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What Is a 72-Hour Re-Clean Policy for QLD End of Lease Cleans?

Learn what a cleaner's 72-hour re-clean policy may cover, what to check before booking, and how the Queensland exit condition process works.

Rico Solo, founder
Clean kitchen with an empty benchtop, sink and oven ready for a rental exit inspection

A 72-hour re-clean policy is a term some bond cleaning businesses offer. It usually gives a customer a limited period to report cleaning items identified after the job so the cleaner can return and address eligible missed areas.

For the room-by-room jobs to check before handover, start with our complete bond-cleaning checklist for Brisbane renters. It covers the clean itself, commonly missed areas and the final property check.

The exact promise varies by provider. It is not a guarantee that your full bond will be returned, and it does not replace the terms of your booking or your rights under Australian Consumer Law. Before booking, ask the cleaner to put the timing, exclusions and claim process in writing.

Some businesses use phrases such as “bond-back guarantee” when describing an end-of-lease clean. Check what the written offer actually promises: which missed cleaning tasks are covered, how soon you must report them, what evidence is needed and whether a return visit is included. A re-clean policy does not promise the return of the whole rental bond.

What Queensland tenants are responsible for

The Queensland Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) says tenants must leave a rental in the same condition it was in at the start of the tenancy, apart from fair wear and tear. A tenant can clean the property themselves or engage a professional cleaner.

The Entry condition report and your photos record the starting point. At the end of the tenancy, the Exit condition report records the property's condition and helps the parties identify any differences.

How a re-clean policy commonly works

  1. The cleaner completes the booked scope. Check the work before handover where possible and keep the invoice and written terms.
  2. The property is inspected. The property manager or owner compares its condition with the Entry condition report, allowing for fair wear and tear.
  3. You report eligible missed items. If the provider's policy applies, you send the requested evidence within its stated time window.
  4. The cleaner arranges the remedy. The response, timing and areas covered depend on the provider's written terms and availability.

The RTA encourages tenants and property managers or owners to discuss any cleaning or damage issues and work towards a solution. If a bond claim is made or disputed, the property manager or owner must provide supporting evidence to the tenant within the required timeframe.

Gloved hand scraping dirt from a window track during an exit clean

What to check before you book

Ask each provider the same questions, get the answers in writing and keep them with your booking confirmation.

Questions to ask a bond cleaner and what to confirm before booking
What is included in the quoted scope?

Ask for an itemised list of rooms, fixtures and tasks, plus any exclusions or services that cost extra.

Does the business offer a re-clean policy?

Confirm the reporting window, the evidence required, the eligible items and how quickly a return visit would be arranged. A re-clean policy is not a guarantee that your bond will be refunded.

What can make a re-clean request ineligible?

Check the provider's written terms for conditions involving power, water, access, reporting deadlines, pre-existing damage and work outside the original scope.

Will I receive an itemised tax invoice?

Confirm that the invoice will identify the business, its ABN and contact details, and the services performed.

Does the provider declare current public liability insurance?

Ask whether cover is current and whether the provider can supply evidence, such as a certificate of currency, if you need to review it.

If you need help with the clean, request bond-cleaning quotes in Brisbane Bayside. Compare each provider’s written inclusions, availability and re-clean terms before accepting an offer.

Frequently asked questions