Are you getting ready to sign a tenancy agreement for the perfect property? As a soon-to-be tenant, there may be many questions running through your head.
Perhaps you've been living in a rental property, but you're ready for a fresh start, whether it's a bigger home or a new neighbourhood.
Whatever your reasons are for signing a new tenancy agreement, there are few things to keep in mind when you're gearing up to rent a house.
Carefully review the tenancy agreement
Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure you understand what's required of you.
Whether it's a six-month tenancy agreement or something a little longer, it's important to know what your obligations will be.
Not only that, you'll need to know what your property manager's responsibilities are. Taking the time to work through your respective obligations is a must, so you don't end up confused if any issues arise further down the line.
Be sure to ask your property manager or landlord any questions you have - they'll be happy to explain any terms you're unfamiliar with.
Be Organised
Don't leave it until the day your rent's due to sort out your payments.
Being organised is key to being a happy tenant. Establish an automatic payment, so your rent gets automatically deducted from your account.
This way, you won't even have to think about it. Just be sure that there's enough money in the account each week, fortnight or month when your payment is due to go out.
Organisation also extends to keeping your property manager up to date about any repairs that are required.
Whether you need a tap fixed or a leak plugged, it's essential not to leave this for days or weeks. After all, some issues could cause costly or irreversible damage if they're not addressed immediately.
It's your job to keep the property in reasonably tidy condition, but repairs are generally the responsibility of the landlord (unless of course you've been hitting golf balls inside!).
That said, your property manager can't predict when repairs need to be made. Make sure you're organised and let them know if anything needs to be tidied up.
This ensures you're able to live in a comfortable property, while the landlord can keep their investment in good condition.
Be a Good Neighbour
It's not just your landlord or property manager you need to forge a good relationship with in order to be a happy tenant.
Don't forget to be respectful to your neighbours by keeping noise at a reasonable level.
If you're planning on playing a bit of music over the weekend, don't blast the volume! Better yet, extend an invitation to your neighbours, should this suit you.
