Moving out of a rental property involves more than packing boxes and returning the keys. One important part of ending a tenancy in Queensland is documenting the condition of the property.
This is where the Entry Condition Report and Exit Condition Report become important.
The Entry Condition Report records the condition of the rental property around the beginning of the tenancy, while the Exit Condition Report records its condition when the tenancy ends. Comparing the two can help identify what has changed during the tenancy and distinguish existing issues from new ones.
If you are preparing to move out, understanding these reports—and checking the property carefully before completing your exit report—can make the handover process much smoother.
What Is an Entry Condition Report in Queensland?
An Entry Condition Report records the general condition of a rental property at the beginning of a tenancy.
In Queensland, the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) provides Form 1a – Entry Condition Report (general tenancies) for this purpose.
The report gives the tenant and property manager/owner a written record of the property’s condition, including areas such as walls, floors, windows, doors, kitchen facilities and bathrooms.
When moving into a property, tenants should check the report carefully rather than assuming every detail is correct. Existing marks, damage or cleanliness issues should be recorded accurately.
Photos or other supporting evidence can also be useful for documenting the property’s condition at the beginning of the tenancy.
What Is an Exit Condition Report?
An Exit Condition Report records the condition of the rental property when the tenancy ends.
For general tenancies in Queensland, this is Form 14a – Exit Condition Report.
The exit report can be compared with the Entry Condition Report to help determine how the property’s condition has changed during the tenancy.
This makes the original entry report particularly valuable. If a mark, scratch or other issue was already documented when you moved in, there is a clearer record showing that it was not necessarily caused during your tenancy.
Entry Condition Report vs Exit Condition Report: What’s the Difference?
Although both reports document property condition, they are completed at different stages of a tenancy.
| Entry Condition Report | Exit Condition Report |
|---|---|
| Relates to the beginning of the tenancy | Relates to the end of the tenancy |
| Records the property’s initial condition | Records the property’s condition when leaving |
| Helps document pre-existing issues | Helps identify changes during the tenancy |
| Can include supporting photos/evidence | Can be supported with updated photos/evidence |
| Provides a baseline for comparison | Can be compared against the entry report |
Think of the Entry Condition Report as your starting record and the Exit Condition Report as your ending record.
The comparison between them is more useful than looking at either report in isolation.
What Should Queensland Tenants Check Before Moving Out?
Before completing the exit process, it is worth inspecting the property systematically rather than trying to remember everything on moving day.
1. Find Your Original Entry Condition Report
Start with the Entry Condition Report you received or completed when you moved in.
Review the comments recorded for each room and area. If you took dated photographs or videos at the beginning of the tenancy, review those as well.
This gives you a useful reference point before assessing the property’s current condition.
2. Compare the Property Room by Room
Walk through the property and compare its current condition with what was recorded at the start of the tenancy.
- walls, doors and skirting boards
- floors and carpets
- windows and tracks
- kitchen surfaces and appliances
- bathroom fixtures
- cupboards and storage areas
- balconies or other relevant outdoor areas
- fixtures and fittings included with the property
A room-by-room approach reduces the chance of overlooking something simply because you are rushing to move out.
3. Look for Cleaning Issues
Cleaning can become particularly noticeable once furniture and personal belongings have been removed.
Dust, marks, grease and debris that were less obvious while the property was occupied may stand out in an empty room.
Pay particular attention to frequently missed areas such as window tracks, cupboard interiors, skirting boards, corners, behind appliances where accessible, bathroom surfaces and kitchen grease.
The Queensland Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) guidance on exit condition reports advises tenants to document the property’s condition and recommends taking photos as supporting evidence. Its guidance also explains that the Exit Condition Report is compared with the Entry Condition Report, with fair wear and tear taken into account.
4. Check for Pre-Existing Damage
Not every scratch, mark or imperfection at the end of a tenancy necessarily occurred during that tenancy.
This is one of the main reasons the original condition report matters.
If an issue was clearly recorded when you moved in, make sure you can identify the relevant entry-report note or supporting evidence rather than relying solely on memory.
