, you do not need the signature of the landlord or the real estate agent on the form.
Fair Trading will then send a notice about the tenant’s claim to the landlord or the agent, which will have to be disputed within 14 days. If there is no claim made by the landlord during this period, Fair Trading will transfer the amount to your account after 14 days.
However, if the landlord decides to challenge your claim, he will have to apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) within 14 days of accepting the notice. He will also have to inform about the application to Fair Trading. The NCAT will then take charge of the matter and will decide about the refund amount.
The landlord or the agent can also claim the bond without getting your consent. He can claim for the cost of repairing any damage done to the property, cleaning,of the premises and replacement of security devices. However, he must provide you with a copy of the condition report at the end of the tenancy along with other copies of invoices and bills for the repair work undertaken by him on your behalf.
These copies must be given to you within a week of making the claim. Thus, you must get the help of reliable end of lease cleaners in Sydney to ensure that no such claims related to cleaning can be made by the landlord or the agent.
Fair Trading will then send you the notice about the claim made by the landlord and you can challenge it by sending an application to the NCAT within 14 days. You must intimate Fair Trading about the application too. The tenant is eligible to apply to the NCAT even if Fair Trading has paid the landlord’s claim. It must be done within six months of the refund payment.
Getting the bond refunded is not challenging if you follow the tips and tricks mentioned below to satisfy the landlord or the agent during the final inspection. Here is what you need to do.
When you are filling the report make sure to conduct a thorough analysis of the property. Note down every dent in the fittings, broken fixtures, missing parts, cracks in the tiles, marks on the walls, and stains on the carpets.
You must take the pictures of these issues yourself and make its copies to be sent to the landlord. It will help you to avoid any disputes at the end of the tenancy.If something needs repair or restoration, you must bring it to the notice of the landlord or the agent and get it fixed.
Staying in the good books of your landlord does not require much work. You only need to pay the rent on time and keep the property clean and hygienic throughout the tenancy. Regular cleaning will ensure that the house is not extremely dirty at the end of the lease term. If you are too busy to deep clean the house every few months, you can hire a reputed end of lease cleaning company in Sydney to get the job done without any hassles or effort.
Although you must be careful when you are living in a rented space, mishaps can happen without warning. You may accidentally damage a fixture or break a window. However, you must not try to hide the problem from the landlord and inform about it upfront.
You must be ready to pay for the repair work as the damage was caused by you. If you do not pay for it immediately, then the landlord will be deducting the amount from the bond at the end of the lease term. However, you do not have to get worked up about normal wear and tear, which happens to every property over the years.
After you move out the furniture, you will realise the enormity of dust and dirt accumulated in the house. It will not be possible for you to complete the chore of dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, disinfecting, and degreasing without professional assistance.
Thus, you must hire end of lease cleaners in Sydney to meticulously clean the house from top to bottom. They follow the pre-approved cleaning checklist and are aware of the expectations of the property managers. They will clean the carpets, windows, bathrooms, toilet, kitchen, oven, rangehood, countertop, air conditioners, light fittings, doors, walls, and everything within the four walls.
The lease is a legally binding contract, and you must follow the obligations. If you have to end your tenancy because of any reason, then you must provide a signed termination notice to the landlord.
When you plan to end a fixed-term tenancy contract, you must inform the landlord as soon as possible to avoid any costs. If the notice is not received in advance, the landlord can claim for the costs from the bond. Also, the tenant must make sure to pay for the utilities before vacating so that the cost is not deducted from the bond.
Cleaning is an exhausting and arduous chore which can become daunting and demanding at the end of the tenancy. Thus, to save your bond and enjoy a hassle-free move, you must opt for professional end of lease cleaning in Sydney. It will help you to get the bond back without having to go through the grueling clean-up.
According to the Residential Tenancies Act 2010(NSW), the property must be in the same condition in which it was at the beginning of the lease period. It should be reasonably clean barring fair wear and tear and must be devoid of all the rubbish.
If the real estate agent or the landlord is not satisfied with the cleanliness, they can claim a part or whole of the bond. As aresult, most tenants rely on trusted and professional end of lease cleaning in Sydney to safeguard their deposit from finicky property managers.
Getting the bond back is one of the significant needs of the tenants as they have to bear a variety of expenses at the termination of the lease. From booking removalists to paying the utility bills and installations in the new house, they have several tasks lined up during the move.
Thus, it can become immensely taxing to undertake the enormous chore of comprehensive cleaning while you are managing the move. However, you cannot take chances with the valuable bond which can prove beneficial when you have the bills piling up. So here is how you can get your bond back in Sydney to enjoy a stress-free relocation.
