Tasmania End of Tenancy Inspection: Bond Claims and Exit Reports

The Inspection Drives the Claim

Your exit inspection is the last chance to document the property's condition before the bond claim deadline. Section 28 requires the owner to give the tenant a signed claim form within three working days of tenancy termination and, if seeking a disbursement, a notice stating the reasons. Consumer Affairs Tasmania's MyBond process tells owners to start a claim within three working days of key return or advise the tenant why and when a claim will be made.

That timeline means the exit inspection should happen as close to key return as possible — ideally the same day. Inspecting a week later and then discovering damage leaves you scrambling for evidence against a deadline that may have already passed.

Running the Exit Inspection

Walk the property room by room using the same structure as your entry condition report. For each area, record:

• Current condition of walls, floors, ceilings, windows and fixtures
• Any new damage not present in the entry report
• Cleanliness compared to the baseline you documented at lease commencement
• Missing or broken items (keys, remotes, light fittings, blinds)

Take high-resolution, date-stamped photographs of everything — damage and no-damage areas alike. Photograph the same angles you used in the entry report so the comparison is direct.

Comparing Entry and Exit Reports

The Residential Tenancy Commissioner evaluates bond claims by comparing the property's state at the start of the tenancy against its state at the end. Your entry condition report (provided on or before the day the tenant occupies the premises under Section 26) is the baseline.

Go through both reports side by side. Where the exit condition differs from the entry record, note the specific change. "Carpet in bedroom — entry: good condition, no stains; exit: two large stains near doorway, approximately 20cm diameter" gives the RTC concrete evidence. "Property is damaged" gives them nothing.

Fair Wear and Tear vs Tenant Damage

Normal deterioration from everyday use is not the tenant's liability. Worn carpet in the hallway, faded curtains, tarnished handles — these are fair wear and tear and cannot be claimed against the bond.

What you can claim is damage that goes beyond ordinary use: holes in walls, broken glass, burns in carpet, heavy staining, or broken fixtures. The distinction is whether the damage resulted from the tenant's negligence or carelessness, or from the property simply aging.

Getting Repair Quotes Before the Deadline

If you've identified damage, get at least one professional repair quote before submitting your MyBond claim. The RTC requires proof of actual financial loss — paid invoices or binding quotes from tradespeople. Estimates from memory or internet price searches won't hold up.

For significant damage, request quotes during the notice period while the tenant is still moving out. You don't need to wait until the property is empty to get a quote for a broken window or a damaged wall.

The Key-Return Protocol

Document the exact date and time the tenant hands back all keys and access devices. This is the statutory trigger for your three-working-day claim window. Confirm key return in writing — a text message or email works. If there's any dispute later about when the deadline started, you need a timestamped record.

Check that all keys have been returned. Missing keys are a legitimate claim item if you need to rekey the locks for security.

From Inspection to Claim

The exit inspection feeds directly into your MyBond claim. With the entry and exit reports compared, photos organised, quotes in hand and the rent ledger current, submitting the claim within three days is administrative rather than investigative.

Our Tasmania Rental Bond Guide includes an End-of-Tenancy Claim Tracker that links the exit inspection to the MyBond claim workflow, with deadline calculations and an evidence checklist for each step.

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