Information for Prospective Tenants
Inspecting a Property
Inspections are normally conducted at set times during the week, Monday to Saturday. If you are going to attend an inspection, we ask that you contact the property manager on 0428 3839 50, 30 minutes prior to the appointed time. We ask that you then meet the property manager at the front of the property. If you are unable to attend at the set times, contact the property manager to see if any alternative times can be arranged.
Applying for a Property
If you choose to rent a property, then you are required to fill in a Tenancy Application. Each person who wishes to reside at the property (other than dependents) is required to complete a separate application.
We have a points system which requires you to provide certain documents so as to establish your identity — e.g. passport, drivers licence, credit cards, etc. Furthermore, we will require proof of income as well as evidence that you have a good tenancy history. This will require you to supply certain documents and/or provide us with the names of people that we can contact.
Normally it takes one working day to process an application but may take longer if the information supplied is inadequate or nominated persons are difficult to contact.
Holding Deposit
A
holding deposit, the equivalent of one week’s rent, is required before an
application is processed. This is then used as contribution to the bond should
you proceed. If you don’t proceed, then it is refunded in full unless you
cancel after we have advised you that
your application has been successful and you have confirmed this; or
knowingly provide us with information
in the application that is false or misleading.
Rental Bond
When renting a property, a bond is required. This is normally equivalent to four weeks rent but if the rent is over $320 per week, we reserve the right to increase the bond should circumstances make this necessary.
The bond is deposited with the Residential Tenancies Authority and is not released until the end of your tenancy. Should we have a dispute with you over the rent or the condition of the property, then we may make a claim on all or part of your bond. Initially this is done by mediation but if this fails, then through the Small Claims Tribunal.
Lease Period
For most properties, the minimum lease period is 6 months, though some could be for a longer period. It is possible to have a lease for a shorter period than 6 months depending on the property and demand at the time. Under such circumstances, the terms and conditions of the lease may vary with it likely that the weekly rent would be higher than the advertised amount.
Multiple Applications
If more than one party apply for a property, our policy is that we process the applications in the order that we receive them. On the basis that the first application is satisfactory, then we would normally accept it. However we do reserve the right to accept a subsequent application.
Payment of Monies
When applying for a property, all monies must be paid over the counter in the form of EFTPOS, VISA/Mastercard (subject to a 1% charge), bank cheque or postal order. We do not accept cash or ordinary cheque. Should your deposit be refunded , then this will be by means of a trust account cheque.
When making ongoing rental payments, there are various options open to you, these being by:
- deposit book allowing you to pay rent at any branch of the Commonwealth Bank;
- using your internet banking facilities so as to directly transfer funds to our rental account electronically;
- paying over the counter by EFTPOS, credit card (subject to a 1% charge) or by cheque or postal order;
- automatically allowing your funds to be transferred using the HandeRent BPAY facility;
- automatically allowing payment of your rent by VISA or Mastercard using the Rental Rewards Program.
Please enquire with our office to obtain further information about the HandeRent or the Rental Rewards programs.
Connecting Your Utilities
Harcourts Connect is a simple and convenient time saving service that arranges the connection of your Electricity, Gas, Phone, Internet and Pay-TV to a choice of Australia’s leading providers. Harcourts Connect can also assist with discounted quotes for removalists, van/truck hire, cleaning services and security monitoring. No longer do you need to call each service provider individually, wait on hold and repeatedly give your personal details. They take care of it all for you with the one phone call.
Should you choose to take advantage of this service, a Harcourts Connect representative will make all reasonable efforts to contact you within one working day of receiving an application. If they can’t contact you, please ring 1300 554 323 to ensure all connections can be completed on time.
Sign-Up
Before moving into a property, it will be necessary for you to come to the office for the signing of lease and bond documents. This should be done within 2 days of confirmation of you renting the property or sooner should you be moving before then. At the sign-up, we also provide you with information, written and oral, necessary for you to fulfil your obligations under the lease. The whole process should take less than 60 minutes.
Normally we require the equivalent of 6 weeks rent (2 weeks actual rent + 4 weeks bond). This amount (less any deposit already paid) will need to be paid in full at the sign-up.
You will be provided with a Condition Report (and an Inventory Schedule should there be furniture, electrical goods, etc). It is imperative that you carefully check the condition of the property and fill in the report (and inventory) accordingly. The forms must be returned to our office within a week of moving in.
If your tenancy commences on the day of the sign-up, then you will be given the keys to the property . Otherwise you will need to return to our office to collect them on the day the tenancy starts.
Maintenance of Your Rental Property
If there is a need for repairs, then we need to be informed in writing. This is done using a Maintenance Request form supplied to you at the sign-up or available at our real estate office or on the internet.
We expect that you should replace light bulbs unless you believe that there is a danger in replacing them. If a tradesperson is called out unnecessarily, then we will seek to recover the call-out fee from you.
Entry to Your Rental Property
During the tenancy, we may require access to your property. We are required to give you the following notice periods:
| Maintenance & Repairs Valuation Prospective Buyer Prospective Tenant when Vacating General Inspection |
1 day 1 day 1 day 1 day 7 days |
Rent Arrears
We take rent arrears very seriously.
Rent is always paid in advance and should this not occur, then we will be contacting you to find out why this has not happened. Should your rent be more than 6 days behind, we automatically send you a written warning notice (RTA form 11). Should you not pay rent for a further 7 days, then we are able to commence proceedings to evict you (RTA form 12).