Moving Out of a Rental in Victoria: Notice, Inspection & Bond
By Move Near Me team ·
Short answer: Give your rental provider written notice, usually at least 28 days, but check your situation on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website. At the end, the property is compared with the ingoing condition report, allowing for fair wear and tear. Your bond is held by the RTBA and is only paid out by agreement or a VCAT order. Clean well and photograph everything.
Moving out of a rental in Victoria follows set rules under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic). Timeframes depend on your agreement and circumstances, and the rules change from time to time, so always check the current details with Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) and the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA). This guide explains the process.
Giving notice
- How long: for most renters ending a fixed-term agreement or a periodic (month-to-month) agreement, it’s usually at least 28 days. Different rules can apply in some situations, so check yours on the CAV renting pages
- How: in writing. CAV has a notice of intention to vacate form, and explains which delivery methods count (for example email, if you’ve agreed to receive notices that way)
- Keep proof: a copy of the notice and how and when you sent it
- Allow for delivery time: the notice period is counted from when the notice is received or taken to be received, not when you write it. CAV explains how this works for post and email
Leaving before a fixed term ends? That’s called breaking the lease, and you may have to pay some costs to the rental provider. CAV explains what can and can’t be charged.
The condition report
When you moved in, you should have received an ingoing condition report describing the property’s state. When you leave, the property is compared with that report.
The standard is fair wear and tear. Normal deterioration from everyday living, such as faded paint, worn carpet in walkways and light scuffs, is not something you have to pay for.
What a rental provider may claim for (if they can show it):
- Damage beyond fair wear and tear, such as large holes in walls, burns or broken fittings
- Unpaid rent
- Cleaning, if the property is left less clean than it was at the start (allowing for fair wear and tear)
- Removing items you’ve left behind
What they can’t claim for:
- Fair wear and tear
- Making the property better than it was when you moved in
Before you hand back the keys
- Clean thoroughly: kitchen (oven, rangehood, inside cupboards), bathrooms (grout, shower screen, mould), windows and tracks, skirting boards, light switches
- Or book a cleaner: our sister business Cleaning Near Me does end-of-lease cleans. Ask them about their re-clean promise
- Remove everything: furniture, rubbish, and items in the garage, shed, cupboards and storage cage
- Re-read the ingoing condition report so you know what was there when you moved in
- Take dated photos and video of every room, empty and clean
- Fix damage you caused, or ask the rental provider how they want it handled
- Garden: leave it in the condition your agreement requires
- Return all keys, remotes and access cards, and keep a record of when and to whom
The final inspection
- The rental provider or agent usually inspects the property after you’ve moved out and compares it with the ingoing condition report
- You may be able to attend; ask the agent. Either way, your own photos are your best evidence
- If they find issues, they may ask you to fix them, or propose a deduction from the bond
How the bond is returned
In Victoria, your bond is held by the RTBA, not by the rental provider. It can only be paid out in one of these ways:
- By agreement: you and the rental provider agree how the bond is split (often all of it to you) and submit a claim to the RTBA, usually online
- You apply on your own: if the rental provider won’t agree or doesn’t respond, you can apply to the RTBA for your bond. The RTBA tells the rental provider, who then has a limited time to apply to VCAT if they want to dispute it. If they don’t, the RTBA pays the bond out
- By a VCAT order: if the rental provider wants to claim part of the bond and you don’t agree, VCAT decides
The RTBA doesn’t decide disputes. It holds the bond and pays it out as agreed or as VCAT orders. Current timeframes for each step are on the RTBA website and the CAV website.
Tip: don’t sign a bond claim form that leaves the amounts blank or claims money you don’t agree with.
If you disagree with a claim
Step 1: ask the rental provider for the details: what they’re claiming, why, and evidence such as photos, quotes or invoices. Compare it with the condition report and your own photos.
Step 2: try to agree on an amount. Many disagreements are settled at this stage.
Step 3: if you can’t agree, the rental provider has to apply to VCAT to claim the bond. You can put your side, with your evidence. CAV and free tenancy advice services can help you prepare.
Fair wear and tear examples
| Issue | Usually fair wear & tear? |
|---|---|
| Faded paint in a sunny hallway | Yes |
| Light scuffs on skirting boards | Yes |
| Carpet worn in walkways after several years | Usually yes |
| Deep stain or burn in the carpet | No |
| Large holes in plaster | No |
| Broken blind or fly screen from misuse | No |
| Pet damage to doors or carpet | No |
Each case depends on the facts, including the age and condition of the item when you moved in. CAV has guidance on fair wear and tear and bond claims.
Rental move-out checklist
As soon as you know your move date:
- Check your agreement type and the notice you need to give on the CAV website
- Give written notice and keep proof
- Book removalists
2 weeks before:
- Book a cleaner or plan your own deep clean
- Review your ingoing condition report
- Fix minor damage you caused
Moving day:
- Remove everything, including the garage, shed and cupboards
- Check behind and under where furniture stood
- Photograph every room, empty and clean
- Photograph the electricity, gas and water meters
After you move out:
- Return all keys and keep a record
- Give the rental provider your new contact details
- Agree the bond claim with the rental provider, or apply to the RTBA yourself
- Keep your photos and any cleaning or repair invoices until the bond is paid out
FAQ
Q: How much notice do I need to give to move out? Usually at least 28 days in writing, but it depends on your agreement and circumstances. Check the current rules on the CAV website.
Q: How long does it take to get my bond back? If you and the rental provider agree, the RTBA usually pays out quickly once the claim is lodged. If there’s a dispute it takes longer, because it may need to go to VCAT. The RTBA website has current processing times.
Q: What if the rental provider doesn’t respond? You can apply to the RTBA for the bond yourself. The RTBA tells the rental provider, and if they don’t take the matter to VCAT within the time allowed, the bond is paid to you.
Q: Can the rental provider charge for normal use? No. Fair wear and tear is not your responsibility. A carpet worn in a walkway is wear; a burn mark is damage.
Q: Do I need a professional clean? You need to leave the property reasonably clean, allowing for fair wear and tear. CAV explains when a rental provider can and can’t require professional cleaning. If you do book a cleaner, keep the invoice in case of a dispute.
Moving out? Get a free moving quote or see our house removals and apartment removals services. For the clean, our sister business Cleaning Near Me does end-of-lease cleaning.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For your specific rights and current timeframes under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic), see Consumer Affairs Victoria or the RTBA.