What should I be aware of
at landlord inspections?
Landlord inspections are important to both the tenant and the
lessor. It gives the lessor a reference for how well the tenant
takes care of the property, as well as affording the tenant another
line of communication for rental property maintenance issues. The
lessor must provide the tenant with a written notice of the
inspection; this must be received by the tenant seven to fourteen
days before the scheduled time (dependant on state laws). During
the inspection, the lessor or their agent are permitted to inspect
all rooms to assess them for potential damage, pest infestation and
necessary maintenance; however they are not permitted to rummage
through personal belongings.
What if another person
moves into the property during the lease?
The lessor of the property has the right to know of and approve any
extra people moving in, unless they are staying on an informal
basis, i.e. a family member or friend staying on a temporary basis.
Written consent must be sought by the tenant before sub letting or
transferring any part of the premises. This should be in the form
of a sub letting agreement or co-tennancy application. The lessor
is not allowed to unreasonably refuse to give permission for extra
tenants. If consent is not sought then the tenant is in breach of
their tenancy agreement and the lessor has the right to take
action.
What sort of renovations or
refurbishments can I make?
Unless the tenancy agreement allows minor changes to the property
by the tenant, consent from the lessor must be sought by the
tenant, preferably in writing. If renovations or refurbishments are
made by the tenant without consent, the lessor can treat such
changes as a breach and seek to resolve the dispute. A lessor
however must not be unreasonable in granting consent.
What do I do in the case of a tenant breaking a lease
agreement?
The first step to be taken when there has been a breach in the
rental agreement is to issue the tenant with a written notice of
the breach (notice forms differ depending on the state). If the
breach has not been rectified within the required period, a notice
to vacate can then be issued with the required notice period.
If you would like more information, please contact our Customer
Service and Sales team on 1800 652 224 or email
contact@parktrent.com.au
