Tips for Tenants
Before you rent, you should know your rights and duties as a tenant
There are a few important things to consider before deciding to rent a property. 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
Rights and responsibilities when renting
Issues may arise when you are renting property and it is important that you are aware of who is responsible and have the issue dealt with before it becomes a bigger problem than it should be.As a tenant you are obliged to do the following:
- Ensure the property is kept neat and clean inside and out
- Not cause damage to the premises
- Inform the landlord or property manager if any damage is done
- Ask for the landlords permission to install fixtures, hang pictures or make alterations, renovations etc
- Do not participate in anything illegal on the property
- Please remember (as per the Residential Tenancies Act 1997) you must give a minimum of 28 days notice in writing to the office prior to vacating. If this is not received and acknowledged by your property manager, your lease will continue as normal
- Keep the premises in good repair and undertake necessary maintenance in accordance with the Tenancies Act
- Ensure the security of the property by making sure all doors have locks and windows are secure
- Ensure the tenant always has copies of the appropriate keys
- Avoid disturbing the tenant unnecessarily