Tenant Resources

 

Applying for a rental property

When you have found property that meets your needs, you will need to complete and submit a Tenancy Application Form.

You must provide:

  • Current and previous addresses
  • Current and previous rental histories
  • Current and previous employment histories
  • References
  • Next of kin details
  • 100 Points of Identification which includes compulsory proof of income and photo identification

 

Bond

What is a Bond?

The bond is held to cover any potential future damage to the property (if shown to be the tenant’s fault) or for other discrepancies at the end of the tenancy.

All bonds are lodged with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA).

How much is the Bond?

This is calculated by dividing one week’s rent by 7 days, multiplying by 365 days, then dividing by 12. This is equivalent to one calendar month’s rent. In some cases, an additional amount may be requested.

Paying the Bond

The bond amount is to be paid to Prime Real Estate by EFT with appropriate reference details.

Bond Receipt

A receipt for the bond will be emailed to the tenant/s.

Services & Utilities

It is the Tenants responsibility to arrange for the connections and disconnection of all services to their home.

Tenants may nominate on the Application form to have a third party company contact them with information about service options for them to consider prior to connecting services. This is an easy way to have all your services connected at the same time.

Prime Real Estate carries no responsibility with your connections and cannot be held accountable for connections not being available or ready at your property.

 

Paying Rent

The rent is due on the date prior to the lease starting and must be paid fortnightly in advance.

A tenant may choose to pay monthly in advance.

If a tenant would like to pay their rent on alternative intervals, this must be approved by Prime Real Estate and the Landlord prior to the commencement of the lease.

We request that rent is paid directly into an account advised by us at the time of signing the Tenancy Agreement.

This can be done over the Internet or by attending the local branch of a bank.

Inspections

Initial Inspection

The Property Manager will complete an inspection and full condition report at the commencement of the lease which is also accompanied by photos of the property. Tenants are given the opportunity to check this report, make any additions and return it to Prime Real Estate within 3 business days.

This report is the reference for the condition of the property at the final inspection which is carried out by the Property Manager.

Periodic Routine Inspections

We are required to conduct regular Routine Inspections and submit a report to the Landlord, as managing agents of the property, to ensure that the property is being maintained.

A Routine Inspections is conducted 3 months into the tenancy and every 6 months thereafter. Tenants are sent a letter advising when this inspection will be conducted.

Should the tenant not be home at the time of the inspection we can use our office keys to access the property and leave a business card confirming that we have completed the inspection.

In order to have an accurate record of this, we use an ‘App’ on our iPhone to take photos. We have no interest in taking images of tenants’ personal items but as you understand, it is often impossible to take photos without some personal effects being in in them.

The law allows us to take photos – please see link below to the relevant section on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website:

https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing-and-accommodation/renting/during-a-lease-or-residency/landlord-or-agents-right-to-enter-the-property

“Taking photos during inspections”

An agent or landlord may take photos of a property during an inspection. This may include instances where the property is being sold or re-let, and the photos will be used to advertise it. In such cases, the tenant may ask that no photos taken identifying them as living there.”

We suggest that you remove any personal items, such as photos or other personal effects, prior to future inspections, if you do not wish them to be photographed.

Final Inspection

A Final inspection will be conducted upon the tenant vacating the property.

The final inspection report is closely checked with the condition report which was completed during the Initial Inspection. This ensures that there has been no damage to the property (beyond normal wear and tear) and that no fixtures have been removed or attached without permission. It is important that power is connected for at least three business days after your vacate date to allow us to do the Final Inspection and check that all electrical appliances and lights are in working order otherwise there could be unnecessary delays in sorting out any potential issues.

Bond Refund

The bond will be refunded after the property is fully vacated, all keys have been returned to our office and a final inspection has been carried out – less any deductions that may be agreed or directed by the tribunal.

Landlord claims on the Bond

A landlord may be able to claim some or all of the bond:

  • If there is damage done by the tenant which is beyond fair wear and tear
  • If personal items are left behind
  • If the house is left dirty
  • If rent is left unpaid at the end of the tenancy
  • If you fail to comply with any other obligation and the landlord suffers loss as a result of this

Note – If the claim by the landlord is greater than the bond, the tenant may be ordered to pay an additional amount.