Tenant - Emergency Repairs

Urgent Maintenance Instructions

Please see list below of what constitutes an urgent repair under the Residential Tenancies Act

• A burst hot water service
• A blocked or broken toilet system
• A serious roof leak
• A gas leak
• A dangerous electrical fault
• Flooding or serious flood damage
• Serious storm or fire damage
• A failure or breakdown of any essential service provided by the landlord or agent for hot water, cooking, heating or laundering
• A failure or breakdown of gas, electricity or water supply
• Any fault or damage that makes the rented property unsafe or unsecure
• An appliance, fitting or fixture which is not working properly and causes a substantial amount of water to be wasted.
• A serious fault in a lift or staircase in the rented premises.

 

Tenancy Info

 

- PRE MOVING IN -

 

Utilities

 

Prior to moving into your new property you will need to arrange to have all utilities connected/relocated. We will have sent you a link to arrange this.

 

Insurance

 

You are strongly advised to take out your own contents insurance.  Your personal contents/belongings are not covered under the Lessors insurance policies.

 

Entry condition report

 

A copy of the entry condition report for the property will be provided to you at the commencement of your tenancy.  You are required to complete, sign and return to our office within 7 days as required under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act.

 

What is an Entry Condition report?

It documents the condition of your rental property before you move in.  This is the most important document to ensure your bond refund.  With thorough attention and detail and completing it correctly, you can ensure the end of your tenancy will be managed easily.

            

Why do I have to complete it?

By not returning the report in the specified time frame, you are agreeing to the property manager’s report of the property and you are accountable for any issues that may have been overlooked.  Once returned to the agency you will receive a signed copy of the report via email for your records.  When vacating the property at the end of your lease, your property manager will inspect the property against the entry condition report for any discrepancies throughout the tenancy. 

 

How do I complete it?

The report is divided into sections outlining different rooms and features of the property.  Follow the sections of the report and write comments on any marks, damage, or faults as you go.  If you disagree with some of the comments made by the agent list your comments in the “tenant” section of the report.

 

 

- DURING THE TENANCY –

Rental Payments

 

The rental payment methods accepted by this office are outlined in your General Tenancy agreement.  It is advised that only multiple amounts of the weekly rental amount will be accepted. 

 

Routine inspections

 

The property will be inspected approximately every 3-4 months.  Information relating to the inspection and notice of entry will be sent out to you a minimum of 7 days prior.  You will receive an email to remind you of the inspection the day before.

 

On the day of inspection we will be looking to ensure the property is being well maintained and to identify any repairs or maintenance that need to be addressed.  We will leave you a note to let you know that we have inspected the property and an email will follow if anything requires attention.

 

Rent Arrears

 

We understand that sometimes there are unforeseen circumstances that result in rent not being paid on time.  If your rental payments are going to be delayed, please contact our office to discuss.  

 

1 - 7 days in arrears                   You will be contacted daily via SMS, email, phone

Your owner will be notified of your arrears on day 3 (this could impact your owner’s future decision to renew your lease

8 days in arrears                       Breach notice will be issued with 7 days to remedy

17 Days in arrears                     You will be issued with a Notice to Leave with 7 days’ notice to vacate the property

 

NB: If you are issued 2 or more Breach notices the Lessor reserves the right to ask you to leave the property due to repeated breach notices under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act.

 

Keys

 

In the event you lock yourself out or lose your set of keys, if a management set is available you can arrange to collect by making contact with the office. Identification will be required at the time of collection and keys will need to be returned the same day.  If keys are not returned, the locks will be changed at your expense. 

 

After hours – you will need to contact a locksmith at your own expense.  If any locks are changed you are required to supply 2 copies to your property manager the next day of business. 

 

Parking

 

All vehicles are to be parked in the designated parking areas of the property.  Vehicles are not to be parked on grass, footpaths or any common areas of the body corporate.  Any damage as a result of parking (including oil stains) will be the responsibility of the tenant.

