Moving out of a rental comes with two deadlines at once: a handover date that does not move and a bond you want back. The packing, cleaning and paperwork all land in the same fortnight.
This is the two week plan we suggest for Queensland renters. It is built around your packing and crate dates and uses the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) guidance for the rental rules. We keep the tenancy detail short and link to the RTA for each form. Our Queensland moving house checklist covers utilities, mail and the wider move.
What you have to hand back
The RTA says a tenant must leave the property in the same condition as when they moved in apart from fair wear and tear. It also says dirt, grime, grease and damage are not fair wear and tear. Damage caused by an approved pet is the tenant's responsibility too.
Your entry condition report (Form 1a) is the benchmark because the RTA compares it with your exit report. Find your copy now and read it. If you do not have one then ask your property manager for a copy.
Find your bond number as well because you will need it when you deal with the RTA. A property manager or owner who takes a rental bond must give you a receipt. They must lodge the bond with the RTA within 10 days. Since 30 September 2024 a general tenancy bond cannot be more than four weeks rent.
This is general information based on the RTA's published guidance and is not legal advice. Your agreement and circumstances matter so check rta.qld.gov.au or call the RTA on 1300 366 311 if you are unsure.
Two weeks out: give notice and lock in your dates
If you are ending the tenancy without a specific reason then you give your property manager or owner a Notice of intention to leave (Form 13). The RTA lists the minimum notice as 14 days for a periodic agreement. For a fixed term agreement it is the later of 14 days or the day the agreement ends. You can agree on an earlier date in writing. The RTA page also covers other reasons for leaving and the notice each one needs.
Once your handover date is set then work backwards from it. Book your crates so they arrive on or up to five days before the delivery date you choose. We prefer 5 to 7 days notice for a booking. We can sometimes turn orders around sooner and rush fees may apply. Our guide to how crate hire works explains delivery and collection.
For a studio or one bedroom rental see the Studio/1 Bedroom package. For a two bedroom home see the 2 Bedroom package. Our room-by-room guide with crate counts helps if you are between sizes.
Check that your rent is paid up to your vacating date and cancel any automatic debit with your bank. If you plan to use professional cleaners then book them now and confirm the appointment time a few days before. Living in a unit? Ask your building manager about the lift as soon as you have a date. Our Brisbane apartment guide covers lift bookings and body corporate rules.
Days 13 to 8: pack everything you will not use
Start with what you will not need again before you leave. That means the spare room, storage, the garage, books, decor and out-of-season clothes. The packing order in our moving house checklist works well here.
Pack into crates as you go and put a removable label on each one with the room it is going to. Stack finished crates in one room or the garage so the other rooms are clear to clean.
Leave the kitchen until the last two days. Our kitchen packing guide shows how to pack glasses and plates without breakages.
The RTA suggests packing a box or bag of essentials that goes with you on your last day. Put your documents folder in it with your tenancy agreement, entry condition report, bond number and a basic cleaning kit for the final touch up.
Days 7 to 3: clean room by room
The RTA recommends going room by room so you do not miss anything. Empty rooms are easier to clean so this is the right time. Here is the RTA's list of items that are often missed.
| Where | What the RTA says not to forget |
|---|---|
| Every room | Windows, window tracks, skirting boards, light fittings, ceiling fans and air conditioning vents and filters |
| Wardrobes and linen cupboards | Inside all cupboards |
| Kitchen | The oven and inside all cupboards |
| Bathrooms | Inside all cupboards |
| Outside | Clean balconies, tidy and weed gardens and mow and edge lawns |
| Whole property | Remove rubbish and repair any damage caused during your tenancy |
| Furnished rentals | Check every item is in place against your furniture inventory |
Carpets need to be cleaned to the same standard they were in at the start of the tenancy. The RTA says a property manager or owner cannot require you to use a specific carpet cleaning service or pay a set fee. You can do the job yourself or hire a reputable professional. Check the work when it is done.
In Brisbane's humid months check wardrobes, bathrooms and window tracks for mould. Give cleaned areas time to dry. Wet weather can also slow garden and lawn jobs so leave a few days for them.
Clean after packing and not before. Empty rooms are quicker to clean and you will not walk dirt back over a finished floor.
When a room is clean and empty take dated photos of it. The RTA recommends photos as extra evidence of the condition of the property.
