The Blog

A tenancy agreement (also known as a lease) is a legally binding, written agreement between a tenant and a property manager/owner.   An agreement must be used even if it is between family or friends.   A tenant without a written agreement still has legal protection.  A tenant should be given the tenancy agreement before paying any […]

Rental bond  A rental bond is a security deposit paid at the start of the tenancy.  If the property manager/owner takes a bond, they must give the tenant a receipt and lodge it with the RTA within 10 days. It is an offence not to do so.  A rental bond is lodged with the RTA […]

Tenants usually pay for services such as electricity, gas, phone and internet. They may also be charged for water (conditions apply).  Electricity, gas, phone and internet  The tenant should check if a service is available, and connected, before signing a tenancy agreement. If a service is not connected they should find out the cost of […]

Tenants can only be charged for all water consumption if: the property is individually metered (or water is delivered by vehicle), and the property is water efficient, and the tenancy agreement states the tenant must pay for water consumption The property owner must pay all fixed charges, including sewerage charges. The tenant cannot be charged […]

The property manager/owner is responsible for ensuring the property is fit to live in and in a good state of repair. The tenant must notify them of any repairs needed.  If a tenant, or their guest, damages the property, they may have to pay for repairs.  Example 1. If a tenant breaks a window by […]

Deciding who is responsible for cleaning mould depends on how it appeared in the first place. The tenant should notify the property manager/owner as soon as they are aware of a mould issue.  Generally, if the mould is a result of problems with the property (e.g. a leaking roof) it is the property manager/owner’s responsibility […]

If a drainpipe blockage is a result of fair wear and tear (e.g. tree roots) the property manager/owner is responsible for ensuring the drainpipes are returned, and maintained, to a working standard.   If the tenant has caused the blockage (e.g. a child puts a toy down the drain) they may be responsible for the removal […]

Arrangements about the maintenance of gardens, including fruit trees, and lawns should be listed in the tenancy agreement.   The condition of the lawns and gardens should be recorded on the Entry condition report (Form 1a) and Exit condition report (Form 14a).  Mowing, edging and weeding   Generally, the tenant is responsible for yard work (e.g. mowing, […]

The tenancy agreement must state the amount of rent, and when it is to be paid. The method of payment (e.g. direct deposit) and the place of payment should also be included.  The property manager/owner cannot use rent for any other purpose (e.g. to cover the cost of damage or repairs); it is an offence […]

Pool Safety Certificates  Let’s talk about pool safety and requirements. Residential pools can be classed as shared or non-shared pools. Shared pools are those found in unit complexes for example, non-shared pools refer to pools that are for the use of the property resident only.  If you need a pool safety certificate, you must engage […]

Housing values across the nation experienced the slowest growth reading since October 2020 during the month of April with Sydney and Melbourne trending into negative territory. Brisbane experienced a 1.7% increase for the month equating to 5.7% growth for the quarter but it is believed Brisbane has moved through its peak growth rate coming off […]

As we close out the first quarter of 2022 the housing market is being described as having transitioned from an ‘upswing’ generally characterised by a strong and broad based rise across the country to one that is now being described as ‘multi speed’; essentially meaning some markets are slowing while others are still rising. At […]

Welcome back to 2022 and for our first end of month update for the year. Off the back of a stellar 2021 for the real estate market here in Brisbane, 2022 has picked up where it left off. CoreLogic’s National Home Value Index posted a 0.6% gain in February with Brisbane experiencing a 1.8% increase […]

Smoke alarms are an important topic. As a landlord it is important to know your responsibilities. It is a requirement that a landlord and their property manager ensure a rental property meet all health and safety requirements and this includes smoke alarms. It is the landlords responsibility to install smoke alarms that comply with current […]

CoreLogic’s national index recorded a second consecutive monthly rise for the month of November as Australia’s housing market continues to move along the recovery trend and there are a number of indicators to suggest that we have hit the bottom and are now on the way up for a strong end to the year.   […]