Bond cleaning guide
How to Get Your Full Bond Back QLD Tenant Guide
Your rights, RTA rules, refund timelines, and ultimate exit inspection tips.
Updated 3 June 2026
Understand Your Bond & The QLD RTA
In Queensland, your rental bond is not held directly by your property manager or landlord. Instead, it is legally lodged with the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA). Getting your money back seamlessly requires adhering closely to the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act.
The golden rule for standard lease turnarounds in QLD is simple: the property must be handed back in the exact same condition it was found, minus "fair wear and tear" (such as minor scuffing on high-traffic floorboards or fading paint over multi-year periods). However, deep dirt, grime, missed oven interiors, and un-swept tracks are categorised as cleanliness issues — and they will result in a claim against your funds.
Essential Steps to Safeguard Your Security Deposit
To avoid lengthy disputes in the QLD Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), execute these core strategies during your notice period:
- Book Professional Cleaning Early: Trying to rush a deep clean while coordinating moving trucks inevitably results in missed spots. Ask your cleaners for an itemised receipt you can pass on to your property manager.
- Check Carpet & Pest Obligations: Review your tenancy agreement and pet-approval conditions to see whether professional carpet cleaning or pest treatment applies to your tenancy.
- Document Everything with Photos: Take exhaustive, well-lit photographs of every single room, skirting board, window track, and appliance interior alongside your completed Exit Condition Report (Form 14a).
- Return All Keys on Time: Even a half-day delay in returning secondary remotes or gate fobs can incur daily pro-rata rent penalties.
The Refund Timeline: Fast-Tracking Your Payout
As soon as you hand over the keys and complete your official exit inspection, you can submit an online Refund of Rental Bond (Form 4) directly to the RTA portal.
Either party can submit a bond refund request. The RTA process and response periods depend on how the request is lodged and whether the parties agree, so check the current RTA guidance before submitting.