 

Trouble Shooting Guide

 

-      Hot water system

o   Is the power switched on?

o   Has the power box tripped the safety switch or blown a fuse?

o   Have you topped up the water level with the filler valve?

-      Power/Lights

o   If your neighbours have also lost power contact Energex

o   Has the power box tripped the safety switch or blown a fuse?

o   If you have tripped the safety switch, unplug all appliances from each power point and plug each appliance in one at a time until the power trips again to find the faulty appliance.  (NB: Tenants will be required to pay for callouts where a faulty appliance belonging to them has caused the problem)

-      Air-conditioner

o   Has the power box tripped the safety switch or blown a fuse?

o   Clean the filter

-      Blocked drains

o   Clear the drain of any hair and soap build up

o   Try clearing the drain with a plunger

o   Try clearing the drain with specific cleaning agents for drains eg: draino

-      Clothes dryer

o   Clean the filter before every use

o   Check the power is on

o   Press reset switch and try re-using

o   Check the dryer is not overloaded with too many clothes

-      Toilet water leak

o   Regularly mop up water

o   Turn toilet water source off on the side of the bowl between uses before tradesperson can arrive to reduce the amount of water leaking

-      Washing machine

o   Check that the power is connected and turned on

o   Are the water taps turned to on?

o   Check the load of clothes is not off balance or too heavy or overloaded

o   Check appliance manual

 

Water Charges

 

If the property is water efficient, you are responsible for all water consumption charges for the property.  Water charges will be invoiced accordingly. 

 

Smoke Alarms

 

The tenants acknowledge and agree to the following statements.  To comply with Queensland Fire and Rescue Services legislation the following are responsibilities of the tenant during the tenancy:

1.     The tenant(s) will notify the Agent when a smoke alarm has failed or is about to fail.

2.     The tenant(s) will not remove, dispose of, or otherwise tamper with to cease the smoke alarms effectiveness.

3.     The tenant(s) will ensure that all exits from the property are maintained as clearways so they can be safely and effectively used for escape in the event of a fire.

4.     The tenant(s) can replace batteries within the Smoke Alarms as required.

 

Safety Switch

 

The tenant(s) agrees to test the Safety switch installed on the power board every 3 months by:

-        Pressing the “TEST button”

-        This should automatically trip the switch to the “off” position

-        Reset by pushing the switch back to “on”

-        If this does not work, contact your property manager immediately

 

Break Lease

 

A fixed term tenancy agreement ends when the end date has been reached and the correct notice has been given.  In the event you cannot continue to the lease end date, you will need to provide notice in writing using a Form 13 Notice of Intention to Leave, this will incur a break lease fee, advertising fee and you will also be responsible for the rent up until another tenancy on the same terms commences.

 

Change of Shared Tenancy

 

If there is a change of circumstances to the people residing in the property, there are a number of steps you will need to follow:

-        You must notify our office of the change in circumstances in writing

-        Application forms must be submitted for any new occupants

-        Landlords approval of change or shared tenancy will be sort

-        Once approval has been granted, we can complete the relevant forms

-        Subsequent changes to shared tenancy fees are payable before new documents are drawn

 

Please note this is only applicable if one of the original lease holders remains in the property.  If no original lease holders remain in the property, it is considered a break lease situation.

 

- ENDING A TENANCY –

At the end of a fixed term tenancy one of two things will occur:

1.     You will be offered a new lease for a new tenancy

2.     You will be issued with a notice to leave at the end of lease

 

You will be notified approximately 2 months prior to your lease ending.  If you do not wish to continue the tenancy after the lease end, you are required to provide us with a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice prior to the lease end date and in writing via a Form 13 Notice to leave.

 

Bond Refund

The following list will help you get your bond refund in the shortest possible time:

 

-        Ensure all rent is paid up to and including date of vacate

-        Ensure all keys/swipes/remotes are returned to our office

-        Ensure the property is professionally cleaned and carpet cleaned with receipts provided

-        Ensure the property is in the same condition as it was before you moved in

-        Complete your 14a Exit condition report

-        Complete all details on the “Tenant forwarding address advice”