Mould is one of the most disputed issues at Perth exit inspections. Tenants often assume it's a building problem — property managers often disagree. Here's how to handle it before your bond inspection so you're not left out of pocket.
Is Mould Your Responsibility as a Tenant?
It depends on the cause. In Western Australia, mould caused by inadequate ventilation — for example, not using the exhaust fan during showers or leaving wet towels in the bathroom — is generally the tenant's responsibility. Mould caused by a structural defect (a leaking roof, rising damp, or inadequate waterproofing) is the landlord's responsibility.
In practice, most bathroom mould in Perth rentals is caused by condensation and poor ventilation — which falls on the tenant. Property managers will check for it, and "it was already there" is very hard to prove without photo evidence from the ingoing condition report.
Where Mould Is Most Commonly Found
- Shower grout and silicone — the most common location
- Bathroom ceiling, especially around the exhaust fan
- Window tracks and sills in poorly ventilated rooms
- Laundry walls near the washing machine
- Behind furniture in poorly ventilated bedrooms
How to Treat Mould Before Your Exit Inspection
For surface mould on tiles and grout, a bleach-based mould spray left to dwell for 10–15 minutes then scrubbed with a stiff brush is effective. For grout that has deep mould staining, a commercial tile and grout cleaner or a diluted bleach solution applied repeatedly over a few days can improve the colour significantly.
For black mould on silicone sealant, surface treatment usually isn't enough — the silicone often needs to be removed and reapplied. This is something a professional bond cleaner can assess and arrange.
What Professional Bond Cleaners Do Differently
Our cleaners use commercial-grade mould treatment products not available in supermarkets, and have the equipment and technique to treat grout lines properly. Where mould is significant, we'll flag it before the clean so there are no surprises on inspection day.
Document Everything
If you believe mould was present at the start of your tenancy and wasn't documented in the ingoing condition report, take photos with a date stamp and raise it in writing with your property manager before the exit inspection. This creates a paper trail if there's a dispute.
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