Mattress & Fridge Removal for Sydney Landlords and Property Managers
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If you manage property in Sydney, two items turn up abandoned more than anything else: a mattress and a fridge. They're heavy, they're bulky, they can't go in a bin, and they're sitting in a property you need re-let this week. Here's how to deal with them quickly — and what the rules actually say before you throw anything out.
Don't skip the abandoned goods rules
This is the part that creates liability, so it's worth getting right. In NSW, goods a former tenant leaves behind are not automatically yours to dispose of. Residential tenancy law sets out how abandoned goods must be handled, and the obligations differ depending on what the goods are and what they're worth.
Broadly, perishable food and items of no value can be disposed of immediately. Goods with some value generally require notice to the former tenant and a holding period before disposal, and in some cases proceeds have to be accounted for. Personal documents have their own rules.
The practical implication: document everything before it leaves the property. Photograph each item where it sits, date the photos, and keep them on file with the tenancy record. If a dispute lands at NCAT months later, that photo set is what protects you.
None of this is legal advice — if you're unsure about a specific item's value or the notice period, check with Fair Trading or your principal. But the documentation habit costs nothing and solves most arguments before they start.
Why mattresses and fridges specifically
It's not random. Both are items where the cost of moving them exceeds their value to the departing tenant.
A mattress bought online for $400 three years ago is worth nothing second-hand, won't fit in a hatchback, and needs two people to carry. A fridge is worse — heavier, more awkward, and the new place often already has one. So they get left, and they become your problem.
Furnished and share-house properties see it constantly. So do properties near universities and hospitals, where leases turn over on a predictable annual cycle.
What it costs to clear
Fixed, so you can quote it into a make-good or deduct it against bond with a clear figure:
- Mattress: $80 flat, any size, any condition — including soiled, stained or damaged
- Fridge or freezer: $80 for a small–medium unit, $150 for a large one, degassed and recycled
- Electronics left behind — old TVs are the common one, from $80 ($150 for a large TV); computers and other e-waste $80 flat per load
No call-out fee and no change on the day, which matters when you're passing the cost through and need a defensible number.
Making it work around inspections
A few things that make turnover faster:
- You don't need to be there, provided items are outside at the agreed kerbside collection point before pickup. Arrange safe placement there in advance and send the collection details.
- For vacant properties, arrange for mattresses and fridges to be outside at the kerbside before pickup; indoor carrying is not included.
- Book multiple properties in one run if you've got several turning over the same week — it's usually the same day and it's one invoice.
- For mattresses and fridges, collection is kerbside only. Arrange suitable help to move them safely outside before pickup; indoor collection and stair carrying are not included.
- For strata blocks, arrange any service lift or building access needed to have items safely moved outside to the kerbside before pickup.
Why not just use the council collection?
You can, but it's usually the wrong tool for a tenancy turnover. Council bulky collections are booked for a date that may be weeks away, capped per year per property, and require the item to sit on the nature strip until pickup day — which looks terrible during open inspections and, in a strata block, is often prohibited outright by the owners corporation.
There's also the annual limit problem. Burn a property's council allocation on one tenancy and you've got nothing left for the next.
What we don't take
Worth being direct so you don't book the wrong service. We collect mattresses, sofas and lounges, appliances (fridges, freezers, washing machines and TVs), e-waste and cars. We don't take other furniture, dryers, dishwashers, ovens, air conditioners, or general household items. If a departing tenant has left a full house of mixed goods, you'll need a general operator for the rest and us for these.
Commercial and portfolio arrangements
If you manage a rent roll, student accommodation, serviced apartments, aged care or a hotel, we can set up an ongoing arrangement with agreed pricing and consolidated invoicing rather than booking each job cold. Certificates of recycling are available where you need them for reporting.
Frequently asked questions
Can I deduct removal costs from the bond?
Generally you can claim reasonable costs of removing goods a tenant left behind, provided you've followed the abandoned goods process and can document it. Keep the invoice and the dated photos together.
Do you take mattresses that are stained or soiled?
Yes, any condition, at the same price. It's going to be recycled, not resold.
Can you collect from a vacant property?
Yes, provided the items are outside at the agreed kerbside collection point before pickup. Arrange safe placement there in advance — nobody needs to be present.
How fast can you get there?
Usually within 24–48 hours, and often same-day if you book early. Monday to Friday, 6:00am – 4:00pm.
Book a turnover pickup
Fixed prices, no attendance needed, and an invoice you can pass through cleanly.