Know your rights as a tenant
Before deciding to rent a property there are a few rules and regulations that you need to take into consideration. A Residential Tenancy Agreement or ‘lease’ will be drawn up and is the legal contract that both you and your landlord must abide by. A lease should include information such as;
- Location of the property
- Total rent
- Amount of the bond
- Commencement and end date of your tenancy
- The landlords’ name
Lease/tenancy agreements differ between states, so please make sure you have the documentation from your appropriate state.
Never sign a blank form, if you do not understand something, then contact the correct establishments and ask for advice.
Know your responsibilities when renting
When renting, little problems can turn into big problems if you are not aware of who is responsible for taking care of the issues that may arise.
As a tenant you are obliged to do the following:
- Keep the property clean
- Not cause damage to the premises
- Inform the landlord ASAP if any damage is done
- Ask for the landlords permission to install fixtures or make alterations, renovations etc
- Avoid causing a nuisance to the landlord or neighbours
- Do not initiate or participate in any illegal activities on the property
The landlord is obliged to:
- Keep the premises in good repair
- Ensure the security of the property by making sure all doors have locks and windows are secure
- Immediately provide the tenant with a key after changing any locks
- Avoid disturbing the tenant unnecessarily
Once you have signed a lease / tenancy agreement and paid a bond you should be provided with a Condition Report. This report records the condition of the property. Check this report carefully and immediately discuss any issues you may have with the landlord.
Photographs are a great way to record the condition of the property when you first move in. Keep these in case the landlord objects about returning your bond at the end of your tenancy.
Tips For Tenant
Tips for tenants – obtaining a property to rent
Understand the laws of renting by reading the NEW TENANT CHECKLIST DFT
Use the internet to your advantage by registering for property alerts.
Make your requirements know to the property management team ( email is good ) and find out what good properties are coming up before they are advertised.
Complete your application form with all information. Always good to attach a reference from your current rental agent.
Brief summary of the process of renting a property and what payments are required.
People interested in renting a property inspect it by appointment with our staff.
They can take an application form at the showing and send it to our office to formally apply. Applicants must inspect the property prior to lodging an application form.
Their application form is checked and verified and then we discuss the application with the property owner.
Once the property owner approves an applicant they are asked to pay a holding deposit of one weeks rent to secure the property for themselves.
A date to sign the lease document and pay the balance of funds due is set.
Upon signing the lease ( in our office ) the tenant will be required to pay to the agent the following;
- Two Weeks Rent
- Bond (4 weeks rent)
- LESS the Holding Deposit Paid
We issue you with a trust account receipt at the time of your payment.
Tenants will receive the lease, condition report and other associated documents and keys for the property upon signing the lease and paying the required funds.
Bond Money – This money is collect by us and sent to the NSW Bond Board on your behalf.
Tips for tenants – Be careful of scams $
We have heard of a scam where some properties have been advertised via the internet at a rent below market value and people have been asked to pay rent in advance of even seeing the property. These payments are usually required via Western Union transfers or other EFT. Please do not pay these people any money, they are trying to steal your money.
Try and deal directly with local Agents who have an office you can visit or if renting from a private owner ensure you can establish that they own the property. Ask them for a current council rates notice.
Tips for Tenants – Just moved in
Insure your contents – furniture, clothes, sports gear, jewellery etc (Fires and floods can happen)
Return your ingoing condition report to us
Pay the rent to ensure its in advance
Tips for Tenants – Leaving
Always give the required notice to leave in writing to the agent and check by telephone that we got it.
Clean the property well before you go.