Know your rights as a tenant

Before deciding to rent a property there are a few rules and regulations that you need to take into consideration. A Residential Tenancy Agreement or 'lease' will be drawn up and is the legal contract that both you and your landlord must abide by. A lease should include information such as;

• Location of the property
• Total rent
• Amount of the bond
• Commencement and end date of your tenancy
• The landlords' name

Lease/tenancy agreements differ between states, so please make sure you have the documentation from your appropriate state.

Never sign a blank form, if you do not understand something, then contact the correct establishments and ask for advice.

Know your responsibilities when renting

When renting, little problems can turn into big problems if you are not aware of who is responsible for taking care of the issues that may arise.

As a tenant you are obliged to do the following:

• Keep the property clean
• Not cause damage to the premises
• Inform the landlord ASAP if any damage is done
• Ask for the landlords permission to install fixtures or make alterations, renovations etc
• Avoid causing a nuisance to the landlord or neighbours
• Do not initiate or participate in any illegal activities on the property

The landlord is obliged to:

• Keep the premises in good repair
• Ensure the security of the property by making sure all doors have locks and windows are secure
• Immediately provide the tenant with a key after changing any locks
• Avoid disturbing the tenant unnecessarily

Once you have signed a lease / tenancy agreement and paid a bond you should be provided with a Condition Report. This report records the condition of the property. Check this report carefully and immediately discuss any issues you may have with the landlord.

Photographs are a great way to record the condition of the property when you first move in. Keep these in case the landlord objects about returning your bond at the end of your tenancy.