How to get a rental bond back for renters. The end of a lease can be a hectic time. There are so many loose ends to tie up and the one where you must approach the estate agent for getting your bond back can be the most stressful. In the event that the lease agreement is not upheld, the rental bond serves as a security deposit. If you take good care of the place, the majority, if not all, of your deposit will be returned to you.

However, any significant damages to the rental property during your lease will be paid for from that deposit.

While some wear and tear are to be expected while you are paying rent. The only thing that will guarantee you a full bond refund is near-perfect cleanliness and undamaged fixtures when the time comes for the final inspection.

What to do at the end of a rental period:

Let’s actually begin at the start of your renting time. You will be required to create your own condition report within the first few days of moving into your new house.

Make a list of every flaw in the home or apartment. Taking photos is permitted, in fact it is suggested.

Include a list of all blemishes, loose cables, and wobbly furniture.

When reclaiming the bond, this condition report will be priceless. A full bond reimbursement will be possible if you are aware of the damages that are not your fault. The sake of maximum transparency between you and the property manager.

You must be aware of the date of the final inspection and when the lease expires, if you are a party to a fixed term agreement or a periodic agreement. Schedule your time well so that you can complete your bill payments and disconnect your phone and internet services.

Cleaning a rental property before moving out:

You may think that your place is clean enough. Keep things tidy and do a weekly clean of the kitchen and bathroom. When an agent and landlord inspect your home at the end of your lease. They will look with a magnifying glass. Don’t forget to call your local removalist on the Mid North Coast if you are needing Storage

Questions to ask yourself:

Have you taken care of the dust along the skirting board? Is the dust and grime off the venetians? Did you blast the scum off the bathroom grout? Did I wipe down cupboards and wall surfaces? What about vacuuming behind the fridge and under the furniture?

These are the most frequently disregarded areas of the home that harbour dirt. Agents may discover every single scrape on a wall that wasn’t included in the condition report. This implies that anything soiled, damaged, or out of place. This will be paid for out of your bond.

It may be less expensive to hire a professional cleaner than to get fined after the inspection. It may also save you time and the hassle of getting to all the difficult-to-reach places.

Save yourself money to roll up your sleeves and organise a working bee with a group of friends or family, scouring every last corner for filth.

Tips to get a rental bond back: Claiming the full bond

These days the most common way of arranging a bond payment is through the online portal of Rental Bonds Online (RBO) through NSW Fair Trading.

While the lease is in effect, both the renter and the agent can see where the money is sitting because it is transparent.

You can file a refund claim on RBO and should receive your bond returned within two days of filing it if the inspection at the conclusion of your lease goes smoothly and you are entitled to a full refund.

You can still use RBO to file your claim even if you and the agent or landlord cannot agree on the refund amount.

The landlord/agent then has 14 days to apply for a hearing with the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) to contest the claim. If they do not do so within the 14 days, the refund amount you claimed will be paid to you.

Otherwise, the landlord/agent can submit their own claim, and you will be emailed a Notice of Claim.

You can then either agree to the amount or inform Fair Trading within 14 days that you’ve applied to NCAT for a hearing to dispute the amount.

Take no action, and after 14 days the bond will be paid out as per the landlord’s claim.