End of Lease Cleaning Melbourne CBD Apartments: Checklist, Cost and Building Rules

An end of lease clean for a Melbourne CBD apartment is a full top-to-bottom clean of a compact space, with extra attention on the kitchen, bathroom, window tracks and balcony doors, finished to the standard on your entry condition report. Most CBD, Docklands and Southbank rentals are apartments, so the job is smaller than a house but the inspection is just as strict. This guide covers what to clean, what drives the cost, and the building rules to sort out before the day.

What agents look at in a CBD apartment

Agents compare the apartment against the condition report you signed when you moved in. In a small apartment every surface is visible, so marks and grime stand out. The areas that most often get flagged are:

• The oven, cooktop and rangehood. Grease on racks, door glass and the rangehood filter is the most common complaint.
• Bathrooms. Soap scum on shower screens, grout discolouration, limescale on tapware and mould in corners.
• Window and balcony door tracks. Dust and dead insects collect in sliding tracks.
• Floors. Vacuum and mop hard floors, and check carpet for stains and marks.
• Walls and doors. Scuffs near light switches, door frames and skirting boards.
• Built-in storage. Wardrobes, the laundry cupboard and kitchen cupboards wiped inside.

For the full room-by-room list, see our end of lease cleaning checklist.

Apartment end of lease checklist

Kitchen

1. Wipe benches, splashback and sink, and polish the tap.
2. Clean the oven inside and out, including racks, trays and door glass.
3. Degrease the cooktop and rangehood, and wash or replace a dirty filter if your lease allows.
4. Empty and wipe the fridge, and leave it switched on unless told otherwise.
5. Wipe cupboards and drawers inside and out.
6. Clean the dishwasher filter and seals if there is one.

Bathroom and laundry

1. Scrub shower screen, tiles, grout and tracks.
2. Clean the bath or shower base, vanity, mirror and toilet.
3. Remove limescale from tapware and drains.
4. Clean the exhaust fan cover.
5. Wipe the laundry cupboard, tub and any built-in shelving.

Living areas and bedrooms

1. Dust ceiling fans, light fittings, vents and air conditioner covers.
2. Wipe skirting boards, doors, door frames and light switches.
3. Spot-clean marks from walls.
4. Vacuum and mop floors, including under furniture you are able to move.
5. Wipe wardrobes inside, including tracks and shelves.

Windows and balcony

1. Clean the inside of accessible windows and glass.
2. Clean window sills and sliding door tracks.
3. Sweep and wash the balcony floor and glass balustrade where accessible.

Carpets and flooring

Many Victorian leases ask for carpets to be professionally steam cleaned if they were clean at the start of the tenancy, and agents often want to see a receipt. Read your lease and your entry condition report to see what applies to you. Carpet steam cleaning is available from Uday Cleaning as an add-on from $80 for one bedroom, and it can be done on the same visit as the clean. See our carpet cleaning service for more.

What affects the price

We do not publish a flat price for CBD apartments, because the job depends on the unit. These are the factors that move the quote:

• Size of the apartment: studio, one, two or three bedrooms.
• Number of bathrooms and whether there is a separate laundry.
• Condition: a unit lived in for years with a heavily used oven needs more time than a lightly used one.
• Add-ons: carpet steam cleaning, balcony cleaning, wall washing and blind cleaning.
• Timing: urgent same-day jobs depend on availability.
• Access: time lost waiting for lift or loading dock access can affect the booking.

The quickest way to get a number is to use our free quote form with the apartment size, any add-ons and your inspection date. Our end of lease cleaning service page has more on what is included, and our CBD end of lease page covers how we service the city.

Building rules to check before the clean

High-rise buildings often have rules that a house does not. Ask your building manager or owners corporation about:

• Lift or loading dock bookings for equipment or cleaning supplies.
• Permitted working hours for cleaners and tradespeople. Some buildings restrict noise and access at certain times.
• Key, fob or access card handover. Who collects them and where they are returned.
• Parking and unloading. Where a cleaner can park for the duration of the clean.
• Waste and recycling rules for removing rubbish.
• Move-out requirements. Some buildings require move-out bookings and bond arrangements of their own, separate from your lease.

Tell your cleaner the access rules when you request a quote. It avoids delays on the day.

Timing your clean

The best time for the clean is after your belongings are out and before the inspection. Cleaning around furniture means missed spots, and cleaning too early means dust settles again. We recommend booking at least 48 hours before the final inspection so there is room for a re-clean if the agent raises anything. If you have an urgent deadline, call us on 0420 203 336 for same-day availability.

DIY or professional?

A first-time DIY clean of an oven, bathroom grout and window tracks can take many hours and still miss spots. If you are short on time, a professional clean with a bond-back guarantee gives you a safety net: if the agent is not satisfied, we return and re-clean the specified areas at no charge. For more on weighing the options, read bond cleaning vs DIY in Victoria.

Further reading

• Consumer Affairs Victoria: renting
• Residential Tenancies Bond Authority
• How to prepare for your end of lease inspection

Last updated 28 October 2026. Prices and availability can change, so always confirm in a written quote.