In any home, maintenance and repairs will arise from time to time, so when you are living in a rental property, it’s important to understand what to do.
Is it an urgent or non-urgent repair?
Determining whether it is routine maintenance or an urgent repair is important so you, as a tenant, can convey to the property manager or property owner the type of action you are seeking. For the property manager, this detail will inform how they escalate the repair request to the property owner.
Often, at the signing of your lease, your property manager will run through what to do in both scenarios and may also include details in your lease or welcome pack about who to contact, especially if an urgent repair arises after hours.
To ensure the rental property remains in good condition, it is important that tenants advise of maintenance and repairs in a timely manner and follow the agreed protocol outlined at the commencement of your tenancy agreement, which can also be within the agreement itself.
It’s also a good idea to follow up any conversations with the property manager or property owner with an email as a written record of your repair request. This email will be a helpful record for all parties to the tenancy agreement.
Who can attend your rental property for maintenance and repairs?
Property managers and designated repairers/tradespersons can access the rental property to conduct maintenance and repairs.
Furthermore, the property manager can also visit the rental property to ensure that any maintenance or repairs have been carried out properly.
Always remember that when the designated repairer/tradesperson attends your rental property, they are acting on behalf of the property owner. So, it is always a good idea to ensure the rental property is clean and tidy, as you would for a routine inspection, for example.
How much notice will I be given when a repair is scheduled?
The notice periods required to access rental properties for repairs range from 24 hours to 7 days and may vary depending on the state or territory in which you reside. So it’s important to understand what notice periods apply to your location, as well as definitions of urgent and non-urgent repairs.
Visit the links below to find out more:
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
Keen to learn more about renter rights and responsibilities in your state or territory?
Why not undertake our Skillsets for Successful Tenancies self-paced online course. All content is localised to your state and territory, covering everything you need to know to strengthen your next rental application and what to do once you get the keys to the rental property!
Affordably priced, upon completion, you will receive a Certificate of Attainment recognised by thousands of property managers throughout Australia.
Start your learning journey for rental success here.