Advice for prospective tenants

Renting a home

The question of whether to rent or buy a property is one that people often ask themselves. The answer is very individual and depends entirely on your financial situation, lifestyle and attitude.

Some reasons people rent are:

• If you enjoy the freedom to move around or if your personal circumstances are likely to change
• It removes many of the responsibilities for maintenance of the property as this is mostly required to be carried out by the landlord, saving you time and money
• If you're not ready for the ongoing financial commitment of repaying a home loan

What is a bond?

A tenancy bond is a payment of up to four weeks rent made to the landlord by tenants when they move into a property. The bond is held to cover any losses the landlord incurs if the tenant breaches any of the conditions in the Tenancy Agreement or general obligations of a tenant.

The landlord will collect the bond from the tenant, but must lodge it with Tenancy Services within 23 working days, with a signed Bond Lodgement form (by both the landlord and tenant).

The bond is held by Tenancy Services until a Bond Refund form is filed (signed by both the landlord and tenant) by either the tenant or landlord.

If there is any damage to the property, at the conclusion of the agreement, and the landlord and tenant agree on the value of this then the bond is divided between the parties accordingly. However, if the parties are unable to agree on the value, then one of the parties can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal for mediation.

Insurance

The landlord must have insurance for the property, that is the physical buildings. The tenant must ensure they have personal contents insurance for their belongings to ensure they are protected against loss.

The most important factor to remember when selecting insurance is to inform your insurance company that the property is a rental property.

Your obligations as a tenant

It's important as a tenant to understand your obligations in relation to a rental property. If you don't fulfill your obligations you may lose your bond.

• DO pay your rent on time
• DO ensure the property is used for residential purposes for the majority of the time
• DO keep the property up to a reasonable standard of cleanliness
• DO inform the landlord of any damage as soon as possible
• DO pay for the repair of any deliberate or careless damage caused by you
• DO comply with all conditions in the Tenancy Agreement
• DO allow the landlord reasonable access to the property
• DO pay for all electricity, gas and telephone used. You may also be required to cover the cost of water depending on whether it is provided for in the Tenancy Agreement
• DO at the end of the tenancy remove your belongings, leave the property as your found it and return any keys
• DON'T damage or allow others to damage the property, whether deliberately or carelessly
• DON'T use or allow others to use the property for any unlawful activities
• DON'T interfere with the neighbours peace, or comfort
• DON'T make any alteration to the property in any way without the landlord's express permission
• DON'T refuse the landlord entry when they are entitled to enter
• DON'T sublet without the express permission of the landlord

More information

• View our current properties available for rent

Questions

Looking for a rental property?