Tasmania Condition Report: Rules, Deadlines and Bond Protection

What the Law Requires

If an owner requires a security deposit, Section 26 of the Residential Tenancy Act 1997 requires the owner to give the tenant two copies of a condition report on or before the day the tenant occupies the premises. The report must be signed by the owner.

After receiving the copies, the tenant has two days to inspect the property, note any disagreements or pre-existing damage, sign one copy and return it to the owner. The report is evidence of the property's state at the start of the tenancy.

Why the Report Matters for Bond Claims

In any dispute before the Residential Tenancy Commissioner, the condition report is the primary evidence of what the property looked like when the tenancy began. Without one — or with an incomplete one — you have no statutory baseline. The RTC will struggle to determine whether damage occurred during the tenancy or was already there.

Forum discussions among Tasmanian tenants show that legal advocates routinely check whether the landlord completed the condition report properly. A missing or unsigned report is often the first thing a tenant's representative will raise to challenge a bond deduction.

Completing the Entry Report

Walk through every room and record the condition of:

• Walls and ceilings (marks, cracks, paint condition)
• Floors and floor coverings (carpet wear, tile chips, scratches)
• Windows and window coverings (curtains, blinds, flyscreen condition)
• Doors and locks (operation, scratches, handle condition)
• Light fittings and power points
• Kitchen fixtures (oven, cooktop, rangehood, sink, taps)
• Bathroom and laundry (tiles, grout, taps, shower screens, drains)
• Outdoor areas (fencing, garden beds, lawn, clothesline, carport)

Be specific. "Fair condition" means nothing in a dispute. "Three small nail holes above the window in the master bedroom, no larger than 5mm" gives the RTC something to work with.

Supplementary Photographic Evidence

The written report is the statutory requirement, but photographs are what win disputes. Take date-stamped, high-resolution photos of every room from multiple angles. Photograph pre-existing damage in detail — close-ups of marks, stains, cracks and wear.

Store photos separately from the condition report itself. When it comes time for an exit inspection, you'll re-photograph the same areas for a direct comparison.

The Exit Condition Report

At the end of the tenancy, complete a second condition report using the same room-by-room structure. Walk the property after the tenant has removed their belongings and compare each area against the entry report.

Note new damage explicitly: "Entry report: carpet in good condition, no stains. Exit: 15cm red wine stain near bedroom door." This direct comparison is what the RTC evaluates when deciding whether damage goes beyond fair wear and tear.

Privacy During Inspections

Routine property inspections during the tenancy are limited to once every three months with proper written notice. Photographs taken during these inspections must focus on maintenance and structural condition — avoid capturing personal items, documents or occupants. Privacy breaches undermine your credibility if the tenancy ends in dispute.

Getting It Right on Day One

A properly completed condition report costs nothing and takes a couple of hours. Skipping it — or rushing through it with vague descriptions — costs you your main defence in any future bond claim.

Our Tasmania Rental Bond Guide includes a Condition Report Completion Guide with room-by-room checklists and photography standards, so the entry record is thorough enough to hold up under RTC scrutiny.

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