Tips on How to Get Your Bond Back NSW

The last place I rented was in Potts Point. It was a nice little apartment apart from the noise and the amount of dust/car fumes that would accumulate on the white goods, floors, walls and cupboards. My landlord was extremely paranoid of the place being kept pristine (which I always do anyway) and preventing scratches on the polished floor boards. So much so that my lease had a clause of not wearing high heels in the apartment!

When it was time to move and wanted my bond back I knew there were a few things that had to be done and one of them was getting an end of lease professional clean. I did get all my bond back because the apartment was left even better than when I entered it and it was worth paying for the professional clean.

TIPS ON HOW TO GET YOUR BOND BACK IN NSW

Apart from leaving the place clean here is what else you need to consider from the day you enter the lease and until the day you leave.

DEVELOP A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR LANDLORD OR LEASING AGENT

If you keep on side with your landlord by doing the right thing from the beginning you should have no problem getting your bond back. This is very easy to do by:

• Pay your rent on time (if you are going to be late let them know and have a valid reason)

• Notify them immediately if something needs repairing on the premises

• Keep the place clean and tidy as if every day is an inspection day. If it's too hard to do it yourself hire a professional cleaner

• If you have an accident (like I did once breaking a window by trying to clean it) let the agent know immediately and state you will pay for the damage

• Notify the property manager/landlord of anything that's happening in the building that shouldn't be such as people propping open fire doors etc.

LEAVE THE PLACE SPOTLESS

As I mentioned before, an end of term professional clean is worth the money. Not only does it save you time and stress, you can get those sometimes neglected items cleaned professionally. You need to consider all the insides of cupboards cleaned, bathrooms spotless, oven, blinds, steam clean carpets, walls cleaned, exhaust fan and the list goes on.

I used Fantastic Services Group when I vacated which was easy to book online. This company also offers services such as rubbish removal, gardening, pest control and handyman so it's easy to get whatever needs doing, not only when you vacate but for other jobs that might need doing during your tenancy such as removal of an old mattress.

DO A THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THE PROPERTY WHEN YOU FIRST TAKE OCCUPANCY

When you first move in take photos of any defects or issues and write detailed notes in your tenancy report the agent gives you. Note things that are not clean, every scratch, any lightbulbs that are not working, dirty oven, pest infestations etc. This will be a life-saver for you when you vacate the premises and the landlord tries to blame you for it.

BREAKING YOUR LEASE AND OUTSTANDING BILLS

You will responsible to compensate the landlord for any outstanding bills that are relevant to your lease such as water rates or it might come out of your bond. It's not good for your tenancy record to have your bond forfeited or money taking out of it for damage or other reasons.

NO PETS MEANS NO PETS

You might have a docile cat or little dog that doesn't make any noise and think no one will notice but believe me they will! If you break the terms of your lease by having pets when you are not allowed you can expect to be evicted or lose some bond. If you are going to have a pet make sure you have this approved and written in your lease.

VACATE ON TIME AND RETURN THE KEYS AS REQUESTED

Once you have given notice you will need to make sure you are out of the premises as agreed and have the keys back to the agent as well.

ATTEND THE FINAL INSPECTION YOURSELF

If it's possible attend the final inspection yourself so you are there to defend yourself with photos and your initial report.

THE BOND REFUND PROCESS

Your property manager should you give you a Claim for Refund of Bond Money form. This form will need your bank details for the Bond to be deposited into your account. If you and the property manager don't agree on the return of the bond you could end up in mediation or to Tribunal where you will need to provide evidence of why you should get your full bond back. You can apply for your bond online as well. Visit Fair Trading for more information.

Lastly, don't be intimated by property managers, they have a job to do and if you do the right thing you shouldn't have any issues.