A Tenant's Guide to Moving House in Perth Over the Holidays
A Tenant's Guide to Moving House in Perth Over the Holidays
Moving out over the Christmas period comes with a tighter timeline than most tenants realise, especially since WA's bond release process changed earlier this year.
The Bond Process Has Changed
Since March 2026, any party — tenant, landlord, or managing agent — can start the bond release process once the final inspection and condition report are complete. If everyone agrees on the split, it moves quickly. If there's a dispute, it now goes to the Commissioner for Consumer Protection rather than the Magistrates Court, and there's no back-and-forth once it's referred — whatever evidence is submitted is what the decision is based on.
Why That Matters More Over the Holidays
A tenant can now lodge a bond claim the moment the tenancy ends, which means if you're moving out in mid-December, the clock can start before your landlord or agent is even back from their own break. Being organised on your end matters more than ever, because the process isn't waiting for a convenient time.
What to Have Ready Before You Hand Back Keys
Your original entry condition report, photos from move-in if you have them, and photos of the property's condition at move-out, taken the same day, before you hand back keys. If there's any disagreement about wear and tear versus damage, this is the evidence that decides it, and there's no second submission once a dispute is escalated.
Timing Your Move
If you have any flexibility on your move-out date, avoid the very last week of December. Trades needed for end-of-lease repairs are harder to book, property managers are running reduced hours, and a bond dispute lodged in that window may take longer to resolve simply because fewer people are processing them.
What Perth Rental Specialists Suggest
Document everything, on the day, with photos. Don't assume your agent will "sort it out later" because under the new process, later may not be an option.
Moving out of a PRS-managed property? If your condition report and photos are already on file, then ask us for a copy before your final inspection.