Guide to Renting

Information for Tenants
 
Emergencies & After Hours
In the event of an emergency please refer to the emergency contact numbers on your lease agreement or refer to the numbers on our website.  Also contact your property manager on the mobile number.
Utilities
It is your responsibility to have all the services at the property connected and placed in your name.
Contact numbers the main utility companies are:

Energy Australia (Electricity)
T: 131 535
AGL (Gas)
T: 131 245
Telstra (Telephone)
T: 132 200

Rental Payments
Your rent must be paid in advance at all times.
If at any time you are unable to make a rental payment in full and/or on time, please make immediate contact with your Property Manager.

Please note that if you are sharing the property with another person (whose name is on the Tenancy Agreement), you are both equally liable for paying the rent.
All rental payments must be made by either direct deposit or through the DEFT System www.deft.com.au  Unfortunately, we cannot accept cash or personal cheques.

Property Condition Report
Two copies of the Property Condition Report are provided to you. This report is very important as it outlines the condition of the property at the commencement of your tenancy.

When you have vacated the property the condition at that time is compared to the condition at commencement and any variation (fair wear and tear excepted) will be your responsibility to reinstate.

Please review the Property Condition Report thoroughly making any additional comments you feel are necessary to accurately establish the condition of the property. It is in your best interests to ensure that it is a comprehensive and accurate description of the property’s current condition.

When you have completed the Report, please sign each page and return it within the first 7 days of your tenancy, retaining a copy for your records.

If a signed copy is not returned to this agency within 7 days and a dispute arises at the end of your tenancy, the condition of the property will most likely be assessed as that indicated on the Report completed by this office.

Rental Bond
Your Rental Bond will be lodged with the NSW Office of Fair Trading and is held as security against any unpaid rent or damage to the property. Upon lodgement you will receive written confirmation from the Department of Fair Trading providing you with a Rental Bond Registration Number.

Your Rental Bond will be refunded to you soon after you vacate the property, provided all rent has been paid and no monies owing for cleaning or repairs.

Repairs and Maintenance
All requests for repairs and maintenance must be reported via our website or in writing.  Wherever possible please supply photos as proof of the problem.

In the event of an urgent repair required outside office hours, and your Property Manager is un-contactable, arrangement for repairs can be made directly with the trades people listed on your Residential Tenancy Agreement. Emergency contact numbers are also listed on the website.

Your Property Manager will attend to all non urgent repairs within 2 business days; however in many instances it will be necessary to obtain the owner’s approval before any work can commence.

Routine Inspections
During the course of your tenancy, your Property Manager will inspect your property periodically, after you have been given 7 days notice. This will include an inspection 6 months after your tenancy commences and then every 6 months.

We will contact you in advance to arrange a mutually convenient time during business hours. The purpose of these inspections is to advise the owner of the condition of the property, how it is being maintained by you, and to allow you to advise us of any repairs or maintenance you feel are needed.

Keys
Our office retains a duplicate key to all properties for emergency access.

Unfortunately, locks can only be changed, added to or altered after you have obtained permission from your Property Manager, and you would then need to supply us with any new keys.

Insurance
Unfortunately, the owner’s insurance cover on the property does not extend to cover your belongings. On this basis, we strongly suggest that you take out comprehensive contents insurance to cover your belongings against fire, theft and other perils.

In the event that you, another occupier, or visitor accidentally damages the property and rectification work is required, you may be required to pay any excess that may apply to the owner’s insurance cover.

Sub-Leasing
Your Tenancy Agreement states the maximum permissible number of people who can occupy the property. If there is any change, in either the original occupants or any additional occupants move into the property, please notify your Property Manager immediately.

The owner’s consent is required should you wish to sub-lease the property.

Visitors and Guests
All tenants named on the Tenancy Agreement are equally responsible for the behaviour of their guests (including any children) while on the property.
Termination of the Tenancy Agreement
If you would like to advise us of your intention to vacate the property, you may use one of our “Vacating Notice” forms. These can be found in the “Tenant Forms” section of this website.

Please read below for important information relating to terminating your Tenancy Agreement.

Your Tenancy Agreement is a legal contract providing protection for both you and the owner. You can terminate this agreement in one of the following ways:

  • If you intend to vacate at the end of your Tenancy Agreement you are required to give 14 days written notice to us, prior to the expiry of your agreement.
  • Once the fixed term of your Tenancy Agreement has expired you must give us at least 21 days written notice in advance.
Breaking the Tenancy Agreement Early
If any unforeseen circumstances arise and you have to vacate the property prior to the expiration of your Tenancy Agreement, please contact your Property Manager immediately.

Breaking a fixed-term agreements signed from 23 March 2020

If this occurs, you will be responsible for the following:
  • four weeks rent if less than 25 per cent of the agreement has expired
  • three weeks rent if 25 per cent or more but less than 50 per cent of the agreement has expired
  • two weeks rent if 50 per cent of more but less than 75 per cent of the agreement has expired
  • one weeks rent if 75 per cent or more of the agreement has expired.
A Vacate notice may be sent to us using any of the following methods:

Further tenant information can be found on the NSW Office of Fair Trading website http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/.