WELCOME TORENTING WITHHARCOURTS
ForAustralian emergencyservices (fire, police, ambulance) please dial 000. In the event that urgent or life threateningmaintenance arises at the property such as wiring burning or the hot water cylinder bursting, please: Electrical: switch off power at mains. Water leaks: turn off water at mains. Welcome to yournewhome Please read this carefully and keep in a safe place for future reference. We ask that you always try to contact your Property Manager first, however if it is after-hours and/or you cannot contact the Property Manager, please contact our emergency line or designated emergency tradespeople directly. It is important that you know that should the issue not be deemed an emergency, youmay be responsible for the cost. An emergency repair is something that is likely to cause injury or whichmakes the property unsafe or insecure. (For example burst water service, serious leak, serious electrical fault). This guide is intended for general information purposes only. The content does not take your personal circumstances into account. You should obtain independent legal and financial advice before undertaking any transaction involving real estate. Harcourts uses reasonable endeavours to ensure the information in this guide is current and accurate. To the extent permitted by law, Harcourts makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness or currency of the information within this guide, and the use of this guide is at your own risk. None of Harcourts, its employees and any authors of this guide can be held liable for any inaccuracies, errors or omissions in this guide. All information and material contained in this guide is copyrighted and owned by Harcourts International Limited. Except as permitted by applicable local laws, no part of this guide may in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or any other means be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or be broadcast or transmitted without the prior permission of Harcourts. © 2022 Harcourts International Limited. Welcome to Renting with Harcourts - v1.0 (VIC) Welcome to Renting with Harcourts 2
Paying rent It is your legal responsibility to pay your rent in advance. Please ensure that your payments reach us on the due date. Rent should be paid by themethod stated on your tenancy agreement. If you have any problems with your rent payments please notify your Property Manager at the earliest possible time. If you fall into arrears, we will be obligated to follow the procedures outlined in the Residential Tenancies Act to collect the rent on behalf of the residential rental provider. Paying bond The rental bond is requested as financial protection should there be a breach in the tenancy agreement. Your rental bond will be lodged with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority. The bond is held as security against any property damage or in the event there is money owing at the end of tenancy. Once it is established that all conditions of the tenancy have been met, the bond will be refunded promptly. The amount of bond payable is specified in the tenancy agreement. It is the responsibility of all renters of the property to ensure rent is paid in full and on time and that the property sustains no damage. If damage does occur and/or rent is not paid, a claimmay bemade against the bond held. Please note that your liability is not limited to the bond amount held. PropertyEntryConditionReport A property condition report is used to determine the condition of the property at the commencement of your tenancy. It also ensures that you are not held responsible for damage at the expiry of your tenancy whichmay have been there prior to your occupation. If there is anything that the Property Manager has missed, you should note these on the report and include photos where possible. Please then sign and return the document to your Property Manager within five business days. The document will be filed with your Tenancy Agreement and used as evidence of the property condition at the commencement of the tenancy. Occupancy Only the people (and the number of people) included on your tenancy agreement are permitted to reside at the property on a permanent basis. Should a renter wish tomove in or out, you are required to contact us in writing immediately. Please note, a new renter will need to be approved through the application process prior tomoving in. Routine inspections Inspections will bemade at regular intervals during your tenancy to highlight the condition of the property to the residential rental provider. We are required under the guidelines of the Residential Tenancies Act to provide you with written notice of an upcoming inspection. This notice will specify the date that the Property Manager will enter your premises to conduct the inspection. Unfortunately due to time constraints, it is not always possible to alter the inspection date. You don’t have to be present, but aremost welcome to be there so we can discuss any problems or aspects of your tenancy that require attention. Please note, photos may be taken during the inspection to highlight the condition to the residential rental provider. Please ensure any pets youmay have are secured. RENTERGUIDELINES FORYOURNEWHOME Welcome to Renting with Harcourts 3
