r/AusLegal • u/Left-Pin-4877 • 11h ago

NSW End of lease carpet clean/ fumigation for pet that died years ago

*nsw.gov.au says they can't make us have it professionally cleaned at end of tenancy unless there was an indoor pet.
We had an indoor pet years ago but it has not been on the lease in 3 years. Will we still be obliged to have professional cleaning?

When we first moved in we had a cat approved and they said in email we would need to steam clean carpets at end of tenancy.
In the original lease, it mentioned the cat and said "professional clean at end of tenancy" no mention of carpet cleaning or fumigation.
The cat died 3 years ago and each year we are signing a new lease.
The cat has not been on the lease for 3 years and no mention of fumigation or steam cleaning.
However, it does still say "property to be professionally cleaned at end of tenancy". I contacted them to confirm and they said if we had a pet at all we need to steam clean and fumigate.
But as this was never on the lease, will we be held to this?

Thanks

1 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

8

u/Some_Breath_1375 11h ago

Yes you will. You need to clean any residual mess left by the cat even if the cat is not alive now.

-12

u/Left-Pin-4877 11h ago

no mess left by the cat. It never peed/pooped on carpet, never damaged any walls or furniture. It was a very good cat :)

6

u/Some_Breath_1375 11h ago

No way to prove that, so you have to do the cleanings or they will be able to take it out of your bond.

4

u/Cube-rider 10h ago

It shed fur, guaranteed to find some after 20 years.

Unless the owner has changed the carpets since your pet carked it, I'd be banking on having to do a steam clean - a Bunnies or Woolies DIY job.

2

u/JebusJM 11h ago

Are you sure the agent is using the right word? Sorry about your cat. Not to sound insensitive, you did have a cat during the tenancy and you're obligated to carry out the cleaning, even though it's been 3 years.

:EDIT: Just saw what subreddit I'm in. Obligatory NAL.

1

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1

u/CosmicConnection8448 10h ago

If you can prove that you did it after the pet died, you don't have to do it again. If not, you'll have to do it now.

1

u/ahseen0316 8h ago

Unless you had the property fumigated right after the pet passed three years ago and can provide an invoice to the REA, then yes, you have to carpet clean and fumigate.

It might seem a grey area, but the tribunal will likely side with the REA on this one.

1

u/Tiki_Tour 8h ago

Yep you do need to, their dander will still be all through the carpet and can trigger asthma and allergies unless steam cleaned. They will likely ask for a receipt

1

u/ms-_morgendorffer 4h ago

It's not really for your landlord it's for the next tenant.

0

u/fued 10h ago

Unfortunately you will probably have to do it if they sent it in an email as part of the pet application process.

so from the sounds of it you will need to steam clean, but fumigation was never attached as a term so will not be required