Leaving a rental you've lived in for 5 years or more is a different proposition to a short-term tenancy exit. The accumulated wear is greater, the bond clean scope is larger, and the fair wear and tear rules become increasingly important in protecting your bond. Here's what long-term Perth tenants need to know.
Fair Wear and Tear Is on Your Side
The longer a tenancy, the more fair wear and tear has accumulated — and the less a landlord can legitimately claim. After 5+ years:
- Carpet that was new at move-in has significantly depreciated — even substantial wear may not be chargeable
- Paint and wall condition — repainting after a long tenancy is often considered a landlord maintenance cost
- Minor marks and scuffs that would concern a property manager in a 12-month tenancy may be accepted as normal in a 7-year one
- Old appliances — a landlord cannot claim full replacement cost for appliances that were already approaching end-of-life
What Still Needs to Meet the Standard
Fair wear and tear doesn't excuse poor cleaning. Regardless of tenancy length, you still need to return the property in a reasonable state of cleanliness. Years of cooking means a very dirty oven — that's cleaning, not wear and tear. Mould from insufficient ventilation is still your responsibility. The distinction is between deterioration from normal use versus accumulated dirt and damage.
The Practical Challenge — Accumulated Grime
In a long tenancy, grime accumulates in places nobody cleans regularly: the top of kitchen cupboards, behind the stove, inside the rangehood housing, in window tracks, and behind appliances. A professional bond clean addresses all of these systematically. For a very long tenancy, the cleaning job is often significantly larger than a standard quote would reflect — be upfront with your cleaner about the property's condition and tenure.
Documenting the Ingoing Condition
If you've been in the property for 5+ years, your ingoing condition report is from years ago. Retrieve a copy from your property manager — it's the baseline for any exit claim. Items that were already in poor condition when you moved in cannot be charged to you now.
Getting the Right Quote
Be honest with your bond cleaner about the property's condition. A property that hasn't had a deep clean in years takes significantly longer than a well-maintained property — and a realistic quote at the start prevents surprises on the day.
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