Insurance The residential rental provider is responsible for insuring the property, however the residential rental provider is not responsible for any damage to any of the renters’ possessions. It is recommended that renters should take out their own contents insurance policy to cover their personal possessions. The residential rental provider’s insurance does not cover a renter’s possessions. Please advise your Property Manager immediately if there is damage caused to the property that may result in an insurance claim. Utilitiesbills It is your responsibility unless advised otherwise to have the utilities (gas, electricity, telephone, internet) connected in your name upon entering the property and to finalise these accounts when vacating the premises. If in accordance with your Tenancy Agreement you are responsible for water charges, you will be required to set up a usage account with the appropriate water authority. Repairs&maintenance Please contact your Property Manager in writing to request any non-urgent repairs or maintenance. Your Property Manager will organise a tradesperson to attend at amutually agreed time so that you can provide access, or with your permission, provide the tradesperson with a key to your property. Should you elect to employ a trades person without first obtaining approval from your Property Manager youmay be responsible for the payment of this account. Emergencyrepairs Listed within this guide you will find details of what to do in case of emergency. If there is a problem, we ask that you always try to contact your Property Manager first, however if it is after-hours and you cannot contact the Property Manager, you are permitted to contact our emergency contractors directly. It’s important that you know that should the issue not be deemed an emergency, youmay be responsible for the account. An emergency repair is something that is likely to cause injury, undue inconvenience, or whichmakes the property unsafe or insecure (eg. burst water service, serious leak, serious electrical fault). Damage to the premises The renter shall ensure that all care is taken to avoid damage to the premises by the renters themselves or their guests. You are required to advise your Property Manager of any damage to the premises as soon as you become aware of it. Making changes to the property In line with the Residential Tenancies Act, please notify us and seek permission prior tomaking any changes or alterations to the property. If you are uncertain on any changes please contact your Property Manager in the first instance. Animals If you are permitted under your agreement to keep a pet at the property, please ensure that you regularly collect and dispose of any faeces. Any damage to the property caused by the pet must be rectified by the renter. Gardens It is a requirement of your Tenancy Agreement that you as the renter are responsible for regular watering, weeding andmowing and edging of your outdoor areas, unless otherwise provided for in your Residential Tenancy Agreement. Carparking We ask that you and your visitors park only in the designated areas. Please ensure cars are not parked on grass verges or lawns. In the case of units or flats the Owners Corporation rules pertaining to vehicles as set for the complex must be adhered to. Oil stains: drip trays are to be kept on the garage floor to protect it from oil stains. Should stains occur, the renter will be liable for any costs associated in cleaning this area. Welcome to Renting with Harcourts 4
Smoke alarms It is a requirement of the Residential Tenancies Act that a renter does not interfere with anymeans of escape from fire. This includes tampering with smoke detectors. Should you note that a smoke alarm is not working, please immediately notify the Property Manager. Please never remove smoke alarms or the batteries. Pools& spas If there is a pool/spa at the property, youmust not leave the fence ajar, nor store/leave objects around the pool/spa which could be climbed upon. For more information, please see the conditions in your Tenancy Agreement and contact your Property Manager. Breaking a fixed termagreement Your Tenancy Agreement is a legally binding contract. If your situation changes and you need to leave early, please contact your Property Manager to discuss the options that may be available to you and any associated costs. Leaving theproperty Contact your Property Manager to discuss your legal requirements with regards to ending your tenancy, as written notice periods will be required. Once the Property Manager has received/issued your ‘Notice of Intention to Vacate/Notice to Vacate’, they will contact you and advise requirements for handing over vacant possession. Once vacant possession is established (that is, all keys have been returned) a bond/final inspection can be completed to which you will be offered an opportunity to attend. Please note: The bond will only be returned once it has been established that all rent is paid as required, the property has been returned in its original condition as per the entry