When a tenancy comes to an end there are certain things that should be done to ensure that the landlord has noclaim against the tenant. The tenant and the landlord (or the landlord's agent) should meet at the premises on the last day - or as soon as possible after the tenant's possessions have been removed and the premises have been cleaned - to inspect the premises, using the inspection sheets from the beginning of the tenancy to compare the present state of the premises with the state they were in when the tenancy commenced.

All keys must be returned to the landlord or the landlord may be able to have new locks fitted at the tenant's expense.

When a tenancy ends the security bond can be claimed by completing a bond refund form and lodging it with the Commissioner for Consumer Affairs. If both the tenant and landlord sign the form the bond is paid as agreed. Where an agreement cannot be reached and the tenant or landlord lodges the form the Commissioner will post a notice to the other party giving that person 10 days to dispute the application. If the application is disputed the matter will be decided by the Tribunal. If the application is not disputed within the 10 days the Commissioner will pay the security bond to the applicant [Residential Tenancies Act 1995 s.63].