End of Tenancy Condition Report and Checklist for Victoria Landlords

Once the renter has vacated the property, the landlord's obligations are not over. Victorian law sets specific requirements for condition reporting, bond claims, and handling anything left behind. Missing these steps — or getting the timelines wrong — can cost you deductions you were entitled to.

The End-of-Tenancy Condition Report

You must complete an updated condition report once you have regained possession of the property. This is a comparison document: it records the current state of the property against the condition report prepared at the start of the tenancy.

Timeline: The completed end-of-tenancy condition report must be provided to the former renter within 10 days of you regaining possession. If you miss this window, you weaken your position for any bond deduction claim.

What to document: Walk through every room and record the condition of walls, floors, fixtures, appliances, windows, and outdoor areas. Note any damage beyond normal wear and tear. Take dated photographs of everything — they form the evidence base for any bond claim.

Comparison with the ingoing report: Your end-of-tenancy report only has value if you can compare it to the original ingoing condition report. If you did not prepare a thorough ingoing report at the start of the tenancy, your ability to claim for damage is significantly reduced.

Bond Claims Under the October 2026 Rules

Since 13 October 2026, landlords making a claim against the rental bond through the RTBA must give the renter advance notice and upload supporting evidence to the portal. You cannot simply submit a claim and wait for the renter to respond.

This means you need:

• The end-of-tenancy condition report showing damage or cleaning issues
• Dated photographs supporting each claimed item
• Quotes or invoices for repair work or professional cleaning
• The original ingoing condition report for comparison

All of this must be submitted through the RTBA's digital portal. Paper claims are no longer accepted.

Handling Goods Left Behind

Part 9 of the Residential Tenancies Act sets out strict rules for personal property the renter leaves at the premises:

Personal documents (passports, identity cards, financial records, wills, medical items) must be retained safely for a minimum of 90 days. You must make reasonable efforts to contact the renter to arrange collection.

General goods of value must be stored securely for 28 days. After 28 days, you can apply to VCAT for an order to sell or dispose of the goods, with storage costs deductible from any sale proceeds.

Perishable items, goods of zero value, or hazardous materials can be disposed of immediately.

Do not skip these steps. Disposing of a renter's valuable belongings prematurely exposes you to a VCAT compensation claim.

The Post-Vacancy Checklist

1. Inspect the property thoroughly on the day of, or immediately after, vacancy
2. Complete the end-of-tenancy condition report with dated photographs
3. Send the condition report to the former renter within 10 days
4. Catalogue any goods left behind and follow the Part 9 retention rules
5. Prepare your bond claim evidence (photos, quotes, invoices, condition comparison)
6. Submit the bond claim through the RTBA digital portal with advance notice to the renter
7. Arrange final meter readings and utility disconnections or transfers
8. If you are re-letting (and the re-letting restriction does not apply), confirm your safety check certificates are current before signing a new tenancy agreement

The Ending a Tenancy in Victoria guide covers the full post-vacancy workflow alongside the notice process itself, so nothing falls through the gap between the renter leaving and the tenancy being fully closed out.

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