In National Homelessness Week, when rental vacancy rates are at critically low levels and it’s increasingly difficult to get approved for a rental, it is a pertinent reminder as to why education for renters is so important.
With thanks to Stuart Gay from Chris Gay Real Estate in Cairns who shares some of his Top Tips for Tenants in the current rental context.
Whether searching for a rental property or when things don’t go to plan, Stuart highlights that it’s important for Tenants to always take appropriate steps to ensure they maintain a strong rental history.
Watch Stuart’s rental tips here:
Top Tip 1: Why is it important to search for rental properties suitable to your needs?
Real Estate Agents operate under Legislation and have specific standards they need to adhere to when assessing rental applications. So when submitting a rental application, prospective Tenants are recommended to ensure that the property they are applying for is suitable to their needs. For example, Stuart notes that a family of four are not recommended to apply for a one-bedroom property and likewise, a single person is not recommended to apply for a three or four-bedroom property.
Top Tip 2: What should a Tenant do when their Tenancy is coming to an end?
When a Tenancy is coming to an end, it’s important to regularly communicate with the Property Manager and not leave tasks such as cleaning until the last minute. Property Managers are likely to provide a vacate procedure and list of guidelines to follow when organising cleaning and other items before exiting the property. It is best practice for Tenants to follow these procedures as they are likely to be designed to assist Tenants to maintain a good rental history moving forward.
Top Tip 3: If another Tenant leaves mid-way through your shared tenancy, what should the remaining Tenant do?
When renting a property with multiple people and a Tenant on the Lease Agreement leaves, the remaining Tenant/s is recommended to take steps to ensure these changes don’t negatively impact the tenancy. In these circumstances, it is important to communicate with the Property Manager to complete the appropriate paperwork such as submitting the relevant information to the RTA to ensure the Tenant moving out receives their share of their Bond contribution, for example.
Top Tip 4: If a maintenance issue is not being fixed quickly, should a Tenant keep paying their rent?
Whether it’s your hot water system or air conditioning unit, maintenance issues may arise at your rental property from time to time. It’s important for Tenants to understand their legal obligations including why they should continue to pay their rent on time while maintenance issues are being reviewed and resolved. In this video Stuart Gay gives an insight into what may cause delays when Property Managers are attending to maintenance issues.
Top Tip 5: If a Tenant has to leave mid-way through their tenancy, what should they do?
Sometimes things don’t go to plan and mid-way through a tenancy, a Tenant may need to leave the property. A Tenant should always work towards maintaining a positive rental history during such times. To do this, it is recommended a Tenant communicate their intentions with their Property Manager as soon as possible to allow enough time for a new Tenant to be found. Keeping in mind that they are likely to be responsible for the rent payments until the new Tenant moves in.
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The Tenancy Skills Institute thanks our network of Property Managers for sharing their valuable expertise in this video series especially made for Tenants.
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