HOW LONG WILL THE INDUCTION INTERVIEW TAKE?
The induction process usually takes between 20 – 45 minutes. It is important that all of the expectations are explained. The process can be shorter when the bond is paid via BondsOnline, the tenancy agreement has been signed by DocuSign & the Introduction Video is available.
HOW DO I PAY THE RENT?
The preferred payment method is via direct debit. Tenants will receive either an email or sms inviting them to the Ezidebit Rent Payment System. Tenants can choose to download the Tenant App which is utilised for both rental payments as well as routine inspections throughout the tenancy. The tenant should nominate their chosen bank account & can nominate the payment frequency directly or via their property manager. Tenants, where authorised can pay rent via personal cheque or money order. Unfortunately we do not have any credit card or BPay options & rent cannot be transferred into the Trust account.
HOW DO WATER CHARGES WORK?
If the property is separately metered for water consumption, then the tenant is required to pay for 100% of the water usage during their tenancy. The property manager will send out a water usage invoice as well as a detailed copy of the usage charges when they receive it from the Queanbeyan Council. Generally, all houses & most modern units & townhouses will all have individual water meters. Many of the older unit complexes in Queanbeyan have a single meter shared between the lots & therefore the tenant cannot be asked to pay for any water usage.
Tenants can easily pay their water bills via the Ezidebit app or arrange an automatic payment schedule with their property manager.
WHAT IS 'FAIR WEAR AND TEAR?
NSW Fair Trading provide a framework for the term ‘fair wear & tear’ & ultimately a tribunal member is the person who makes the determination on a case by case basis.
Fair wear & tear generally, means the normal deterioration of a property from ordinary, everyday use. Exposure to the elements, time, as well as day to day living can cause fair wear & tear.
Basically, anything that happens in the normal course of living in a property can be considered fair wear & tear.
CAN THE RENT BE INCREASED DURING A TENANCY?
For a fixed-term of less than 2 years >
rent can only be increased during the fixed-term if the agreement sets out the increased amount or how the increase will be calculated. No written notice of
the increase is required.
For a fixed-term of 2 years or more, or for a periodic agreement (i.e. where the fixed-term has expired or no fixed-term is specified) >
rent can only be increased once in a 12-month period. You must get at least 60 days written notice.
HOW MUCH NOTICE DOES A TENANT NEED TO GIVE TO END A TENANCY?
Ending a Fixed Term – 14 days
you are vacating & your tenancy agreement is about to expire:
If you are leaving at the end of your current fixed term lease, the legislation requires at least 14 days notice in writing.
Please note that this amount of notice needs to commence when we have received your notice, not when it was posted.
Ending a Non-Fixed (Periodic) Term – 21 days
you are vacating & your tenancy agreement has already expired:
If you are leaving on a non-fixed term (periodic) lease
you are required to provide 21 days notice in writing.
Please note that this amount of notice needs to commence
when we have received your notice, not when it was posted to us.
Breaking a Fixed Term
There is a new compulsory Break fee provision for all new tenancy agreements. The tenant is required to pay a sliding scale of 1-4 weeks rent when they break the lease, depending on how much of the lease is remaining. There has also been an interim provision legislated for COVID-19 impacted tenants which caps the break fee to only 2 weeks.
The prescribed break fees for all new agreements are:
4 weeks rent if less than 25 % of the agreement has expired
3 weeks rent if 25 % or more but less than 50 % of the agreement has expired
2 weeks rent if 50 % or more but less than 75 % of the agreement has expired
1 week’s rent if 75 % or more of the agreement has expired.
For example: If seven months of a 12-month tenancy agreement (or 58%) has expired, a tenant would need to pay a fee equal to 2 weeks rent as a ‘break fee’.
