Tenant Information

We make you feel @home

We respect your rights as a tenant to quiet enjoyment and privacy during your tenancy. We are very different from traditional real estate agents, we won't treat you as a number - we take the time to listen to your needs and assist you with a solution. We do take the management of investment properties seriously and all we ask from you is that you pay your rent on time and that you care for the property as if it is your own home. We will do our best to assist you with whatever you need during our time together. If you ever have a concern which you believe is not being treated fairly by our staff, please let us know and we will attend to it promptly.

What are my rights as a tenant?

If you are unsure of your rights and obligations as a tenant we recommend you obtain a copy of The Rental Guide: A Guide For Property Owners, Property Managers, Tenants, And Tenant Advocates, available to purchase from Service Tasmania, or as a FREE download from the Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading website.

It is important to educate yourself rather than getting advice from well-meaning family and friends. We will always give you the correct advice in accordance with the Residential Tenancy Act, however sometimes there are grey areas, in this case we will do what we feel is fair and reasonable for both parties.

What's the best way to get in touch?

To receive prompt action, the best form of contact with our office is via e-mail. If you do not have access to e-mail, please contact our office by telephone.

It is important that all general and maintenance requests are submitted to our office in writing. This allows us to keep records of all important tenancy issues and prevents any miscommunication.

If you wish to visit the office to discuss any issues with a property management staff member, it is important to arrange an appointment time. Our property management staff are often out of the office conducting inspections and we know there is nothing more annoying than having to wait.

What about rent?

It is your responsibility to pay rent on time. Rent is due on or before the due date (the date you have paid rent up to). Should you not be able to pay rent by the due date it is imperative that you contact your property manager to make payment arrangements, which will be subject to the owner's approval. It is important to remember that the owner of the property has financial commitments to meet and they rely on rent being paid on time. If your rent continues to fall behind, we will advise the owner of their option to end your tenancy and we will act according to their instructions.

And repairs?

Please notify your property manager of any damage or repairs that may be required on the property. At all times your first contact to organise the repairs must be to our office. If a genuine emergency problem occurs out of office hours (Saturday, Sunday or after 5:30pm Monday to Friday) please contact -

Plumber:
Faulkner Plumbing - 0411 100 876

Electrician:
Haywood Electrical - 0418 131 460

Locksmith/Alarms:
Secure Locksmiths - 6331 9211
Jacksons Security - 6331 7644

Glass Replacement:
O'Brien Glass - 1800 824 133

All general repairs must be reported to our office in writing. If work is carried out at the premises by a tradesperson, you are required to contact your property manager to advise that the work has been completed. If a tradesperson is required to attend the property and a suitable time has been agreed between yourself and the tradesperson and you are not home to provide access, you may be required to pay for the standard service call for attending the property.

If a repair request is reported to our office and it is caused by neglect from you or any visitors, you will be responsible for the payment of the account. For example, power failure due to one of your faulty appliances, or a foreign object blocking toilets.

Who is responsible for what?

As a tenant of the property you are responsible to maintain the property in the same or similar condition - less fair wear and tear - as it was offered at the commencement of your tenancy. The owner is responsible to make repairs to any building faults, plumbing, electrical, heating and general repairs considered fair wear and tear.

It is the tenant's responsibility to replace any blown light globes throughout the property, fuses, tap washers, cracked or broken windows and screens (unless the incident is reported to police as vandalism), cleaning of chimneys once a year, cleaning heat pump filters fortnightly and maintaining gardens and lawns (it is important to mow, weed and water regularly).

If you are ever unsure of who is responsible for the repair, please contact our office.

What about inspections?

Our office will carry out periodic inspections on the property to ascertain the condition of the property and necessary maintenance requirements. Written notice will be given to you on all occasions. We also carry out periodic drive-by inspections. Regular inspections allow you the opportunity to point out any maintenance issues that may be of concern.

Other inspections may include - prospective tenants if you have given notice to vacate, prospective buyers if the property is on the market for sale, general valuations, sales appraisals and emergency inspections. We will always give the appropriate notice in accordance with the Tenancy Act.

What happens if I want to end my tenancy early?

We can assist you should your circumstances change and you need to end your tenancy agreement early, however you need to be aware of your obligations.

You will be responsible to pay rent until the property is re-let to a suitable tenant and a binding agreement is entered into or until the end of the tenancy agreement, whichever is sooner. You are responsible to pay for reasonable re-letting costs normally paid by the owner to the agent including advertising and marketing costs.

When giving notice it must be in writing, using the prescribed form, and handed, faxed or scanned and e-mailed to our office. If you haven't had a confirmation that we have received the notice within four (4) working days you are required to contact your property manager to confirm receipt of the notice. The notice is not effective until we have received this form. 14 clear days' written notice is required which means the first and last day are not included, so allow 16 days from the day the notice is delivered to our office.

What happens if I get locked out?

If you find yourself locked out of your property you may visit our office to collect our office set of keys. It is important to note that for privacy and security reasons, we are only able to give keys to tenants who are listed on the tenancy agreement and photo identification must be produced. If you lock yourself out after office hours it is your responsibility to contact a locksmith to gain access. We highly recommend that you keep a spare key for emergencies, however you will be required to register any copies with our office.

Remember that we are here to assist you during your tenancy and we want to help you feel @home.