condition report (excluding fair wear and tear) and all applicable invoices have been paid. You may incur additional charges, such as daily rent, until the keys have been returned to the agency. Yourbond refund Once any outstanding issues have been addressed and when the renter and Landlord/agent agree that the bond should be paid out, a request is submitted to the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority for the release of all bondmonies held against the tenancy. Changeofcontact details Please ensure you notify us immediately of any change to your contact details including home, mobile and business phone numbers and email address. As per the Tenancy Agreement, wemay issue you with formal notices via email, therefore it’s crucial you keep us updated should your details change. Privacy We will hold your details on file in line with the Privacy Act. You can be assured that your information will not be given to a third party unless otherwise stated by yourself. Rights& responsibilities If you have any concerns during your tenancy, please contact your Property Manager in the first instance. Welcome to Renting with Harcourts 5
MOULDANDMILDEW: CAUSES,CONTROL &PREVENTION Aboutmould From time to time, some householders raise the question of mould andmildew in a household or residential rental accommodation. The following information has been prepared fromavailable technical and other literature. Three conditions have to be present for the growth of mould: mould spores, a surface with a sufficient food source tomaintain life, and a source of moisture. Mould spores are in the air everywhere, and it is impossible to rid a house of them. There is nearly always a source of food; cooking fumes, and even dust can be sufficient. These conditions are invariably present in all households. There remains the third condition, and that is moisture within a household that comes directly or indirectly from the people who live in it. Washing, cooking and drying operations are obvious sources of moisture, but moisture also comes from the inhabitants themselves. Control • Ensure there is ventilation in all rooms at all times. Keep internal doors open. • Vent the clothes dryers directly outside where possible. • Use an extraction fan in the shower, where fitted. • Do not put damp clothes or shoes in a wardrobe. • Clean wallpaper with a damp cloth and household bleach (1 part bleach and 4 parts water). Test a small hidden patch first tomake sure the bleach does not affect the colour. If it does, try a fungicide froma paint shop. • Never paint over mildew. • Gloss-painted surfaces can be wiped down with household bleach as above. Matt finish paint can be wiped down with fungicide. • Do not use abrasive cleaners. Prevention To prevent moisture build-up from the interior of the accommodation, it is desirable to have a balance between adequate heating and ventilation. Ventilation can be achieved by leaving windows open a centimetre or two depending on the outside air movement and the amount of cross ventilation. The rule is, ventilate little and often, rather than in short vigorous bursts. Welcome to Renting with Harcourts 6
Aguideto theaverageamountofmoisturegeneratedperday: Clothes drying 5L Showering 1.5L Per person up to 4L Dishwashing 1L Cooking 3L Clothes washing 0.5L Window glass is a good guide, if it starts to show more than aminimumof condensation, the windows should be opened a little further. Remember, increase ventilation so that themoisture generated is not retained within the household. This may require a bit of willpower during the cooler months, when every instinct calls for the house to be sealed against escaping heat, but if you fail to follow these basic rules, you are going to seemould. Welcome to Renting with Harcourts 7
SEPTICSYSTEMS All septic systems are a living process. They rely on bacteria to break down and digest the effluent, so a healthy septic has lots of healthy bacteria. If you use incorrect cleaning products, you will reduce or completely destroy the bacteria in your system. This will result in: • Strong odours; • Untreated effluent pooling on the ground’s surface, creating a possible health hazard; • Shorten the life of any pump associated with your system. Remember Every drain in and around your home is connected to the septic systemand all products used will end up in the same place regardless of which drain you utilise! Read the labels on the cleaning products as any product that will harm you will harm the bacteria in your septic system. Soakage system In the case of a soakage system, complete shut down of the soakage trench causes effluent to back up to the house and very costly replacements. Cleaners that should never be used in any type of septic system (in order of most harmful): • Napisan • Milton Sterilizing Solution • Any antibacterial solution (Pine-o-Clean, Spray & Wipe, Dettol) • Exit mould or anything else remotely similar • Ajax powders or any chlorine based product • Blue toilet products – any brand • Paints and thinners • Sanitary items, plastic, cigarette butts etc. Welcome to Renting with Harcourts 8
