The Sydney end of lease cleaning checklist agents actually use

Sydney bond cleans get judged against the same checklist real estate agents have used for a decade. There are no surprises in what they look at, only in what they flag, and the flagged items are remarkably consistent across agencies. Here is the 60-item room-by-room checklist we work to on every No Stain Clean Co end-of-lease job, plus the five items that fail the most bonds in Sydney and exactly how to address them.

The five items that fail the most bonds

Before the full checklist, address these first. Across our last 200 inspections in Sydney these five items account for over 80% of bond deductions:

1. Inside the oven. The most-flagged single item. Modern enamel ovens crack when sprayed cold-on-hot, so let the oven cool fully, apply a paste of bicarb and water, leave overnight, wipe clean.
2. Behind the oven. Pull the oven forward if it slides. Floor and wall behind it are almost always missed by tenants and almost always inspected by agents.
3. Range hood filters. These lift out. Soak in hot water with dishwashing liquid and a tablespoon of bicarb for 20 minutes, rinse, dry. Wiping the outside while the filter is clogged is theatre.
4. Window tracks. The metal tracks under the windows hold a year of dust and dead insects. Vacuum first with the crevice tool, then wipe with a damp microfibre cloth.
5. Skirting boards and door frames at eye level. Agents run a finger along these. Dust here is the most-flagged minor item. Wipe with a damp microfibre cloth, not a duster.

The full Sydney end of lease checklist

Kitchen (12 items)

1. Inside the oven, including racks, trays, walls and door glass
2. Behind the oven (if it slides forward)
3. Range hood filters (lifted out and degreased)
4. Cooktop, including burners or hotplates
5. Splashback, tiles, grout
6. Microwave inside and out
7. Cupboard interiors and drawer runners
8. Bench tops and surface fixtures
9. Sink, taps, drain
10. Floor, including under and behind the fridge if accessible
11. Skirting boards and door frame
12. Light switches, power points, light fittings

Bathrooms (10 items per bathroom)

1. Toilet, base, behind, lid, seat, bowl, cistern
2. Bath, including taps, drain, jets if spa
3. Shower screen, glass, runners, door tracks
4. Tiles and grout (vertical and floor)
5. Vanity, top, drawers, doors, cupboard interior
6. Sink, taps, drain
7. Mirror and any glass shelves
8. Towel rails, hooks, fittings
9. Floor, corners, behind the door
10. Exhaust fan cover and vent (lifted out and washed)

Bedrooms (8 items per bedroom)

1. Wardrobe interiors, shelves, hanging rails
2. Built-in mirrored doors, including tracks
3. Window glass, frames, sills, tracks
4. Window coverings (blinds dusted, curtain washing usually owner)
5. Skirting boards and door frame
6. Light switches, power points, light fittings
7. Door, both sides, top edge, handle
8. Floor (carpet steam separately, hard floors mopped)

Living and dining (10 items)

1. Window glass, frames, sills, tracks (every window)
2. Window coverings dusted
3. Ceiling fans (blade tops are commonly missed)
4. Light fittings, including lamp bases
5. Air-conditioning vents and filters
6. Skirting boards (every wall)
7. Door frames and architraves
8. Light switches and power points
9. Built-in joinery interiors and shelves
10. Floor (carpet steam separately, hard floors mopped)

External and outdoor (10 items)

1. Balcony or courtyard, swept and surface-cleaned
2. External doors, frames, locks, peepholes
3. Garage floor sweep (where accessible)
4. Letterbox, intercom and front entry
5. Light external windows, accessible only
6. Outdoor lights and fittings
7. Air-conditioning external unit (visual check)
8. Drains and gutters at ground level
9. Outdoor furniture if included on inventory
10. Final lock-up walk-through against the agent's checklist

Carpet steam: book it last, not first

Carpets get walked on while you (or your cleaner) work through the rest of the property. Book the steam for the day before the inspection, after the rest of the property is done, so the carpet is dry and undisturbed when the agent arrives.

For a 2-bedroom Sydney apartment, expect $149 to $179 for the steam alone, included in most professional end-of-lease packages when booked together. We cover steam pricing in detail in our carpet cleaning cost guide.

What if you do it yourself

DIY end-of-lease is doable for studios and 1-bedrooms with no pets if you can dedicate a full Saturday. From 2-bedrooms upwards, the time-and-back-pain math usually favours booking a professional, especially with the carpet steam already required separately.

If you DIY, plan a logical order: top-down per room (ceiling fans, then walls, then surfaces, then floors), wet zones last (kitchen and bathrooms), carpet steam absolute last. Photograph the property as you finish each room, both for your own records and as evidence if the bond is contested.

The bond-back guarantee is the only safety net that matters

A real bond-back guarantee means the cleaner returns at no charge if the agent flags anything inside the agreed scope. Ours is the Finish Pass Promise: forward the agent's note within 72 hours of the inspection, we come back and finish what was missed.

The clause to read carefully on any quote is "within agreed scope". That is why our scope is written and signed before the job, photographed during, and itemised on the tax invoice. No room for "that was extra" conversations after the fact.

Frequently asked questions