Vacating guide—unfurnished properties

A guide to ending your tenancy

Kay & Burton Concierge Assistance

We understand that moving can be a busy and sometimes stressful time. To make your vacate process as effortless as possible, our Kay & Burton Concierge team is available to assist with:

Professional cleaning, including carpets and end-of-lease general cleaning.
Arranging removalists and storage solutions.
Garden and pool maintenance prior to inspection or handover.
Minor repairs, touch-ups, and painting to ensure the property is returned to excellent condition.

Our Concierge team can organise these services on your behalf or provide trusted recommendations.

Request Concierge Vacate Assistance

Vacating the property

You must leave the property in the same condition it was found in at the start of the tenancy as per the entry condition report and photographs that were prepared at the time. A copy of the original condition report was provided to you at the start of the tenancy.

Please ensure all keys (including any additional cut keys) are to be returned to Kay & Burton’s office to effectively ‘handover’ possession of the property and avoid further rental charges. Keys should not be left inside the premises.

A final inspection will be undertaken following the return of the keys to Kay & Burton. This inspection is generally within 1 business day of your key return. Please contact your agent urgently to advise if you would like to be in attendance for the final inspection. Should any matters require attention, your Property Manager will notify you of the next steps.

The bond will be finalised once all parties reach agreement, with all rents paid and any matters arising from the final inspection are resolved.

Cleaning

Ensuring that the property is thoroughly cleaned prior to your departure is required to help expedite the processing of your bond.

Please note if the property was professionally cleaned prior to your tenancy commencing you are obliged to have it professionally cleaned upon vacating; a copy of this receipt is to be provided with your keys upon handover. We have found that attending to the below matters helps to avoid any delays after you vacate:

Steam clean or dry clean all carpets and upholstery throughout the premises. You have an obligation to ensure this is completed if required in your tenancy agreement.
Steam clean mattresses if there are any marks or stains
Ensure all inventory items including crockery, cutlery, pots & pans are all clean and free of grease and grime
Clean all accessible windows internally and externally.
Dry clean drapes or curtains in accordance with laundering instructions.
Clean the interior of the property thoroughly, including sills, appliances, window tracks.
Clean the exterior of the property thoroughly, ensuring that any sheds or garages are cleared of personal property.

We have found in the past that there are many sub-standard cleaning companies that target renters when they see the property advertised online, therefore we highly recommend that a recognised cleaning company is used to avoid any issues at the final inspection. If you’d like to use one of our preferred cleaners, please contact us via the link below.

Request Concierge Vacate Assistance

If you do choose to use your own cleaner, please provide them with the detailed cleaning requirements guide so they are aware of our expectations.

Garden

In most cases renters are required to maintain the garden as per the terms of the lease agreement and we ask that you ensure the garden and grounds are left in a neat and tidy manner upon departure.

Prune back any overhanging trees/vines.
Weed all garden beds.
Please mow and edge lawns.
Clean out and remove all items from any garden sheds/garage that do not belong to the rental provider/s.
Remove all garden waste rubbish from the property.

Instruction manuals/warranty information

We ask that you leave any instruction manuals or warranty information that is relevant to the property on the kitchen bench.

Maintenance

If there are maintenance items you are aware of, please ensure you advise our office of these prior to your departure so we have the opportunity to arrange repairs during any vacancy period.

It is a renter’s responsibility to ensure the following tasks are completed.

Replace any non-working globes throughout the premises
Rectify any alterations to the property not approved by the rental provider
Rectify any alterations to the property approved by the rental provider
Rectify any damage you have caused

Service & utilities

Before leaving the property, please ensure you:

Disconnect the phone/internet
Disconnect the electricity
Disconnect the gas
Arrange a final water meter reading
Disconnect Foxtel/Pay TV
Redirect your mail
Cancel regular maintenance
Cancel contents insurance

Returning keys

You are required to return keys in person to our office by close of business on the final day of your tenancy, rent will be charged to and including the day on which keys are returned, or your advised vacate date, whichever occurs last. Unless you have arranged with your property manager to leave the keys with the cleaners or building concierge.

Ensure all swipes/remotes/fobs and property keys are returned to ouroffice, note that we have records of all keys issued if you wish to review.
Ensure all window keys, shed keys, garage keys are returned to our office.
Ensure you advise our office of any alarm codes.
Bring with you copies of your steam cleaning and any professional cleaning receipts.

Obtaining the bond refund

After keys are returned, your property manager will undertake a final inspection within 3 business days. The original condition report and supporting photographs are used to determine the release of your bond. Should there be any discrepancies, your property manager will discuss these with you and assist with rectification.

Once agreement has been reached to release part or all of your bond, we will arrange for the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) to contact all renters to confirm the bond release, please allow between 2-3 business days for processing.

