This is the single most argued-about line on a Brisbane exit inspection. Some agents ask for a professional carpet cleaning receipt as a matter of course. Whether they can require one depends on your lease and on the state the carpets are in, not on habit.
The short answer
- If you had pets at the property, your lease almost certainly requires professional carpet cleaning and often pest treatment. That clause is standard and enforceable.
- If you had no pets, you generally have to return the carpets in the same condition as at the start of the tenancy, allowing for fair wear and tear, not in professionally cleaned condition.
- A blanket clause demanding professional cleaning regardless of condition is commonly disputed, and the Residential Tenancies Authority is the body that handles those disputes in Queensland.
- Stains, odours and marks beyond normal wear are a different matter, those are your responsibility whether or not the clause exists.
Read your entry condition report first
The entry condition report is the baseline for every argument about carpets. If the report noted existing marks or worn traffic lanes when you moved in, you are not liable for them at exit. If you never filled the report in, you have very little to argue with, which is why it matters so much at the start of a tenancy.
What a bond clean covers, and what it doesn't
| Task | Included in our bond clean | Separate service |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuum all carpets, including edges and under-door strips | Yes | — |
| Spot treat small marks on carpet | Yes | — |
| Hot water extraction / steam cleaning | No | Specialist carpet cleaner |
| Hard floors vacuumed and mopped | Yes | — |
| Flea or pest treatment after pets | No | Licensed pest controller |
We keep carpet steam cleaning out of our bond clean price on purpose. Bundling it in would mean charging every tenant for something only some of them need.
What it costs in Brisbane
Professional carpet steam cleaning in Brisbane is usually quoted per room, with most three-bedroom homes landing somewhere in the low hundreds. Get the quote in writing and keep the receipt, because the receipt is what the agent actually wants to see at handover.
How to avoid paying twice
- Book the carpet clean after the bond clean, not before, so foot traffic during the clean doesn't undo it.
- Have the property empty for both. Cleaning around furniture leaves visible lines that read as a failed clean.
- Send your agent the carpet receipt with the exit photos in one email, so there is a single, dated record of the handover condition.
Frequently asked
Can my agent force me to steam clean the carpets?
If you kept pets, yes, that clause is standard in Queensland leases. Without pets, the usual obligation is to return the carpets in their original condition allowing for fair wear and tear. If you disagree with a deduction, the Residential Tenancies Authority handles bond disputes.
Do you steam clean carpets as part of a bond clean?
No. We vacuum thoroughly and spot treat marks, but hot water extraction is a specialist service with different equipment. We'd rather tell you that up front than include it in a headline price everyone pays.
Should the carpet clean happen before or after the bond clean?
After. If carpets are steam cleaned first, the exit clean walks over them again and the finish is compromised.