5. Take Photos of the Property Before Leaving
Once your belongings have been removed and the property has been cleaned, consider taking clear photographs showing its condition.
Capture each room as well as specific areas that may be relevant to the condition report.
These photographs provide a record of how the property looked around the time you vacated.
What About Fair Wear and Tear?
One area that can cause confusion is the difference between fair wear and tear and damage.
Queensland’s RTA describes fair wear and tear as deterioration that occurs through ordinary use or natural processes such as ageing.
This distinction matters because a rental property will not necessarily look exactly the same after a period of normal occupation as it did on day one.
However, whether a particular issue is fair wear and tear can depend on its circumstances. Tenants should therefore avoid assuming that every mark is automatically fair wear and tear—or that every difference from the entry report is automatically damage.
Accurate reports and supporting evidence can make those discussions clearer.
Common Mistakes to Avoid Before the Exit Condition Report
Moving is hectic, and many problems happen because important checks are left until the last minute.
One common mistake is completing the final inspection entirely from memory instead of referring back to the Entry Condition Report.
Another is focusing only on obvious areas such as floors and benchtops while forgetting less visible places such as window tracks, cupboard interiors, skirting boards or areas previously covered by furniture.
Tenants can also run into difficulties when they have no clear photos of the property’s condition when leaving.
Giving yourself enough time to inspect, clean and document the property can make the process more organised. Our guide to cleaning tasks tenants should complete before vacating can help you work through commonly overlooked areas before handover.
How Does Cleaning Fit Into the Exit Process?
Cleaning and condition reporting are related, but they are not exactly the same thing.
The condition report documents the state of the property. Cleaning is one part of preparing the property before handover.
Ideally, cleaning should be completed before you make your final record of the property’s condition, so your photos and exit documentation reflect how the property actually looked when you were ready to hand it back.
Some tenants handle the cleaning themselves, while others choose professional assistance because of time constraints, the size of the property or the amount of work required.
If you need professional help preparing your rental property for handover, Rental Bond Cleaning Gold Coast provides professional bond cleaning services for Gold Coast tenants preparing to move out.
The purpose of professional cleaning is to help prepare the property thoroughly; it should not be treated as a substitute for accurately completing your condition report or documenting existing issues.
What Should You Do Before Returning the Keys?
Before completing the move, perform one final walkthrough of the property.
Check that your belongings and rubbish have been removed, review the property’s cleanliness, compare its condition with the original entry report and make sure relevant areas have been photographed.
Also ensure that the required tenancy paperwork and key-return process are handled according to the applicable instructions.
Keeping copies of relevant reports and evidence is sensible in case questions arise later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an Entry Condition Report important when moving out?
Yes. It provides a record of the property’s condition around the beginning of the tenancy and can be compared with its condition when you leave.
What is the purpose of an Exit Condition Report in Queensland?
It records the property’s condition at the end of the tenancy. It can then be compared with the Entry Condition Report to identify changes in condition.
Should I take photos before moving out of a rental property?
Photos can provide useful supporting evidence of the property’s condition when you leave. The RTA recommends taking photos when completing the exit condition process.
Should I clean before completing the Exit Condition Report?
It makes sense to complete the necessary cleaning before making your final assessment and photographic record so that the report reflects the property’s condition when it is ready for handover.
Does the property have to look exactly the same as when I moved in?
Normal deterioration can occur through ordinary use and ageing. Queensland tenancy requirements recognise the concept of fair wear and tear, which needs to be distinguished from damage.
Can an Entry Condition Report help with a bond dispute?
An accurate Entry Condition Report, together with other evidence such as photographs, can help establish the property’s condition at the start of the tenancy if a disagreement later arises.
Final Thoughts
The Entry Condition Report and Exit Condition Report serve different purposes, but they are most useful when considered together.
For Queensland tenants, a practical approach is to review the original report, inspect the property room by room, address cleaning issues, document its final condition and retain relevant evidence.
Doing this before returning the keys creates a clearer record of the property’s condition and can help reduce uncertainty during the final handover.