End of Tenancy Cleaning in Brisbane: The 2026 RTA Checklist
Queensland RTA rules are different to the ACT. This is the Brisbane-specific end-of-tenancy cleaning checklist that matches the Entry Condition Report the property manager actually uses.
Queensland operates under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (QLD), administered by the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA). It differs from the ACT in several meaningful ways — including who holds your bond, how long they have to release it, and what the exit standard is. This is the 2026 Brisbane-specific checklist.
The QLD exit standard in one sentence
You must return the property "clean, having regard to its condition at the start of the tenancy" — per QLD Form 17a. Read the Entry Condition Report before you clean, not after.
Kitchen
- Oven — interior, racks, door inside-glass, trays
- Cooktop — including under knobs (they lift off on most models)
- Rangehood — filter, housing, above if ducted
- Splashback — oil residue wipe-down
- Cupboards — inside and fronts, handles included
- Drawers pulled out, vacuumed inside, returned
- Fridge cavity (if landlord-supplied) — defrosted 24h in advance
- Dishwasher — filter, seal, spray arms
- Sink and taps — descaled
Bathroom + ensuite
- Shower grout — mould spot-treated
- Screens — descaled both sides
- Toilet — bowl, seat (both sides), base, behind pipe
- Mirror and vanity
- Exhaust fan cover removed, dust vacuumed, wiped
- Floor tile grout — mop with alkaline cleaner
Bedrooms + living
- Carpet professionally steam-cleaned if it was steam-cleaned at entry (check the Entry Report)
- Skirting boards — damp wipe
- Light switches and power points — damp wipe
- Ceiling fan blades — wipe (Brisbane dust gets thick here)
- Air-con filter — removed, washed, dried
- Wardrobe — inside and outside, mirrored doors
- Windows — inside panes, tracks, sills, fly-screens
Balcony and outdoor (apartment-specific Brisbane)
- Balcony tile sweep + wash
- Balustrade glass — both sides
- Drain clear of leaves and lint
- External air-con compressor — leaf sweep around it
Queensland-specific things Canberra renters forget
Mould on the bathroom ceiling is the #1 Brisbane-specific call. The humidity means any unit with an ensuite and poor ventilation grows spots by year two. A bleach-free fungicide is the right tool — bleach kills visible spores but does not reach the root and mould returns in six weeks. The second specific call is the balcony drain — they collect leaves from above, and when the next rain hits the water overflows into the unit below.
Frequently asked
Does QLD require a professional carpet clean receipt?
Only if the Entry Condition Report noted the carpet was professionally cleaned at move-in — the exit standard is to match entry. If it was not, you can vacuum and the receipt is not required. Most Brisbane agents still ask, but they cannot enforce it outside that condition.
What is the fastest path to a bond release in QLD?
Both parties sign the Bond Refund Form (Form 4) — if agreed, the RTA releases within 2–3 business days. If not signed, it goes to QCAT, which takes 4–8 weeks.