General Maintenance

Please ensure that the NBN box is left at the property
Light bulbs will need to be in working order upon vacation. Please ensure replacement of any bulbs are fitted prior to your vacation or you will be charged for a contractor to attend and replace any non-working globes.
Garden maintenance – weeding, mowing of lawns, sweeping of private driveways footpaths etc will need to be undertaken prior to vacation.
Pool maintenance – please ensure pool maintenance has been completed upon vacation and all filters emptied etc. We expect the pool to be in a clean condition when keys are returned with all equipment present.
Picture hooks that have been installed to walls will need to be professionally patched and re-instated to the original condition which may require re- painting to entire walls where required. If written confirmation has been provided by the rental provider/agent approving that hooks can remain upon your vacation you will be exempt from the above requirement.
Any other fixture/fitting/alteration not approved by the rental provider may need to be removed and restored to its original condition as per the tenancy commencement.
If you have had pets, you are required to fumigate the premises prior to vacating as per the conditions of your lease agreement.

Detailed vacate cleaning requirements

If you choose to engage cleaners that are not outlined as a recommended cleaner by Kay & Burton, it is important that they are provided with this list to ensure that all cleaning requirements are attended to.

Kitchen

All cupboards and drawers internally and externally cleaned including doors and handles/knobs
Bench tops, tiling and splash backs wiped down.
Hotplates including the elements and grill plate wiped clean.
Oven including all trays, side grill plates, internal and external door including glass section cleaned.
Range hood front and all sides including removal of filters, cleaning and re- attachment into fitting. Any non-working globes to be replaced.
Flooring to be vacuumed and mopped including skirting boards to be cleaned.
Walls where scuff marked to be sugar soaped and cleaned.

Appliances

If additional appliances have been included, please ensure these are cleaned as follows:

Coffee machine – clean filters as per manual instructions, clean front and top of machine.
Dishwasher – clean doors internally and externally including sides of doors and front panels and any filters.
Microwave – wipe down internally and externally including glass plate
Fridge/freezer – all internal compartments to be removed (where possible) washed and cleaned. Doors and internal sides including top of the fridge to be cleaned.
Stove/oven – racks to be grime free, element trays cleaned and oven surfaces clean.

Bathrooms, powder rooms and en suites

Shower recess – check for mould which will require removal using exit mould or appropriate cleaning removal products, this includes the shower screen, wall tiles, shower head, taps and soap holder.
Floor/Wall Grouting to be cleared where discolored.
Basin, vanity, mirror, cupboards all drawers to be cleaned internally and externally including doors and handles/knobs.
Toilet internally cleaned, base and lids/seat wiped and cleaned.
Bath internally cleaned, taps and all surrounding tiles/area to be cleaned.
Floors to be vacuumed and mopped.
Exhaust fan to be removed, washed, cleaned and re–attached.

Bedrooms

Cupboards including drawers, doors and handles/knobs wiped clean.
See General items below for remainder of tasks required.

Laundry

All cupboards and drawers cleaned internally and externally including doors and handles/knobs.
Bench tops, tiling and splash backs wiped down clean.
Flooring to be vacuumed and mopped including skirting boards to be cleaned.
Walls where scuff marked to be sugar soaped and cleaned.
Any appliances supplied by the rental provider to be cleaned as required.
Exhaust fan to be removed, washed, cleaned and re-attached.
Sink clean and wiped out with drain debris cleared.

General

Light switches to be wiped over and cleaned where marked.
Doors including framework to be dusted and wiped over where marked (sugar soap may be required) this includes any French doors or sliding.
Hard surface flooring to be vacuumed and mopped (scrubbed if required) using the appropriate cleaning agent for each type of floor surface eg: marble, polished floorboards, vinyl etc.
Carpets to be vacuumed and steam cleaned using a professional carpet care company.
Light fittings to be dusted and cleaned. Some glass fittings may require removal (if possible) to clean build up inside fixture.
Window frames – all framework to be dusted and wiped over.
Fly wire screens to be dusted and wiped over, removed from fitting (if possible) to ensure internal framework is cleaned.
Windows to be cleaned internally and externally.
Walls – where marked must be sugar soaped and wiped over. If walls are marked over and above fair wear and tear some walls may require re-painting by a professional painter.
Window furnishings – Venetians/blinds to be dusted and wiped over, if heavily marked it may require sugar soaping or professional cleaning. Curtains and drapes will require professional cleaning.
Internal cobwebs – to be removed from all areas of the property.
External cobwebs – to be removed from the front and back external areas e.g., pillars, ceiling, porches, window frames and security wire.
Heating and cooling units – to be wiped over, filters to be washed and cleaned (where possible)
Outdoor pavement may require high pressured hosing as required to remove stains such as oil.
Ponds or outdoor water features to be cleaned as required