To avoid unnecessary complications after moving out, you must take care of a few key things before finishing up your tenancy.

1.    Issue the notice to vacate

If you are planning to leave after your lease is finished, you are required to provide the notice to vacate applicable in your state. If you want to move out before the end of the lease, there could be some complications to work through with your property manager, including a potential cost for breaking the lease.

Once the notice has been provided, your property manager will inform you of a vacate date. This is the latest day when the keys should be returned to the property manager.

You are required to continue paying the rent until the final date, regardless of whether you have already moved out or not.

2.    Moving your personal items

All your belongings, including furniture, must be removed from the property by the agreed date.

3.    Leave the property in a suitable condition for new tenants

Cleaning before you vacate is an extensive process, not a simple tidying up. Some of the basics include:

• Deep cleaning the kitchen, including inside and outside the oven, cooktop and rangehood.
• Vacuuming and thoroughly cleaning the carpets. In many situations, it may require professional carpet cleaning.
• All walls need to be cleaned, including removing any marks.

Some other obligations are ensuring the functionality of appliances and smoke detectors.

If you’re worried about forgetting something or completing the job to a satisfactory level, or if you want to save time and effort, we recommend hiring professionals. Connectnow can assist with this process

It’s worth considering this option – if the property is left in poor condition after an attempted clean, the professional cleaners will be hired anyway, and the cost may be deducted from your bond.

4.    Notify your energy suppliers

For the energy suppliers to organise final meter readings, give them plenty of notice that you’re moving. To ease and speed up the process, provide them with your new address.

5.    Get your bond back

If you met all the conditions of the lease and left the property in reasonable condition, you will promptly receive the full amount of the bond back. Your property manager can provide guidance during the process, but there’s plenty of information available online. Browse below to start getting informed:

• For tenants in Queensland
• For tenants in New South Wales
• For tenants in Victoria

To avoid any problems, check the property against the original condition report and take photos when you leave. 

We hope the process of leaving your current property and entering your new home runs effortlessly. If you require assistance, our property managers are happy to help every step of the way.