End-of-lease garden cleanup: what Victorian renters need to do.
You need to leave the garden reasonably clean, not perfect. Here’s what’s usually yours to do, what’s the rental provider’s, and a checklist.
The short answer: in a Victorian rental, the renter keeps the garden reasonably clean. That means regular mowing, light weeding, trimming small shrubs and removing rubbish. Bigger jobs, like major pruning, overhanging branches, retaining walls, edging, fences and drainage, are the rental provider’s (your landlord’s). You can’t be expected to leave it cleaner than you found it, so its condition when you moved in counts.
This is general information, not legal advice. Your rental agreement and condition report matter, and Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV) can help if you can’t agree. Short on time? Our end-of-lease garden cleanups are built for handovers.
What renters are usually responsible for
RDRV lists the simple jobs that keep a property clean and tidy as the renter’s:
Tenants Victoria’s summary of the Consumer Affairs Victoria guidelines says weeding, pruning and mowing fall to the renter unless the rental provider has agreed to do them. It describes a reasonably clean yard as one with mowed lawns and garden beds that are weeded and neat.
“Reasonably clean” isn’t defined in the law. According to Tenants Victoria, it sits somewhere between spotless and very messy, and you can’t be expected to leave the property cleaner than when you moved in.
What the rental provider looks after
According to RDRV, the bigger garden jobs belong to the rental provider:
RDRV’s deputy president puts it simply: if a job needs “a cherry picker, ladder or special tools”, it’s the rental provider’s responsibility. A few stray branches over the driveway, on the other hand, are probably yours.
If you spot one of these problems, report it to your rental provider or agent rather than fixing it yourself. RDRV says renters shouldn’t attempt major repairs.
Prefer to talk? Call or text 0415 386 399. We reply within 12 business hours.
Your end-of-lease garden checklist
Start a week or two before you hand back the keys, so there’s time to get the green waste out.
Use your condition report and photos
Your condition report is your main evidence at the end of a lease. Consumer Affairs Victoria says the rental provider or agent prepares it before you move in. You then have 5 business days to return it with your corrections and comments. It recommends that you date and label photos and attach them to the report.
When the agreement ends, the rental provider or agent must complete the report’s exit section within 10 days. You should be given a reasonable chance to be there.
Compare the garden at the start and the end. RDRV recommends taking photos of the garden at both points. If the backyard was overgrown when you moved in, RDRV says you shouldn’t be expected to clean it up to get your bond back. It also notes that where a rental provider hasn’t done the proper groundwork, such as laying weed matting, expecting a renter to weed constantly is unreasonable.
Consumer Affairs Victoria also says rental providers can’t claim bond for fair wear and tear: deterioration from reasonable use and natural forces.
If you and the rental provider disagree
Talk first. Consumer Affairs Victoria encourages renters and rental providers to try to agree before a bond claim. If you can’t, either of you can apply to Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria or VCAT. RDRV can help you reach an agreement, and VCAT or RDRV can make a binding order.
Timing matters. A rental provider must start a bond claim within 14 days of the rental agreement ending, unless the renter starts one first. Keep your photos and messages together so you can respond quickly.
For property managers and rental providers
A garden reset between tenancies gives the next renter a clear starting point and makes the next condition report simpler. We do rental and workplace cleanups with the photos, access, priorities and waste removal documented up front, so everyone knows what’s included.
For gardens that need regular care during a tenancy, our garden maintenance can cover rentals too, working with an agreed contact, access arrangement and presentation standard. See how often to mow your lawn in Melbourne to plan visits through the year. Big trees are a job for a qualified arborist.
Getting it done before handover
If the move is close and the garden isn’t ready, send us the details:
- Text a few wide photos of the whole garden, your suburb and your handover date to 0415 386 399.
- We reply within 12 business hours with any questions and the next step.
- You get a written quote before any work starts.
We can’t promise a bond outcome, and nobody honestly can. What we can do is leave the garden mown, weeded, trimmed and cleared, with the agreed green waste gone. Our garden cleanups across Melbourne include a presentation cleanup made for inspections and handovers.
From EKO Gardening Solutions. Sources checked on 8 and 9 October 2026.
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A few useful answers.
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Tell us what you have in mind.
Do I have to mow the lawn before I move out?
Usually, yes. Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria lists regular mowing as a renter’s job, and Tenants Victoria’s summary of the Consumer Affairs Victoria guidelines describes a reasonably clean yard as having mowed lawns and neat, weeded beds. Check your rental agreement too.
Who prunes the trees in a Victorian rental?
The rental provider looks after major pruning of large trees and tall shrubs, tree removal and branches over the roof. Renters trim small shrubs and plants. As a rule of thumb, if a job needs special equipment such as a cherry picker, it’s usually the provider’s.
The garden was overgrown when I moved in. Do I have to fix it?
Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria says a renter who moved in with an overgrown garden shouldn’t be expected to clean it up to get their bond back. Your entry condition report and dated photos are your evidence, so find them before you start.
Can a property manager book the cleanup?
Yes. A rental cleanup can be booked by the owner, the property manager or the renter. We document the photos, access, priorities and waste removal up front, then send a written quote.
Sources
- Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria: who maintains gutters, gardens and pools in a rental?
- Tenants Victoria (updated May 2026): Consumer Affairs Victoria guidelines (reasonably clean, fair wear and tear)
- Consumer Affairs Victoria (updated 24 March 2025): condition reports
- Consumer Affairs Victoria (updated 28 June 2026): bond claims and refunds
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