Information for New Tenants

Here below we have some helpful information which will ensure that you feel at home:

 

Contacting your Property Manager: The preferred means for contact to the office is email, how ever should it be an emergency please contact your manager direct through the office. Appointments muct be made to see your Property Manager.

 

Contact Details: Please always keep us up to date with your contact details, once your home phone is connected please advise us of the phone number.

 

Rent: There are a number of ways that you can pay your rent. Please see the rent payment

options included in your pack.

 

Your rent must always be paid in advance. If there are any problems with paying your rent on time please contact your Property Manager.

 

Lease: you need to read your lease in full before signing it as it is a Legal document. If you have any questions in regards to your obligations and rights, contact your Property Manager or Consumer Affairs. Consumer affairs can be contacted on 8999 5184.

 

Breaking Lease: Should you wish to terminate your lease early please contact your Property Manager who will advise of any fees and charges that are applicable and will advise you of your responsibilities.

 

Property Condition Report: You will be presented with two copies of the Property Condition Report when you come in to sign your lease. One of the copies is given to you, and the Property Manager holds the other. From the date you received your condition report you have five working days to make any amendments. The changes are to be made to your copy and then signed and returned to us, which will go into the file for the property that you are leasing, and will be used for the vacating inspection. If you do not make any amendments, or you do not return the copy within five working days, the copy which your Property Manager has on file will stand.

 

Maintenance: If there are any maintenance issues or breakages, as a tenant it is your responsibility to report it to the Property Manager at all times. For all maintenance, please complete a maintenance form and email, post or fax it to the office. For any maintenance which is considered an emergency please call the office and we will attend to the matter immediately.

 

You will be contacted by Trades people to arrange access to the property. Their working hours are generally 8am to 5pm and they are not expected to attend after those hours. If you would like for them to attend to a problem after those hours, the call out fee will be your responsibility.

 

If you do not hear from the tradesperson after three days, please let us know by emailing your Property Manager

 

Please let us know immediately if the maintenance is not completed properly or up to standard.

NOTE: If a trades person attends a property on an agreed appointment time between the tenant/s and the trades person, and the tenant/s are not present at this time, resulting in the trades person being unable to complete their work required on this day and time at the respective premises; the tenant/s are then responsible for the entire cost of the trades person call out fee.

 

Electricity: You, the Tenant, are entirely responsible for the cost of the electricity that is used in the property. As of the commencement date of the tenancy, the electricity must be connected in your name. You can do this contacting Jacana Energy on 1800 522 262 or

www.jacanaenergy.com.au

 

At times there can be a day or two delay for connection as there are some circumstances where Jacana Energy are unable to guarantee same day connection.

 

 

Water: The tenant agrees to pay promptly all charges for water charges in respect of the premises.

 

The tenant/s must maintain the gardens and lawns of the property ensuring regular and adequate watering of gardens and lawns. Tenants are required to leave the gardens in the same condition as when the tenancy commenced.

 

Robbery and Insurance: You are responsible for taking out your own contents cover as your personal belongings are not covered by any insurance on the property. We recommend that any keys, wallets etc are to be kept in a secure place overnight. Should the property be supplied with deadlocks and security screens we expect that they are used to their full potential.

 

Cleaning: It is expected that you keep the property clean at all times, i.e. mould, cobwebs and dust. It is your responsibility for the yard maintenance and general cleaning. Please note that you are also responsible for the cleaning of your air conditioner. The filters must be cleaned on a regular basis, if it is found that the air conditioners break down due to you not maintaining them, you could be responsible for the repairs.

 

White Goods and Furniture: You are responsible for the cleaning of all White Goods and Furniture and freezers must be defrosted on a regular basis. If any items let with the property are damaged, you will be responsible to pay for the repair/replacement.

 

Periodical Inspections: There will be inspections carried out every three to six months. These inspections are done so that we can make sure that the property is in good condition and to report any maintenance to the landlords. You will receive a letter advising the time and date that the inspection will be carried out. Should this time not be convenient please contact your manager to arrange a suitable time. We require you to confirm this time or arrange another suitable time.

 

Pets: Only after the landlord and agent have given written permission, pets may be kept on the premises. Once a pet has been on the property, upon vacating you will be required to arrange for a professional Pest Control Company to come to the property to have a flea and tick spray carried out. You will also be required to pay for any damage caused by your pet to the gardens and reticulation.

