Blog - Rentals & Houses For Sale Australia-Wide

Property Maintenance Renting

Mar 27, 2023

Reasons to contact your property manager

Whether you are a seasoned renter or new to renting, you may not always be aware of the reasons or when you should contact your property manager about your tenancy or the property. For the most part, you won’t need to contact your agent on many occasions and when you do need to, they will usually have a process in place for how to contact them and time frames around responses. Some of the reasons that you may need to contact your property manager may include the following. Repairs and maintenance During the course of your tenancy, there will be repairs and maintenance that may be needed at the property. This may be anything from a leaking tap to an oven element not working or a burst hot water system. The urgency and time frame required will depend on the type of repair that needs to be completed and its use. As an example, a burst hot water system or flexi hose under the sink requires urgent repair, while a loose door handle is non-urgent. All repairs must be reported in writing and at the start of your tenancy, you will be provided with information on how to report the repair either through a portal or via email to your property manager. You will then be able to easily follow up on the progress online. Alterations to the property There are legislative requirements around what alterations can be carried out to a property and before you begin installing tv brackets or painting walls, it is important that you contact your property manager to be aware of your obligations as a renter. If permission is required, they will ask you to put in writing your plans for minor alterations and seek authority from the Owner. This will ensure that both the Owner and you are compliant with the required legislation. If you do make alterations, be aware that you are responsible for any repairs needed when you vacate the property if damage occurs. Vacating the property When you decide to vacate the property, it is important to be aware of the required notice periods and that any notice must be in writing and taken from the day that the property manager receives it. Usually, an email is sufficient for notice to be given and if you are unsure of how much notice you must give, contact our property management team and they can advise the correct notice period. They will then send you confirmation of the notice received as well as information in the lead-up to the vacate including any rent owing and how to get your bond back. What happens if I break my lease?

Lawns and gardens maintenance, tenant or owner?

Owning a property that has lawns and gardens is a nice addition to your investment property. In terms of who is responsible for maintaining these areas, there are a few rules of thumb to go by. Tenant responsibility A tenant is responsible for areas such as regular mowing and edging. The frequency of this will depend on the season and how fast the lawns grow. In the warmer months, it could be expected that the tenant would need to mow fortnightly, while it may be left monthly in winter. They will also be responsible for the weeding of garden beds and lawns and are encouraged to fertilise the lawn regularly to maintain its health throughout the seasons during the tenancy. In drier months, you may offer to provide discounts on water usage to ensure that the lawns and gardens are kept in good order in line with potential water restrictions that may apply. Where possible, rainwater tanks and recycled water options are a great addition to the property and can get through these drier months. Tenants could also be expected to clear small branches, leaves and smaller objects that have fallen from trees and could fit into the green waste bin or go out with the council collections. Landlord responsibility Owners are responsible for carrying out larger lawns and gardens maintenance tasks at the property and the extent of this will depend on the range of the landscaping. Pruning of shrubs and trees as well as cutting back and clearing larger branches away from the house and fence line could be expected and planned for as part of a larger maintenance schedule. Staying on top of these can reduce the potential for property damage during storms and adverse weather conditions. Installing an irrigation system can support with watering of lawns and gardens, however any repairs to this need to be factored into the regular maintenance schedule as part of the owner’s costs. If there is a particular style in which you would like the landscaping maintained, it is worthwhile investing in gardeners to ensure that the lawns and gardens are to standard. Not everyone has a green thumb and if you would prefer to outsource the task, there are a range of trades available to take care of this responsibility and ensure that the lawns and gardens are cared for. Our property management team can assist in arranging the relevant trades.

5 maintenance items to tackle during winter

The return of the cooler months can be a time where it is tempting to hibernate and let those maintenance items go around your home until the spring warmth is back. Keeping on top of home maintenance in the winter months will ensure that it doesn’t get too far behind. Check walls and ceilings for damp and mould Damper and colder weather can create havoc in our homes and with a mixture of reduced ventilation, potential ingress of water from the elements and reduced sunlight, mould can creep its way onto walls, ceilings and even furnishings. A quick check regularly of walls behind furniture and ceilings as well as around windows, blinds and curtains can help you to stay on top of the mould and clean it away quickly if it appears. Inspect smoke detectors and fire alarms The cooler months signal a return to dragging out heaters and using other heating devices. It is advisable to check that these are working effectively and serviced if required, ensuring that you have working smoke alarms at the property. Smoke and fire alarms are required to be checked annually and it is important to take steps to have these serviced, especially heading into the months when the potential for home fires rises. Ensuring smoke detectors and fire alarms are working is a winter property maintenance essential. Service fireplaces and heaters If you have an older fireplace or even those running on gas or electricity, now is the time to safeguard your home by servicing these items and ensuring that they are in good working order. Cleaning chimneys and around fireplaces can reduce the risk of fire while servicing gas heaters can reduce the potential for gas leaks and checking electrical heaters can lessen the chance of electrical fires. Carry out a pest inspection While we like to huddle up for the warmer months, so do the pests that can find refuge in your home looking for warmth. Checking cupboards, vents, garages, roof spaces and under stairs will find all sorts of places that cockroaches and mice like to hide. If you do happen to find that you have pests in your home, contacting a pest control company can assist in finding solutions to keep them under control. Ventilate where possible Where you can catch warmer days during the winter months, it is ideal to ventilate your property as much as possible. A simple type of winter maintenance includes opening doors and windows to let fresh air flow and sunlight through, helping to dry out dampness and keep things like mould at bay. Where you can’t ventilate, using dehumidifiers and fans on low can help to increase air circulation and reduce the stuffiness that can build during winter. Smoke alarm legislation changed in Queensland 1 January 2022

Real insights to assist your property knowledge

Reasons to contact your property manager

Lawns and gardens maintenance, tenant or owner?

5 maintenance items to tackle during winter