At the end of a tenancy in Queensland, the property is compared against the entry condition report, and tenants are generally expected to leave it in the same condition as when they moved in, apart from fair wear and tear. The yard is one of the most common areas of dispute, because gardens change so much over a lease.
This checklist covers the outside of the property. Check your tenancy agreement too, because special terms often spell out who's responsible for mowing, gardens and pools.
Start with the entry condition report
Find your copy of the entry condition report and any photos taken when you moved in. They show what the lawn, gardens, hedges and paths looked like at the start. The goal is to match that, not to make the yard better than it was.
If the tenancy started in winter and ends in summer, the lawn and gardens will naturally have grown. The inspection should look at whether they've been reasonably maintained, not whether they look identical.
The lawn
- Mow the lawn two to three days before the inspection, so it looks fresh but not scalped
- Edge along paths, driveways and garden beds
- Whipper-snip fence lines, clotheslines and around the letterbox
- Mow and edge the nature strip if it was part of the tenancy
- Treat obvious weeds if you have time. Weeds that weren't there at the start are a common complaint
- Rake up clippings and blow paths and driveways clean
Gardens and hedges
- Weed all garden beds, including along fences and against the house
- Trim hedges and shrubs back to roughly the size shown in the entry photos
- Cut back growth over paths, windows, driveways and the neighbour's fence
- Remove dead plants only if they weren't dead at the start. Ask the property manager if unsure
- Rake leaves from lawns, garden beds and courtyards
Rubbish, green waste and the extras
- Remove all green waste piles, including anything down the side of the house
- Take away pot plants, garden ornaments and anything else you brought
- Clear leaves from gutters you can reach safely, if the agreement makes you responsible for them
- Sweep or blow down patios, paths and the driveway
- Check the pool area if there is one. Pool care is usually covered by special terms in the agreement
- Remove oil stains and marks on the driveway if they weren't there at the start
Timing it right
In the warmer months, a lawn can grow a lot in a week, so don't mow too early. Two to three days before the inspection is ideal. If you're booking someone to do it, book at least a week ahead in spring and summer, when everyone else is booking too.
Take dated photos of the yard when the work is done. If there's a dispute later, they're your best evidence.
Who's responsible for what?
In general, tenants in Queensland are responsible for keeping the yard reasonably clean and tidy, including mowing and weeding when that's part of the agreement. Bigger jobs like tree lopping, major pruning and fixing problems that were there at the start usually sit with the owner. Where the property is managed, the property manager can confirm what applies to your tenancy.
Landlords and property managers can avoid a lot of these disputes by arranging regular grounds maintenance during the tenancy, especially for properties where tenants don't have access to a mower.
Questions we get asked
Do I have to mow the lawn before I move out of a rental in Queensland?
If the tenancy agreement makes you responsible for the lawn, it should be left in a similar condition to the start of the tenancy, allowing for fair wear and tear. Check your agreement and the entry condition report.
Can I be charged if the garden is overgrown at the exit inspection?
If the yard is in worse condition than at the start and it was the tenant's responsibility, the owner may claim the cost of fixing it from the bond. That's why a tidy-up before the inspection is worth it.
Short on time before the inspection?
We do end-of-lease yard clean-ups for tenants, landlords and property managers: mowing, edging, weeding, hedges and green waste, with photos on request.
- Rental Property Maintenance: Lawn, garden and yard upkeep for landlords, property managers and real estate agents, including end-of-lease clean-ups.
- Lawn Mowing: Regular mowing, edging and whipper-snipping for homes and rentals, on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly schedule.
- Green Waste Removal: Yard clean-ups and green waste removal: branches, prunings, palm fronds, leaves and storm debris taken away.