New Tenant Checklist


Moving into your New Property

Congratulations on your approved application for your new rental home.

We know that moving can be a stressful and busy time for most, so we will endeavour to make the process as smooth as possible for you.

Here’s what you can expect:

Paying your Holding Fee and Signing the Lease

(a) Deposit/Rent payment – You are required to pay one week’s rent to secure the property for which you will receive a receipt. This payment should be made as soon as possible. Your Property Manager will advise you of your payment method options.

(b) Rent/Bond – Once your deposit is paid you will be advised the amount due for both rent and bond upon signing your lease. An appointment will also be scheduled for all parties to sign the lease and complete all paper work.

(c) Lease Agreement – All tenants listed on the Lease Agreement must come into the office to sign the required paperwork. This includes the Lease Agreement, Bond Lodgment Form etc. You are required to read these documents carefully and you are welcome to ask any questions.

Upon signing the lease, you will receive the following:

  • A signed copy of the Lease Agreement
  • Copy of the Bond Lodgement Form
  • 2 copies of the condition report
  • New Tenant Checklist
  • Keys to the property (note: this will only occur if the above takes place on your lease start date)
  • Repair/Maintenance Request Form
  • A copy of the By-laws if you are moving into a strata unit complex

Utility Connections

It is the tenant’s responsibility to ensure your power, gas, phone, internet, etc have been connected in your name prior to moving into the property.

Should you receive any mail addressed to either previous tenants or the landlords, please forward this to our office as soon as possible.

Keys

Should you wish to copy keys it is important to note that upon vacating, we require all keys given to you at the tenancy commencement and any extra copies created during your tenancy period, to be returned. If you change the locks during your tenancy, you are obliged to notify your property manager and provide the office with a copy of the new keys.

Any lost or damaged keys, remotes and security fobs, must be replaced at the tenant’s expense.

Payment and Lodgement of Your Bond

A bond is a separate payment to rent, it is money that acts as security for the landlord or owner in case you don't meet the terms of your lease agreement. At the end of your agreement if the property is in need of cleaning or repairs or if items need to be replaced the landlord or owner may claim some or all of the bond.

As the bond is a separate payment to the rent you cannot use any part of the bond as rent – so, when you are moving out, you cannot ask the landlord to keep your bond as final rent payment. Your bond will be lodged with Renting Services and you can expect confirmation from them indicating your lodgement number.

Property Condition Report

Please ensure that you return your signed/amended copy of your property condition report to us within 7 days of the tenancy start date. If this is not returned please be aware that the original inspection will be used for end of tenancy comparison, regardless of whether you agree to the original report or not.

For more information on completing and returning your condition report please see Office of Fair Trading Website.

Tenant Contents Insurance

It is crucial that you effect your own tenant contents insurance.

It is important to note that should your goods be damaged or destroyed by circumstances affecting the owner’s property they are not insured by the owner. (eg. fire, storm damage, power outages).

Example One: An electrical fault in the building starts a fire and the property is destroyed. Your possessions will not be covered by the owner’s insurance.

Example Two: You are away on holidays and the power cuts out due to an electrical fault in the building. Your return home to find your fridge/freezer goods spoilt. The landlord/owner insurance will not cover your fridge/freezer goods.

In all cases above, quality tenant contents insurance should cover your goods for these given examples. Please check with your insurer however for the cover they can provide you.

New Tenant Checklist Information for tenants (Fair Trading Fact Sheet) is available on this page for further reference.