ACT Condition Report Compliance Guide
Everything property managers need to know about condition report requirements in Australian Capital Territory. Updated for 2025 reforms.
ACT condition reports: the short answer
The landlord must give the tenant two copies of the condition report within one day of moving in. Check the report, record disagreements and follow the return process in the ACT Government guidance.
Source: ACT Government — condition report guidance. Summary checked .
Example of a useful condition note
Instead of “wall damaged”, write “Bedroom 1, wall beside the door: two paint chips, approximately 10 mm each; shown in photos 3 and 4.” Record what you observed, where it is and the matching photo references. Mark an item “not tested” if you did not test it. This is an illustrative example, not an inspection finding.
ConditionHQ helps organise your observations. Check the authority’s current form and instructions for your tenancy; a checklist or software export does not by itself establish legal compliance.
ACT Requirements at a Glance
Entry Condition Report
Required at the start; check the official guidance above
Exit Condition Report
Legally required at the end of every tenancy
Bond Condition
Required regardless of whether a bond is paid
Photos Required
Photos not legally required, but strongly recommended for evidence
Standard Prescribed Form
Yes — must use the prescribed Condition of Premises Report
Key Details
Recent Reforms (2025)
5 Common Compliance Mistakes in ACT
Not realising the ACT requires an exit condition report too — Section 30A mandates a joint final inspection
Skipping the joint end-of-tenancy inspection with the tenant, or not giving them a reasonable opportunity to attend
Using a non-standard form when the prescribed form should be used
Missing documentation of energy efficiency features
Not including meter readings in the report
Frequently Asked Questions — ACT Compliance
Is a condition report mandatory in ACT?
Yes — both entry and exit. The entry report is required at the start of the tenancy, and Section 30A of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (ACT) requires a joint final inspection and signed exit condition report at the end of the tenancy.
Does the ACT require an exit condition report?
Yes. Section 30A requires the lessor and tenant to carry out a joint inspection at the end of the tenancy and complete and sign an exit condition report based on it. A party may sign in the other's absence only if the other had a reasonable opportunity to attend.
Who completes the exit condition report in ACT?
It is a joint document. The lessor (or managing agent) carries out the end-of-tenancy inspection together with the tenant, and both sign the resulting report. The exit report, compared against the entry report, is the essential evidence for any bond claim at ACAT.
How quickly are ACT bond refunds processed?
The ACT has the fastest bond processing in Australia — refunds are processed within 48 hours when both parties agree on the claim.
What form should be used in ACT?
The ACT Revenue Office provides a standard Condition of Premises Report that should be used.
Related Resources
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