One tenants’s confusion over a lengthy list of pre-inspection cleaning jobs has sparked outrage from fellow renters over the “insane” demands.
A Victorian renter shared the list of 32 directions – titled “what to expect during the routine inspection” – to a private renters Facebook group asking whether it was “normal” for a routine inspection.
“It seems like a very long list and I do have five young children and my home is lived in not for display purposes,” she wrote.
The agent appears to have used the same cleaning list that was previously shared to social media by an outraged Sydney renter.
The list included a range of requests for the kitchen, bathroom, outside areas and carpet – from asking for the property to be “generally clean and tidy with everything put in its place”, to more demanding tasks.
Some of those included cleaning “all exhaust fans throughout the property”, washing the walls with sugar soap, cleaning the oven, griller, rangehood (and its filters), and the tops of cupboards, hosing or brushing flyscreens “(if applicable)”, cleaning window tracks “thoroughly”, and for “all garbage bins to be emptied and washed clean”.
It also “strongly recommend(s)” that soiled carpets be “professionally cleaned” ahead of inspection.
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“The purpose of the routine inspection is to accurately report back to the Owner of the condition of the property and if maintenance or improvement are required,” the list, understood to have been provided by the property owner, read.
“During the inspection it is important to us that we respect your privacy and quiet enjoyment. However, as part of the inspection process we will be required to look in cupboards and ensure that there are no leaks or dangerous hazards.
“To ensure that the routine inspection is a success with positive feedback we encourage you to take a moment to ensure that you have cleaned the following areas.”
Adding to the tenant’s surprise, she was told at 6.30pm on Monday, April 17 that the inspection – originally scheduled for April 26 – was moving forward pushed forward.
Now she needed to be ready for inspection at “9am tomorrow morning”.
Fellow renters were infuriated by the long list of demands, calling it an “exit clean” and definitely “not normal”.
“This is pretty much what most real estates are sending out now. Bond clean for a simple inspection,” one wrote.
“Bins to be emptied and washed? What are you supposed to do if you bin is full and bin day isn’t for a few days?! This is insane,” another wrote. The tenant said her bin day was Wednesday.
She also replied to another comment saying she “failed an inspection at my last house because I had washing in a washing basket in the laundry”.
“That’s ridiculous,” one renter replied. “They’re there to check the houses not people (sic) belongings, they don’t belong to the dang landlord the house does.”
“It’s ridiculous, I had one too. I’m a cleaner and expect it for an end of lease/bond clean not a standard inspection,” another said, noting owners and agents were “becoming stricter”.
The group’s frustrations were compounded by the sudden change of date for the inspection.
According to Consumer Affairs Victoria, a rental provider or agent must give the renter “proper” notice that they will enter the property. A general inspection requires at least seven days notice.
Consumer Affairs Victoria advises a renter is within their rights to refuse entry if they have not received written notice, notice was not given “properly” (for example, within seven days), or a rental provider has already done a general inspection within the last six months.
Tenants Victoria lead community education lawyer Ben Cording said it was important for tenants to know these kinds of lists “are not a statement of law, they’re a bunch of requests”.
“For a lot of people the list is excessive and makes people feel like they are being prepared to leave the property,” Mr Cording said.
“But the truth is, it doesn’t have to be spotless or pristine. That’s not what’s required.”
What was important was the tenant keeps the property “reasonably clean” in line with standards of the general community.
“Most renters are trying to do the right thing – some are burning two ends to make ends meet or even pay rent – and most agents are, too,” Mr Cording said.
“But there’s this overly pedantic approach where some (agents) try to throw their weight around and make the renter feel like they’re not doing enough and are in constant fear they’ll lose their home.”
Mr Cording said such strict list-keeping stoked renters’ fears of “failing” an inspection or getting a “bad reference” and was particularly concerning in the current rental crisis.
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He wanted tenants to know: nothing happens if they “fail” an inspection.
A rent provider may issue a “breach of duty notice” or, in extreme cases, could take tenants to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal – “if they want to spend the landlords money”.
But, he said: “The purpose (of inspections) is to keep a reasonable standard so, say, if you’ve got to leave the property at short notice, it is recoverable.”
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