MAINTENANCE Airconditioners& heat pumps It is important that you clean your air conditioner/heat pump filter on a three-monthly basis. This ensures that your air conditioner/heat pump will continue to perform in peak condition and tomaintain pure air quality for the occupants of the property. Synthetic filter(only) To clean your filter, remove it from the air conditioner and clean withmild detergent and lukewarm water. Ensure that you thoroughly rinse and dry the filter before replacing it in the unit. If the filter is not synthetic, please contact our office for further information and cleaning instructions. Plumbing It is extremely important that you do not pour fats/oils and other food scraps down the drains. Over a long period of time this will cause problems with the drains and septic system. It will result in an inconvenience to you with drains backing up and not draining away properly. It is also detrimental to the environment. Do not flush sanitary products, disposable nappies or nappy wipes down the toilet. These items do not break down and cause obstructions in the drainage system. If these items are flushed and cause a blockage, you will be held responsible for the cost of the repair. Hotwaterservices How to recognise abnormal operation of your hot water service: • Pressure and temperature reliefvalve running It is normal for these valves to allow a small quantity of water to escape during the heating cycle when the unit expands and contracts. The amount of discharge will depend on hot water usage. As a guide, if it discharges more than 20 litres of water in 24 hours, please contact your Property Manager. • No hotwater Check that a hot water outlet is not open e.g. the shower is running or tap left on. Carefully review your family’s water consumption. Have you used all the hot water? Did you wash in hot water? If you are quite sure that you could not have consumed all the hot water, check your meter box. Has the isolation switch tripped? Most hot water services have a heating element and a thermostat. If you have not consumed your hot water, it is possible that the element or thermostat is faulty and requires replacement. Please contact our office and we will arrange for a plumber to attend to the replacement/repair of your hot water service. Ovennotworking Check that you have not accidentally put the automatic timer on. If the oven is on automatic then generally you will have no power to the oven and one or two stove elements will not be working. Turn the automatic setting off and the oven should work – if not then contact your Property Manager. Welcome to Renting with Harcourts 9
Lightsorpowerpointsnotworking No power to the property, no lights or no power points working? Firstly check themeter box. Inmost cases the problemwill be that a fuse or safety switch has tripped. This usually happens if you have a faulty appliance or if you have toomany appliances switched on at the same time. Take special note of any switches that are in the off position. You will need to turn all switches to the off position, leave themoff for a fewminutes and then turn themall on again. Turn each appliance on, one at a time. If the safety switch trips when you turn on the toaster or kettle etc, then it is likely that particular appliance is faulty or has just become faulty. Keep inmind that it can sometimes be the fridge or other major appliances that have recently become faulty. In an old home, youmay have the old style fuses that should not be fixed by the renters. If an electrician is called to the property and the fault is with one of your appliances or simply to reset the Safety Switch, then you will be charged for the service fee. Bathroomorkitchen sink blocked Try using some Draino to clear the blockage. You could also try pouring boiling water down the sink to free up old soap or hair or try the same with the kitchen sink to remove old food from the kitchen waste. Ensure that no foreign objects have found their way into the pipes or waste disposal. Items that can cause problems are: disposable nappies; sanitary napkins; and teaspoons. Blockages caused by foreign objects are the renter’s responsibility. Keys and locks If you’ve locked yourself out, you are responsible for gaining access to the property and will need to call a locksmith. All lost keys are the responsibility of the renter. If a lock has to be re-keyed, youmust supply your Property Manager with a key. Garage remote control notworking Check the battery in the remote as this is the most common cause. Otherwise, check that the combination in the remote is the same as the combination on the panel in the garage. This is not always possible depending on the type of remote. If there has been a power outage you will be unable to open the automatic door unless you activate themanual releasemechanism. This may need re-setting once the power has been restored in order to re-activate the automatic process. Check that the lever in the garage (generally next to the control box) is on auto. If it is onmanual, the remote control will not work. However, you should be able tomanually operate the garage door. Welcome to Renting with Harcourts 10
Welcome to Renting with Harcourts 11
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