Information for Residential Tenants
Rental Applications
We are happy to receive applications by fax or email if you can not call in to our office. We will endeavour to have a decision regarding each application within three working days, sooner if you are the approved applicant.
Please provide photocopies of items requested at the top of the application but we don’t need a book, just the few items listed. Please remember you are in competition with other applicants so a good rent ledger and savings accounts will really help.
Maintenance Repairs
All repairs are reported to the owner of the property. In some cases they will want to do the repair themselves, however for most repairs we will have a tradesman contact you the next working day to book an appointment to do the repair. If you have not heard within 3 working days, phone the office as there may be an issue that needs to be followed up.
Please let us know if it is an urgent repair ie. No power to fridge, sparking power points, no water, leaking running water or a running toilet.
Most other repairs are considered non-urgent. All repairs should be booked in to be done Monday – Friday, if you wish for times on the weekend or after 4:30pm then you may need to pay for the penalty rates of the tradesman. This will need to be discussed with your Property Manager.
Routine Inspections
As our Property Managers work Monday – Friday we will need to book your inspections during the tenancy on a week day. You will not be required to be there in person, a friend or family member could attend to show us through.
Remember this is always a good time to go over any minor repairs and to discuss your payment history as your manager will bring a copy of your rental ledger.
Arrears + Water Usage
No one likes arrears - including tenants as they will be visible on your rental ledger and may affect your next rental property or home loan application. We highly recommend that you are always a full week in advance. e.g. if you pay fortnightly, please pay again on your second week of occupancy so that going foward all payments are being made one week in advance. This would apply even if you pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
If you do run into trouble ring your Property Manager immediately as they will be more able to explain any issues to the owner.
It should not be the Property Manager's responsibility to send frequent reminders that the rent is in arrears. It is the tenant's responsibility to advise the Property Manager if they can not make their normal payment or catch up a payment/s.
We will endeavour to be environmentally conscious and send a SMS when necessary. This includes water usage accounts. The SMS for water usage will include the reading, which you can check on the water meter in the front yard where most are located, as well as the usage in kilolitres for that quarter, the amount that is due and the payment deadline (which is 21 days from the issue date).
Example: 50kl – 2475kl – 20/11 – 20/03
$62.50 – Due by 10/04
Please remember to pay ASAP; if water remains unpaid for a further 14 days this may result in your Property Manager having to issue a termination notice.
We realise that it is easy for tenants to change their mobile number and forget to tell us, so we recommend writing on your calendar every 3 months that a water bill should be due, that way if you have changed your number or dropped your phone in the river it would not be a drama as the bill will not become over due.
Rent Increases
Rent is adjusted from time to time based on the market conditions and we will forward a letter giving you 60 days notice of any changes being made. We will also include a rent pay form, if you are unable to change your payment amount over the internet you can always drop the form into the office and we will update your direct debit on your behalf.
Vacating Inspections
When you decide it is time to move we always recommend you have a chat with your Property Manager to discuss what the best way to get everything organised.
The first stop is to lodge your 21 days notice to vacate in writing. If you are doing this by fax or email, please ring to confirm receipt.
We will forward a confirmation letter which will include a copy of your original condition report just in case you are unable to find your copy. It is always recommended that you have the home as clean and tidy as possible so there is no need for this to be a sticking point with us returning your bond.
