Eastern Adelaide
End of Lease Cleaning Unley
Unley rentals are dominated by character villas, Californian bungalows and pre-war cottages on tree-lined streets a short ride from the city. You get matched with independent Adelaide cleaners who know how to scope and price these properties properly, and quote fixed written prices on the exact scope your agent will inspect.
About Unley
What renters face in Unley at vacate time
The City of Unley covers a tight band of inner-south suburbs including Unley, Unley Park, Goodwood, Parkside, Hyde Park, Malvern, Wayville, Forestville, Highgate, Black Forest, Clarence Park, Everard Park, Fullarton, Kings Park and Millswood. The defining housing stock is the Adelaide villa and the Californian bungalow: sandstone-fronted villas with bay windows on Highgate Street, Edwardian bungalows on Park Street and Goodwood Road, and post-war additions and side-extensions throughout. King William Road through Hyde Park, Goodwood Road through Goodwood, and Unley Road are the commercial spines and most of the apartment-style rentals sit on or just behind them.
Tenants are typically young professionals (the inner-south postcodes are extremely well-located for the city and the hospital precinct), couples without children, and a steady population of families in the Unley High and Parkside Primary catchments. Vacate cycles often follow the calendar year for families and a 12-month rolling cycle for unit tenants. Common end-of-tenancy issues here are sash and timber-frame windows that take time to clean properly, the leaded glass on front doors and porches, polished timber floor edges and underlying boards visible at the kerb between rooms, original fireplaces that have been used in winter, and tile grout in the small but original wet areas of un-renovated villas. The mix of villa, bungalow, post-war and small apartment means each Unley quote should be priced on the property, not by the suburb.
Typical housing stock
- Sandstone-fronted Adelaide villas with bay windows around Highgate, Malvern and Unley Park
- Californian bungalows with timber detailing through Goodwood, Hyde Park and Black Forest
- Edwardian and pre-war cottages with original fireplaces in Parkside, Forestville and Wayville
- Post-war additions and rear extensions on otherwise-original villas and bungalows
- Shop-top apartments and townhouses along King William Road, Goodwood Road and Unley Road
Cost
Bond clean cost ranges for Unley (2026)
Real Adelaide 2026 ranges. Unley pricing tracks the same drivers as the rest of metro Adelaide: bedrooms, bathrooms, oven condition and the add-ons you include (carpets, walls, windows, garage).
| Item | Adelaide range |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom unit / apartment | $200 - $350 |
| 2-bedroom unit / apartment | $250 - $400 |
| 3-bedroom house | $350 - $600 |
| 4-bedroom house | $500 - $800 |
| 5+ bedroom / large house | $700 - $1200 |
Unley tenants tend to be young professionals and small families on 12-24 month leases. Agencies servicing the inner south are detailed in their inspections - the housing stock is older and the points-to-check are more numerous than a new-build estate. Property managers focus on original fireplaces (cleaned soot, hearth swept), polished timber floors at room transitions, leaded and stained glass features, sash window tracks, original wet area grout, and the side garden or rear courtyard. Bonds are typically 4 weeks rent (or 6 where rent exceeds $800/week, which is increasingly common in Hyde Park, Unley Park and Malvern).
See the full cost guideServices
End of lease services covered in Unley
Cleaners in our network quote on the full scope or any single add-on. Compare fixed written quotes on a like-for-like scope.
How matching works
3 steps to a fixed written quote in Unley
Step 1
Tell us about the property
Bedrooms, bathrooms, suburb in Unley, vacate date, and any add-ons (carpets, walls, windows, garage). 2 minutes.
Step 2
Get matched with up to 3 independent cleaners
We share your details with independent cleaners servicing Unley. They send fixed written quotes within 24 hours.
Step 3
Compare and book directly
Compare on a like-for-like scope. Book directly with the cleaner you trust. No obligation if no quote suits.
SA bond process
How the SA bond process applies in Unley
Section 69(3) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1995 (SA) requires a tenant to leave the rental in a reasonable state of cleanliness, having regard to fair wear and tear. On a 100-year-old Unley villa, fair wear and tear is significant: original timber, original glass, original tile work and decades-old joinery are not expected to look new. Bonds are lodged with Consumer and Business Services and refunded through Residential Bonds Online within about 5 working days for an undisputed claim. If a claim is disputed, CBS gives the other party 14 days to respond, attempts conciliation, and may refer the matter to SACAT for a binding decision.
This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your situation with Consumer and Business Services (131 882) or a tenancy advice service.
Nearby Adelaide areas
Frequently asked questions
Are Unley villas more expensive to clean than newer properties?
A villa or bungalow takes longer per square metre than a new-build because the detailing is heavier: skirting profiles, picture rails, decorative cornices, original fireplaces, sash windows and stained glass all need careful attention. A 3-bedroom Unley villa often sits at the upper end of the $350-$600 range, while a 3-bedroom new townhouse in the same suburb may sit at the lower end. Get the quote on the property, not the suburb average.
I'm in a Goodwood unit - what's specific to that scope?
Goodwood Road and the surrounding streets have a strong band of 1960s-70s walk-up units (10-20 unit blocks, 1-2 bedrooms). The job usually focuses on a small but original kitchen, a tiled wet area with grout that needs attention, hard floors throughout, and a small balcony or rear bin storage area. Carpets are often only in bedrooms. A 1-2 bedroom Goodwood unit bond clean typically sits in the $200-$400 range with carpets usually being an add-on.
What do Unley agents most often flag at a vacate inspection?
Oven and rangehood (especially older models without self-clean), shower screen and grout, behind the toilet, sash window tracks, the gap between polished timber floors and skirting boards, original fireplaces, ceiling fans, exhaust filters and the laundry cavity. Garden tidying of the small front patch and the side path is also common - keep it within scope, not a landscaping job.
Does the carpet need to be professionally steam cleaned?
Only if the carpet is no longer reasonably clean. A lease term that demands professional carpet cleaning regardless of condition can be inconsistent with the Residential Tenancies Act 1995 (SA) - s 69(3) only requires a reasonable state of cleanliness, not a refurbishment. CBS lists 'all carpets shall be professionally cleaned' as an example of a potentially unenforceable term. Keep receipts and photos either way. This is general information - check with CBS or a tenancy advice service if you want to push back.
What's the right way to get matched in Unley?
Tell us the suburb (Unley, Hyde Park, Goodwood etc.), bedrooms, bathrooms, housing type (villa, bungalow, unit, townhouse), vacate date and any add-ons (carpets, windows, walls, garage). We share with up to 3 independent Adelaide cleaners who service the inner south. They send fixed written quotes within 24 hours. You compare and book directly.
Get matched with cleaners who know Unley
Up to 3 independent Adelaide cleaners. Fixed written quotes within 24 hours. No obligation.