Five Tips That Will Definitely Get Your Tenancy Bond Refunded
Bonds are often requested by landlords when a new tenant moves into their property. They are taken as a form of guarantee to cover for unpaid rent, damaged property, and other claims that may arise as a result of the tenancy. On ending their stay at the property, tenants are allowed to request a refund of the bond they have paid.
Things don’t go smoothly, though. Unscrupulous landlords and careless tenants are two leading causes of unpaid bonds. If you’re thinking of moving out of the place you currently live, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Review the initial condition report of the home.
The lease agreement you sign after moving into a new place typically comes with an initial condition report. This report details the state of the home as of when you began residing there. You can use the property to evaluate the current state of the house, and whether you need to make repairs or not.
Meet your tenancy obligations.
If you’re moving out, there are certain things you must keep in mind. All your bills have to be paid up to the date that you vacate the property. If you have outstanding bills, your landlord is legally allowed to use your bond money to pay for them.
In addition to that, you’re legally mandated to inform the property owner of your decision to leave a couple of weeks before you do. If you don’t, it attracts a fee that will be taken from your money. All of these and more are usually indicated within the lease agreement.
Clean the property and make fixes.
Your review of the property, when compared with the initial condition report, will likely reveal defects that you have to fix. There will be cleaning work and probable fixes. One of the conditions of getting your bond back is that the property is returned to the owner as it was at the beginning of the lease. Most people prefer to use professional cleaners for heavy cleaning work.
You may also need to make repairs on the property. If the repairs aren’t made, the landlord can cost them and deduct them from your bond money.
Return the house keys and other items.
After leaving the property, you’ll be required to return all the house keys, garage controls, and doorbell functionalities that were handed over to you. If you don’t replace them on time, the cost of changing them will be deducted from your money.
Be present at the final inspection.
After you’ve left the property, your landlord will come over for an inspection of the property. Make sure to be there and go over the property with them. That way, you can take note of the state of the property and decide what deductions will be made (if any).
Conclusion
Getting a refund on your tenancy bond starts from the day you get into the property. Ensuring proper maintenance of the property will prevent high-cost damages. Sometimes, you and your landlord may not be able to agree on how much should be refunded. In that case, you’ll need mediation and likely go to a tribunal. Keep track of all your expenses on the house, as it will be instrumental in proving your case.
