End Of Lease Cleaning Checklist For Furnished Vs. Unfurnished Rentals

End Of Lease Cleaning Checklist For Furnished Vs. Unfurnished Rentals

By : angila
Vacating a rental property is one of the most overwhelming processes for tenants/renters. The residential tenancy laws in Victoria outline the roles and responsibilities of tenants, especially when moving out. They must perform a detailed end of lease cleaning to pass the rental inspection. All rooms, nooks, crannies and important surfaces need to be covered; otherwise, landlords can deduct your bond money for cleaning and repairs, except fair wear and tears. Thus, an attention-to-detail end of lease cleaning Melbourne is crucial for both furnished and unfurnished rentals. Of course, you can apply to VCAT and resolve the rental dispute with your landlord, but is always good to complete your duties and return the property in a clean state. Make sure you prepare separate checklists for furnished and unfurnished properties to help you achieve the desired results. This is because cleaning an empty room is comparatively easy and can easily tackle dirt and grime. Here is a complete checklist for furnished vs. unfurnished rentals to make things easy:

Vacate Cleaning Checklist For Furnished Rentals

Though professional cleaners ask customers to empty the entire rental property before their arrival so that they can clean everything without any distraction, you can spruce up the premises along with your furniture: General Cleaning Checklist
  • Get rid of cobwebs , dust and insect marks from ceiling walls
  • Clean air vents, fans and AC
  • Wipe down light fittings
  • Clean light fittings and fixtures and switch boards
  • Cleaning cupboards and drawers inside and out
  • Window cleaning inside and outside if accessible
  • Vacuuming blinds and curtains
  • Cleaning skirting boards and doors
  • Vacuuming carpets and floors
  • Wipe baseboards
  • Mopping hard floors.

Furniture & Upholstery Cleaning
  • Dust and wipe all furniture pieces, including sofas, chairs, beds, dining table, etc.
  • Vacuum upholstery and cushions
  • Polish wooden furniture pieces if required

Tip: Dismantle and pack if you have any personal furniture items before the arrival of professionals for the best end of lease cleaning Melbourne. Kitchen Cleaning Checklist
  • Clean cupboards, drawers and shelves inside and outside.
  • Clean all appliances, such as an oven, microwave, dishwasher and refrigerator
  • Wipe down kitchen countertops and stove top
  • Empty and disinfect the garbage disposal
  • Clean and disinfect sink and faucets

Bathroom Cleaning Checklist
  • Remove items from cabinets and cupboards
  • Discard unnecessary ones
  • Clean cabinets inside and outside
  • Scrub showerhead and walls
  • Wipe downs shower glass doors
  • Scrub and disinfect the shower, bathtub and toilet
  • Clean and disinfect sink

Bedroom Cleaning
  • Vacuum and clean dirty mattresses
  • Remove dust from hard surfaces
  • Wash bed linens
  • Wipe down bed frames, dressing table and other furniture
  • Empty and clean out drawers or closet

Exterior Areas Checklist
  • Clean patio furniture and floors
  • Sweep the garage floors 

Tip: A good end of lease cleaning company in Melbourne will quote differently if you want to clean up a furnished rental property. However, they will clean drawers, cabinets and cupboards if all items are removed and placed in front of the storage unit because they don’t take responsibility or liability for any damage.

What are the Exclusions in a Furnished Property?

Professionals usually do not clean or warrant picture frames, lamps, vases, clocks and any other delicate decorative item. If you are hiring a company, make sure you remove these delicate pieces and clean it yourself.  You can also clean different types of upholstery with ease by following right methods and products. So, don’t worry when preparing for your rental inspection. End of Lease Cleaning Checklist for Unfurnished Rentals It is easy to clean an unfurnished or empty property because you don’t have any distractions when tackling dirt, dust and debris. So, the checklist for unfurnished property is almost the same, except for furniture pieces, such as upholstery, tables, chairs and other stuff. This includes:
  • Cleaning air vents, ceiling walls, fans and light fixtures
  • Wiping down light switches, shelves
  • Cleaning windows
  • Vacuuming blinds and washing curtains
  • Cleaning kitchen appliances
  • Wiping down countertops and stovetop
  • Cleaning sinks, faucets
  • Removing stains from shower area, shower head and glass doors
  • Scrubbing bathtub and toilet
  • Vacuuming carpets
  • Sweeping and mopping floors
  • Cleaning garage walls and floors
  • Sweeping patio floors
  • Mopping all floors
Professionally-trained cleaners leave no stone unturned and spruce up the entire property according to the pre-approved checklist. However, they won’t remove mould and pest infestation. You need to book services separately and return the property in a clean and hygienic condition.

What are the Exclusions in Unfurnished Rentals?

Many companies don’t clean a fully-furnished rental property because it takes time and energy. Plus, removing dust from floors and tight areas becomes challenging for cleaners. So, leaving the property empty as much as possible is good. If a landlord wants you to clean furniture as well, ask the company and mention all your requirements. They will quote you for the cleaning service according to your specific needs. So, it is good to hire the right cleaning service and pass the rental inspection with ease.

Wrapping Up

Whether you have a furnished rental property or an unfurnished one, make sure you return it in the same condition as you received it at the beginning of your lease. This will help you get your bond money back without conflict.