Days 2 to 1: complete your exit condition report
The exit condition report records the condition of the property when you leave. For a general tenancy it is the Form 14a. The RTA says to work through it like this:
- Inspect the property. Go room by room and mark each item on the list as clean, working or undamaged where it applies.
- Add anything extra. Use the additional comments section or attach a separate page with your supporting photos.
- Record the meter reading. The RTA strongly advises both parties to record it on the entry and exit reports.
- Initial each page. Then keep a copy for yourself.
- Give it to your property manager. Hand it over with the keys as soon as the agreement ends.
Ideally you and your property manager complete the report together so any issues can be sorted quickly. Otherwise they review your notes at the vacate inspection, add comments and sign. They must send you a signed copy within three business days.
Do not send the exit condition report to the RTA. Give it to your property manager and keep a copy for your records.
If you disagree about the condition of the property then talk to them and record your comments on the report. Keep your photos with it.
Handover day
The RTA's checklist for the last day is short. Finish the cleaning and any repairs and gather all keys, remotes and access cards. Do a final check inside and outside and complete your exit report and photos. If you pay for water consumption then there may be a last reading and a final bill. Then the vacate inspection happens.
Load the truck or car first and do the last clean second. Keep your documents folder and keys with you and not on the truck. In summer start early to beat afternoon storms. Our storm season guide has the details.
At your new place stack the empty crates by the door as you unpack. We collect your crates on your final hire date or up to five days after. If you need more time, let us know before your collection date and we can extend your hire (subject to availability). Extra weeks are charged at the same weekly rate.
Getting your bond back
Do not claim the bond until the handover date. The RTA cannot accept a bond refund request before the notice expires.
Before anyone lodges a request you and your property manager should agree how the bond will be paid. Check your details with the RTA as well including your forwarding address, contact details and bank account.
The quickest route is an agreed refund. One of you starts the online bond refund form on RTA Web Services and the other gets an email and can agree to a fast track refund. You can also sign the paper Refund of rental bond (Form 4) and post it to the RTA. Everyone on the bond has to sign it and the RTA does not accept emailed or photocopied forms.
The RTA aims to process agreed refunds the same day and says to allow up to three business days for the money to reach your bank account. Refunds are only paid into an Australian bank account. See the RTA's bond refunds page for the full process.
If your property manager claims on your bond or disputes your request then they must give you supporting evidence within 14 days. When people do not agree the RTA releases any undisputed amount and holds the disputed amount. Anyone who disagrees with the request then has 14 days to lodge a Dispute resolution request (Form 16).
Frequently asked questions
How much notice do I need to give to leave a rental in Queensland?
For a general tenancy without a specific reason the RTA lists 14 days for a periodic agreement. For a fixed term agreement it is the later of 14 days or the day the agreement ends. Other reasons have different notice periods so check the RTA Form 13 page.
Do I need to professionally clean the carpets when I move out?
The RTA says you have to return the carpets to the same standard as at the start of the tenancy. A property manager or owner cannot require you to use a specific carpet cleaning service or pay a set fee. You can clean them yourself or hire a professional.
What is an exit condition report?
It is the form that records the condition of the property when you leave. For general tenancies it is Form 14a. The RTA compares it with your entry condition report.
When can I claim my bond back?
Not before the handover date. The RTA cannot accept a bond refund request before the notice expires.
How long does a bond refund take?
The RTA aims to process an agreed refund the same day and says to allow up to three business days for the money to reach your account. If there is a dispute then it takes longer.
What if my property manager claims money from my bond?
They must give you supporting evidence within 14 days of the claim. If you disagree then the RTA holds the disputed amount and you have 14 days to lodge a Dispute resolution request (Form 16).
How much bond can be taken and when must it be lodged?
For a general tenancy the maximum is four weeks rent. A property manager or owner who takes the bond must give you a receipt and lodge it with the RTA within 10 days.
When should I book crates for a rental move?
As soon as you know your handover date. We prefer 5 to 7 days notice and we deliver on your chosen date or up to five days before. Rush fees may apply for shorter notice.
Line up your crates with your handover date
See the Studio/1 Bedroom package, the 2 Bedroom package or browse all the residential moving crate packages. Delivery covers Brisbane, Ipswich, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
See the crate packages