Claiming Your Rental Bond In Sydney
At the end of the lease term, the tenant must fill out the claim for Refund of Bond Money’ form provided by NSW Fair Trading. If the bond was submitted online using Rental Bonds Online, then you can get the refund online using pay or bank transfer.
When both the parties are in agreement of the bond amount to be refunded, they can sign the form and submit it to Fair Trading. The money gets credited in the tenant’s bank account, or a cheque is sent to the new postal address.
In case there is a disagreement because the landlord is claiming a part of the bond, you can still fill out the form with the amount you consider as fair refund and submit it. In this scenario, you do not need the signature of the landlord or the real estate agent on the form.
Fair Trading will then send a notice about the tenant’s claim to the landlord or the agent, which will have to be disputed within 14 days. If there is no claim made by the landlord during this period, Fair Trading will transfer the amount to your account after 14 days.
However, if the landlord decides to challenge your claim, he will have to apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) within 14 days of accepting the notice. He will also have to inform about the application to Fair Trading. The NCAT will then take charge of the matter and will decide about the refund amount.
Claims Made by The Landlord or Agent
The landlord or the agent can also claim the bond without getting your consent. He can claim for the cost of repairing any damage done to the property, cleaning,of the premises and replacement of security devices. However, he must provide you with a copy of the condition report at the end of the tenancy along with other copies of invoices and bills for the repair work undertaken by him on your behalf.
These copies must be given to you within a week of making the claim. Thus, you must get the help of reliable end of lease cleaners in Sydney to ensure that no such claims related to cleaning can be made by the landlord or the agent.
Fair Trading will then send you the notice about the claim made by the landlord and you can challenge it by sending an application to the NCAT within 14 days. You must intimate Fair Trading about the application too. The tenant is eligible to apply to the NCAT even if Fair Trading has paid the landlord’s claim. It must be done within six months of the refund payment.
Tips to Get Your Bond Back
Getting the bond refunded is not challenging if you follow the tips and tricks mentioned below to satisfy the landlord or the agent during the final inspection. Here is what you need to do.
1. Pay Attention to the Property Condition Report
When you are filling the report make sure to conduct a thorough analysis of the property. Note down every dent in the fittings, broken fixtures, missing parts, cracks in the tiles, marks on the walls, and stains on the carpets.
You must take the pictures of these issues yourself and make its copies to be sent to the landlord. It will help you to avoid any disputes at the end of the tenancy.If something needs repair or restoration, you must bring it to the notice of the landlord or the agent and get it fixed.
2. Maintain A Good Rapport with The Landlord
Staying in the good books of your landlord does not require much work. You only need to pay the rent on time and keep the property clean and hygienic throughout the tenancy. Regular cleaning will ensure that the house is not extremely dirty at the end of the lease term. If you are too busy to deep clean the house every few months, you can hire a reputed end of lease cleaning company in Sydney to get the job done without any hassles or effort.
3. Intimate the Landlord About Any Damages
Although you must be careful when you are living in a rented space, mishaps can happen without warning. You may accidentally damage a fixture or break a window. However, you must not try to hide the problem from the landlord and inform about it upfront.
You must be ready to pay for the repair work as the damage was caused by you. If you do not pay for it immediately, then the landlord will be deducting the amount from the bond at the end of the lease term. However, you do not have to get worked up about normal wear and tear, which happens to every property over the years.
4. Hire Professional End of Lease Cleaners
After you move out the furniture, you will realise the enormity of dust and dirt accumulated in the house. It will not be possible for you to complete the chore of dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, disinfecting, and degreasing without professional assistance.
Thus, you must hire end of lease cleaners in Sydney to meticulously clean the house from top to bottom. They follow the pre-approved cleaning checklist and are aware of the expectations of the property managers. They will clean the carpets, windows, bathrooms, toilet, kitchen, oven, rangehood, countertop, air conditioners, light fittings, doors, walls, and everything within the four walls.
5. Follow the Lease Agreement
The lease is a legally binding contract, and you must follow the obligations. If you have to end your tenancy because of any reason, then you must provide a signed termination notice to the landlord.
When you plan to end a fixed-term tenancy contract, you must inform the landlord as soon as possible to avoid any costs. If the notice is not received in advance, the landlord can claim for the costs from the bond. Also, the tenant must make sure to pay for the utilities before vacating so that the cost is not deducted from the bond.
Conclusion
Cleaning is an exhausting and arduous chore which can become daunting and demanding at the end of the tenancy. Thus, to save your bond and enjoy a hassle-free move, you must opt for professional end of lease cleaning in Sydney. It will help you to get the bond back without having to go through the grueling clean-up.
