An exit report is the move-out version of the entry condition report. It records the state of the property when you leave, so it can be compared with the entry record. In Queensland, the RTA says the exit condition report is an important part of the vacating and bond refund process and is compared with the entry report, apart from fair wear and tear. NSW Fair Trading, Consumer Affairs Victoria, and WA Consumer Protection also treat the condition report as evidence at the end of a tenancy.
The best time is after cleaning, before key return
Your strongest exit record is made after your belongings are out and after the final clean, because the photos show the condition you are actually handing back. It should also be done before returning keys, because you still have access to re-check a room, capture a missed cupboard, or photograph a meter reading.
If you hand back keys first, you may lose practical control over the evidence. If a new mark appears later, or if an agent photographs the property after trades, inspections, or new access, it can be harder to show what the property looked like when you left.
A practical move-out timeline
- One to two weeks before moving: read the entry condition report, pull up your move-in photos, and list anything that needs cleaning, repair, or a quick conversation with the agent.
- Two to three days before handover: photograph any repairs, agreed changes, garden work, carpet cleaning, pest treatment, or invoices that relate to the property condition.
- Final clean day: remove your belongings, clean, then photograph each room from wide and close angles.
- Key return day: create or finish the exit report, photograph keys and remotes, save meter readings, and send the report or photo set through the channel you normally use with the agent.
- After key return: claim or respond to the bond according to your state process and keep all messages, receipts, and reports together.
State rules affect the deadline
Australian timing is not identical everywhere. In Queensland, the RTA says the tenant completes an exit condition report and submits it to the property manager or owner when returning the keys. If the parties complete the report separately, the property manager or owner sends the completed copy to the tenant within three business days.
In Victoria, Consumer Affairs Victoria says the rental provider or agent must complete the exit condition report section of the original condition report within 10 days after the rental agreement ends, and the renter must be present or have been given a reasonable opportunity to attend. In WA, the landlord must give the tenant a copy of the property condition report within 14 days of moving out. In NSW, the condition report is filled in again at the end of the tenancy, ideally by the landlord or agent and tenant in each other's presence, or after a reasonable opportunity to be present.
Do it even if the agent books a final inspection
An agent's final inspection is not a substitute for your own record. It is useful to attend if you reasonably can, but your own report gives you a copy of what you observed before handover. That matters if the inspection happens later, if the property is accessed by other people, or if there is a disagreement about cleaning or damage.
The exit report should mirror the entry report. If the entry report had living room, kitchen, bedroom 1, bedroom 2, bathroom, laundry, balcony, and garage, use the same room order at exit. That makes comparison easier and keeps the discussion focused on change over time.
Match photos to likely claims
Bond claims often relate to cleaning, damage beyond fair wear and tear, missing items, rent, utilities, or keys. Your exit report should therefore include the cleaned surfaces, appliance interiors, floors, walls, windows, outdoor areas, supplied furniture, keys, remotes, and any agreed inclusions.
If you paid for professional work, keep invoices or receipts with the relevant photos. For example, put carpet cleaning evidence near carpet photos, pest treatment evidence near lease clauses or agent requests, and repair receipts near the repaired item.
Why timing matters for bond disputes
Some states set evidence obligations around bond claims. NSW Fair Trading says that if a landlord or agent makes a bond claim without the tenant's agreement, they must give the tenant the end-of-tenancy condition report and copies of estimates, quotes, invoices, or receipts within seven days of making the claim. Queensland's RTA says a property manager or owner must provide supporting evidence to a tenant or resident when making a bond claim or disputing a refund request, and this must be done within 14 days.
Your own exit report helps you respond with specifics: "This is the bathroom vanity at 9:14 am on key return day", not "I am pretty sure it was clean". That difference can save a lot of stress.
Sources checked
Reviewed 26 June 2026 against official Australian tenancy authority guidance. This article is general information, not legal advice.