End of Lease Cleaning Melbourne: What’s Included and What Costs Extra?

Moving out of a rental property in Melbourne is stressful enough without worrying about whether your real estate agent will hand back your full bond. Under Victorian rental laws, property managers expect the property to be returned in the exact same condition as when you moved in, minus fair wear and tear.

To bridge the gap between expectations and reality, hiring professional end of lease cleaners (or doing a meticulous DIY job) requires knowing precisely what falls under a standard package and what triggers extra charges.




What’s Included in a Standard End of Lease Clean?

A standard vacate cleaning package is designed to cover every habitable surface of an empty home from top to bottom. If you hire a reputable end of lease cleaning Melbourne company offering a bond-back guarantee, the following tasks are almost always included in the base quote:

1. The Kitchen

  • Oven and Stovetop: Thorough degreasing and cleaning of the oven interior, racks, trays, glass door, and stovetop burners/rings.

  • Rangehood: Wiping down the exterior and washing grease filters.

  • Cabinets and Drawers: Wiping down all interior and exterior shelving, doors, and handles.

  • Benchtops and Sinks: Scrubbing and polishing sinks, taps, and splashbacks.

2. Bathrooms, Ensuites, and Laundries

  • Shower and Bathtub: Removing soap scum, mold, and mildew from tiles, grout, glass screens, and bathtubs.

  • Toilets: Disinfecting and scrubbing the toilet bowl, seat, cistern, and exterior base.

  • Vanities and Mirrors: Polishing mirrors and wiping down bathroom cabinets inside and out.

  • Laundry: Cleaning troughs, cabinets, and wiping down spaces designated for washing machines and dryers.

3. Living Areas and Bedrooms

  • Dusting and Cobweb Removal: Clearing cobwebs from corners and ceilings, and dusting skirting boards, picture rails, and architraves.

  • Fixtures: Wiping down light switches, power points, ceiling fans, and light fittings.

  • Wardrobes and Closets: Wiping down built-in shelves, drawers, and mirrored wardrobe doors.

  • Floors: Sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping all hard surface flooring.

4. Windows and Doors

  • Interior Glass: Spot cleaning and polishing interior windows, window sills, and tracks.

  • Doors: Spot-cleaning fingerprints and marks off doors and door handles.

What Usually Costs Extra? (Exclusions)

Many disputes over bond money happen because tenants assume certain tasks are standard when they are actually classified as optional extras. In Melbourne, expect to pay additional fees for:

1. Professional Carpet Steam Cleaning

While regular vacuuming is standard, steam cleaning (hot water extraction) is rarely included in a basic cleaning package. Many Victorian rental agreements specifically require professional carpet steam cleaning—especially if you have pets or have lived there for a long time.

  • Estimated Extra Cost: AUD 50 to AUD 100 per room.

2. External Windows

Standard end-of-lease cleans cover interior glass only. If your property has second-story windows, exterior grime, or windows that require an external ladder reach, cleaners will charge extra.

  • Estimated Extra Cost: Varies depending on property size, often ranging from AUD 5 to AUD 10 per window.

3. Heavy Wall Washing

Standard packages include spot-cleaning of minor scuff marks and fingerprints on walls. However, if your walls are heavily marked, covered in crayon, or require a full-surface wash across the entire house, it will cost extra due to the time-intensive labor involved.

  • Estimated Extra Cost: AUD 100 to AUD 300+ depending on the home's size and wall condition.

4. Blinds and Flyscreens

While light dusting of blinds is sometimes included, deep-cleaning individual slatted Venetian blinds or scrubbing delicate fabric blinds and dusty flyscreens usually incurs a per-item surcharge.

5. Outdoor Areas, Balconies, and Garages

Patios, balconies, carports, and garages are generally excluded from indoor base rates. High-pressure cleaning of oil stains in a garage, sweeping out large yards, or clearing out heavy cobwebs from an external pergola will require an add-on service.

  • Estimated Extra Cost: AUD 50 to AUD 200.

6. Excessive Grime or Mould

Most quotes assume a home has been reasonably maintained. If a property is left in an excessively filthy state (e.g., severe grease buildup in the kitchen or heavy black mold in the bathroom requiring chemical treatments), companies will apply a heavy-duty surcharge.

Quick Tips for Melbourne Tenants

  • Check your lease agreement: Look specifically for clauses mentioning pets, carpet steam cleaning, or professional window washing.

  • Get an itemized quote: Ensure your cleaner provides a breakdown so you aren't hit with surprise fees on moving day.

  • Keep your receipt: If your property manager raises issues, a receipt from a professional Melbourne cleaning company with a bond-back guarantee ensures the cleaners must return and fix the issue for free.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

24 End of Lease Cleaning Tips - End of Lease Cleaning Checklist

7 neat tricks to induce the stink up of bathrooms and toilet

What is the difference between deep cleaning and end of Lease cleaning?