Mission Australia Housing fact sheet 16: Vacating your property
Vacating your property
This fact sheet provides tenants with information on what you
need to do when leaving a Mission Australia Housing property.
A tenancy with Mission Australia Housing may be ended either by a tenant or by the
organisation, for a variety of reasons. Whatever the reason for a tenancy being ended,
Mission Australia Housing aims to ensure that tenants are provided with information on their
rights and responsibilities when vacating their property and that tenants are supported in leaving.
Giving notice to leave
If you are considering leaving your Mission
Australia Housing property, it is important
that you check your lease agreement and
talk to your Housing Manager to determine
the notice period that you need to give.
Notice periods for leaving your property can vary
depending on the state you are living in, the housing
program you are in and whether you are on a fixed
term or continuing lease. In most instances, tenants
will be asked to give between 7 and 21 days notice
when vacating.
Vacate inspections
Mission Australia Housing will carry out a pre-vacating
inspection of your property 5-7 days before you vacate.
The inspection gives you and Mission Australia Housing
an opportunity to check the condition of the property and
make sure that you are ready to hand back the property to
Mission Australia Housing in the same condition you leased
it from us (fair wear and tear accepted). Mission Australia
Housing will also carry out an inspection within 48 hours of
you vacating the property.
You will be asked to attend both inspections and provided with
an opportunity to fix any outstanding issues at this time.
Returning your keys
Once Mission Australia Housing receives your
notice to vacate, we will contact you to arrange a
property inspection and discuss the steps to hand
back your property.
It is important that you return your keys to
Mission Australia Housing the day you vacate your
property or the morning after. If you do not return all keys,
Mission Australia Housing will continue to charge you
a daily rent fee until the keys are returned.
Handing back your property
Your Bond
Rent account
It is important to make sure your rent and non-rent
account are up to date and that you do not owe any
money to Mission Australia Housing. You should
contact your Housing Manager to ask for a copy of
your rent statement and ensure that you pay the right
amount of rent up to your vacating date.
Most tenants pay a bond at the start of their tenancy.
The bond plus any interest earned will be refunded to you
provided that you do not owe any money for outstanding
rent or non-rent debt (such as water usage) and that you
leave your property in the same condition that you found it
in (fair wear and tear accepted). Your bond may be claimed
by Mission Australia Housing if there is any money owing on
your account. Any disputes regarding the bond money will
be taken to relevant State Based Tribunal or Court to have
the matter heard.
missionaustralia.com.au
Mission Australia Housing fact sheet 16: Vacating your property
Vacating checklist
Utilities and mail
Use this checklist to help you make sure
that you have done everything you need
to do to hand back your property to Mission
Australia Housing when you are ready to leave:
ancel your electricity account and any
❒ C
Cleaning
Please ensure the following items are attended
to when cleaning your property:
other connections related
to your property (gas, internet).
rrange through Australia Post for your
❒ A
mail to be forwarded to your new address.
❒ L et Mission Australia Housing know
your new address.
❒ Turn off all lights.
❒ All rubbish to be removed from inside unit or house.
lean skirting boards, windows, walls and doors –
❒ C
particularly around door handles and light switches.
❒ Kitchen cupboards clean inside and out.
ven and stove elements free from grease
❒ O
and food particles.
❒ Range hood to be cleaned and surrounding areas.
❒ Kitchen sinks to be clean.
arks to be removed from walls. Where Mission
❒ M
Australia Housing approved picture hooks have
been placed, do not remove them.
arpets to be cleaned and if necessary steam cleaned.
❒ C
❒ Blinds to be cleaned and dusted.
ll floors, skirting boards and ALL windows, tracks
❒ A
Council pick ups
Many councils offer free
council pick ups to households
in their area.
This can be a really big help
when moving if you want to get
rid of unwanted items. Please
make sure you call the council to
book in a pick up and don’t just
leave your unwanted goods on
the street or in your property.
and sills to be cleaned thoroughly.
athroom cleaned – paying particular attention to the
❒ B
sink, mould, mildew, shower screens/tracks and toilet.
❒ Clean on top of all light shades and ceiling fans.
heck ceilings and corner of walls for cobwebs
❒ C
Contact us
and remove.
arage or carport cleaned including rubbish
❒ G
and oil from garage and driveway.
Mission Australia Housing
Balcony swept and all rubbish removed.
❒
ardens neat and tidy (includes weed removal)
❒ G
580 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000
– this also applies to townhouse courtyards.
1800 269 672
❒ Lawns mowed, edges cut – lawn clippings removed.
❒ No boxes to be left on the property.
❒ P est control to be completed if required as per
missionaustralia.com.au
tenancy agreement – if there was a pet on the premises.
If you require assistance in another language please contact Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) National on 131 450