The end-of-lease process is the moment where the quality of your recordkeeping throughout the tenancy either pays off or creates problems. A landlord with a signed entry condition report, dated photos, and a clear paper trail is in a strong position. One who relied on memory and goodwill is not.
The key tasks at the end of a tenancy are not complicated in principle — they just require discipline and timing. Missing any of them can mean losing the right to make a claim, delay access to bond funds, or leave the property vacant longer than necessary.
The exit condition report
The exit condition report is your comparison point against the entry condition report signed at the beginning of the tenancy. Without an entry report, any claim for damage is essentially unsubstantiated — the tenant can simply say the damage was pre-existing.
A thorough exit inspection documents every room, every fitting, every appliance and every surface. Photographs with timestamps are essential. The report should be completed on or very shortly after the day the tenant vacates — delay erodes its credibility and, in some jurisdictions, your ability to use it.
In most states, the landlord or agent must complete the exit condition report within a specified timeframe after the tenant returns the keys. Missing that window can affect your ability to claim against the bond.
Bond resolution
Bond is held by the relevant state authority, not the landlord. Claiming against it requires either a mutual agreement with the tenant or an order from the tenancy tribunal. Neither is instant, and both require documentation.
If you and the tenant agree on the bond split, a joint claim form is submitted to the bond authority and funds are released relatively quickly. If there is a dispute, you will need to apply to the tribunal with your evidence — condition reports, photographs, invoices for repairs, and any written communications relevant to the damage.
Landlords who delay starting the bond claim process, or who lack documentation for the amounts they are claiming, regularly receive less than they are owed — not because they were wrong, but because they could not prove it in time.
The handover checklist
Beyond the condition report and bond, the end of a tenancy involves several practical tasks that are easy to overlook under the pressure of turning the property around quickly:
Keys and access devices
Confirm that all keys, remotes, access cards and security codes are returned or changed. Failing to change locks after a tenancy is a security and insurance risk.
Meter readings
Take final meter readings on the day of vacating (or as close as possible). This establishes what utilities the tenant is responsible for and what the new tenancy or vacant period begins at.
Cleaning
Tenants are generally required to return the property in the same standard of cleanliness as they received it. Documenting the cleaning standard at both entry and exit is what gives you grounds to claim professional cleaning costs if needed.
Outstanding rent
Confirm all rent is paid to the vacating date. Bond is not a substitute for rent, but in practice landlords sometimes conflate the two — and end up in a weaker position when claiming for actual damage.
Repairs and make-good
Identify anything that needs repair before the property is re-let. Get quotes or invoices promptly — you will need them for the bond claim, and a vacant property costs money every day it takes.
Re-letting timeline
Plan for the vacancy gap. The end-of-lease inspection, repairs, cleaning and marketing all take time. Investors who plan for this avoid the surprise of a longer gap than expected between tenancies.
How Akweno solves this
Akweno includes a structured end-of-lease workflow for each tenancy — covering inspections, bond resolution and activity checklists. When a lease ends, you have a clear process to follow, your documents are already attached to the property, and the record of how the tenancy concluded is preserved alongside the rest of the property's history.