Renting Tips

Today’s rental climate means that there is a high demand for rental properties; however there is also an increasing shortage of available properties.
This means if you’re looking to rent you need to be diligent in filling out your application, provide as much information as possible with your application and you may need to sign a long term lease if your application is accepted.

Quality tenants are snapped up by investors, both in the private and managed rental sectors. References are a great tool in providing character and professional profiles, as well as rental history from previous landlords or Property Managers.

Here are a few of the things that you should consider when looking for a property to rent:

   - Is the property suitable for your needs?
   - Do you have pets or small children that require fenced yards?
   - Do you need to be close to public transport?
   - Are you readily available to inspect or move into a property?
   - Have you provided as much information as possible with your application for
     the Landlord’s consideration?
   - Do you have current references for the Landlord’s consideration?

Tenants Obligations

It is extremely important that tenants understand their obligations in relation to a rental property. By not fulfilling their obligations it is possible that tenants may lose their bond.

A tenant must:

Image pointer Pay the rent on time.
Image pointer Ensure the property is used for residential purposes for the majority of the time.
Image pointer Keep the property up to a reasonable standard of cleanliness.
Image pointer Inform the landlord of any damage as soon as possible.
Image pointer Pay for the repair of any deliberate or careless damage caused by the tenant.
Image pointer Comply with all conditions in the Tenancy Agreement.
Image pointer At the end of the tenancy remove their belongings; leave the property in a reasonable state of cleanliness; return keys or any like devices; and leave the chattels provided by the landlord.
Image pointer  Allow the landlord reasonable access to the property.
Image pointer Pay for all electricity, gas and telephone used by the tenant.
Image pointer The tenant may also be required to cover the cost of water depending on whether it is provided for in the Tenancy Agreement. A tenant is responsible for water charges if the:
  - house or flat has a separate water meter, and
- tenant’s written tenancy agreement states that, at the start of the tenancy, the tenant will pay for metered water provided to the tenancy, and water supplier charges for water provided to the premises on a metered basis.
(from Department of Building and Housing)

A tenant must not:

Image pointer Damage or allow others to damage the property, whether deliberately or carelessly.
Image pointer Use or allow others to use the property for any unlawful activities.
Image pointer Interfere with the neighbours peace, or comfort.
Image pointer Make any alteration to the property in any way without the landlords express permission.
Image pointer Refuse the landlord entry when they are entitled to enter.
Image pointer Sublet without the express permission of the landlord.

Letting Fee

Property Link Groups Ltd are pleased to provide a letting service to tenants.

Our service means we source suitable properties to let, understand your rental needs, explain your rights and responsibilities as tenants, provide lists of current "to lets", complete tenancy paperwork, represent your application to the Landlord, collect and distribute bonds and initial rent payments as required by the Landlord.

Our letting fee for this service is equivalent to one week's rental PLUS GST.
e.g. Rental property of $200 weekly rental, our letting fee is $200 PLUS GST of $25 = $225 in total.
Rental property of $350 weekly rental, our letting fee is $350 PLUS GST of $43.75 = $393.75 in total.

Property Link Groups Ltd whilst striving to provide you the best letting service available, cannot guarantee your application will be accepted by any Landlord and therefore the fee is only charged for successful tenancies.

Whenever you ask us to put forward your application as a tenant and we tell you that the Landlord has approved you to take up the tenancy then our letting fee is immediately payable, along with all other required initial bond and rent payments, before the tenancy can be considered granted.

Should there be any delay by you in making all required payments to us by the date and time notified to you, then we reserve the right to offer on behalf of the Landlord, the tenancy to another applicant. In any such circumstance you are not liable for the original letting fee and we are not responsible for any of your incidental expenses or losses incurred through cancellation of the transaction.

 

You can find a lot of information about renting on the Department of Building and Housing's website