 

Pools and Spa: A demonstation will be arranged wth you from a pool company to teach you how to look after the pool. After that you are responsible for the maintaining and cleaning of the pool during your tenancy.

 

It is also the responsibility of the tenant/s to ensure the spa/pool is secure at ALL times and no items are to be leaning or hanging on the gate/fence or obstructing a gate/pool or spa lid from closing or locking. No items are to be kept near a pool/spa that can enable a small child to climb over a fence or reach to unlock a pool gate.

 

At the end of your tenancy all equipment should be in working order and good condition. The equipment should also be locked away when you vacate the premises. When you do vacate the premises it is your responsibility to arrange for a water balance report. The report is to be done on the last day of tenancy and supplied to the Property Manager at the final inspection. If the report indicates that the water isn’t balanced the tenant is to then rectify the water balance at their own expense.

 

If you would like to view the Consumer Affairs ‘A Guide to Renting in the Northern Territory’ please click here.

 

Mould growth and your health

Moulds are fungi, like mushrooms, which are present at low levels both indoors and outdoors.

You are exposed to mould on a daily basis without any harm. Moulds need organic materials like wood, paper or dirt and moisture to grow. The most common moulds are black, green or white, al though they can be other colours.They can produce a musty smell and release countless tiny, lightweight spores which travel through the air. This happens when moulds are disturbed, such as during cleaning, or in dry conditions when a house or building is being dried out. If mouldy materials are not removed or properly cleaned, high levels of airborne mould spores may be a health risk if you are sensitive. You can be exposed by eating, inhaling or touching mould spores.

 

How to remove mould

Step 1: clean

Household products usually work if used correctly. You should read the product’s label to see how much and where you can use them, as well as warnings about what chemicals you can mix them with.

 

Clean one room at a time. You should use two buckets, one for rinse water and the other for the cleaner. This keeps most of the dirty rinse water out of your cleaning solution.

 

Rinse out your sponge, mop or cleaning cloth in the rinse bucket. Wring it dry and keep it rolled up tight when you put it in the cleaner bucket.

 

You can also try any of the following:

•70% solution of white wine vinegar with water - 1 litre of vinegar in 450ml water

•80% methylated spirits in water - 1 litre methylated spirits in 250ml water

•1.5 cups of household chlorine bleach in 10 litres of water.

 

 

Using bleach

You should never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaning product of detergent with am monia.

Do not use a bleach-based solution on aluminium, stainless steel surfaces or linoleum. Use a household detergent.

 

Step 2: disinfect

Disinfect surfaces with a disinfectant product. Or you can use half a cup of household chlorine bleach in 10 litres of water.

 

Step 3: drying

Open the doors and windows and let the house air out.

If power is restored use fans and dehumidifiers to dry the house out.

Air conditioning or central heating should be used unless they are undamaged and

uncontaminated by flood waters.

If you suspect contamination, do not use until they have been cleaned and checked by a qualified person.

 

For more information on Mould in the NT go to https://nt.gov.au/wellbeing/healthy-living/mould-growth

 

 

Cyclone emergency plans

 

As you may already be aware The Top End is prone to cyclones and severe storms from November through to May each year. Cyclones can last for a few days or up to two or three weeks, so being prepared is paramount. The NT Government provides a great deal of information regarding cyclones,

damaging storms and storm surges on their websites. It is important to have a basic understanding

of how to survive a cyclone and how best to prepare. http://www.pfes.nt.gov.au/Emergency-Service/Public-safety-advice/Cyclones/Cyclone-action-guide.aspx

 

Do you have an Emergency Plan?

Do you have an Emergency Kit?

 

If you have answered no to either of these two questions, it is essential you take a minute to go to the website and read how to prepare for a cyclone.

 

Please note: The Landlords insurance does not cover damage or theft of tenant’s personal items or possessions. Therefore, it is the tenant’s responsibility to arrange their own insurance at their own cost. The Territory is a great place to live, but cyclones are dangerous and it is important to be prepared!

 

For further information and advice on preparing your family and property for cyclone events contact the NTES Public Education Officer on 8922 3628 or visit your nearest police station.