Tenant Tips

Office hours for enquiries and advice

Monday - Friday 8.30 a.m - 5.30 p.m
Saturday 9.00 a.m - 12.30 p.m

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Melbourne: 9831 3416
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Bellarine Peninsula: 5258 2833
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Geelong: 5222 7725

Rental Payments

All rental payments are only accepted by direct debit: cheque or savings. If you experience any difficulties in paying your rent, we encourage you to please contact your property manager to discuss as soon as possible.

Applying to rent

Each Tuesday, Fletchers rental list is updated with open times and is available on our web site and at reception at each office. Properties are open on Saturdays and during the week or can be viewed by contacting our leasing consultants.

Prospective tenants can apply for a property by completing an application form found on our web site or at reception in any of our offices. The application form is required to be completed in full detail with references provided where appropriate. As our company has a major responsibility in leasing and managing the property, it is essential that we check credentials before properties are let.

Once an application is approved, a Tenancy Agreement is raised for the landlord and the tenant to sign. It is a legally binding agreement whereby both parties agree to abide by conditions set out in the agreement. The lease is based on the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.

At the signing of this agreement, the tenant is required to pay their bond and rent by two separate bank cheques. The rental cheque being one month's calendar rent in advance is payable to Fletchers Real Estate and the bond is for the same amount payable to the R.T.B.A. (Residential Tenancies Bond Authority). The R.T.B.A. hold onto the bond in trust for the tenant until it is released back to the tenant upon a successful completion of the tenancy.

Before taking occupancy of the premises, our company will complete a detailed Condition Report as evidence to how the property has been presented to the tenant. The tenant has three working days to make any corrections to this report before signing it and returning it to our agency. A Statement of Rights and Duties is also provided to the tenant, which is a summary outline of both parties rights under a tenancy agreement.

Rental Applications Guidelines

Please be assured that all information provided in your application will remain confidential and not discussed with any other party with the exceptions of the owner and as required for the purpose of processing your application.

Please allow one business day to process your application. Processing does not always take this long, however, the property owner must be consulted prior to the decision being made and they are not always immediately accessible. Delays may also be incurred if the application is not completed correctly.

For identification purposes, please supply a photocopy of your current drivers license or passport.

How to calculate the monthly rental payable

     Weekly rental/7 days of the week x 365 days of the year/12 months

     Note: Monthly rental is calculated to the next dollar

Within 24 hours upon confirmation of approval you will be required to pay $__________ being the first months rent by either bank cheque or money order in our office. Failure to do so may result in the next applicant being given preference or the property re-listed.

It is your responsibility to arrange to have all services connected in your name to coincide with your date of occupation. Please see information sheet given once deposit has been paid.

We request that you make an appointment with your Property Manager to sign the lease and pay the bond money in the form of a bank cheque or money order made payable to the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority.

Ask for help if you are not sure. Rental property management is an important part of our business. We are conscious of developing a professional relationship with all of our tenants. We are here to help you. If you are unsure or concerned about any aspect of this application, your call is welcome.

If your application has been unsuccessful it will be destroyed.

Periodic Inspections

During the term of your tenancy it is our policy to conduct six month inspections.Your Property Manager will contact you to arrange a mutually convenient time to carry out the inspection.These inspections are to monitor how the property is being maintained and also to see what routine maintenance is required to be carried out by the landlord.

Keys

One set of keys is provided at the commencement of the tenancy. These keys are photocopied and signed for by the tenant. In most cases, a back-up set is held by our agency. These keys are security coded. If a tenant locks themselves out or loses their keys, the office set if held - may be collected by the tenant in office hours, provided suitable photo ID is produced and they are signed for. These keys must be returned within 24 hours. It is always wise that the tenant arranges a spare set of keys that are readily and easily accessible in case the above situation arises out of office hours. If a tenant changes a lock, they are required to pass a copy onto their agent.

Insurance

We strongly suggest that you insure your personal possessions against loss, damage or theft. The landlord does not have any obligation to insure your personal items.

Repairs and maintenance
All repairs unless deemed as urgent under The Residential Tenancies Act 1997 are to be put in writing using the Maintenance Form provided in your tenant folder. Maintenance Forms can also be completed on line by visiting our web site.

Either the landlord or a tradesman organised by our firm will contact you to arrange a mutually convenient time to carry out the repair ASAP.

For Urgent Repairs after hours please contact our preferred Tradespeople.

Terminating a tenancy agreement

Click here to download Vacation Notice from tenants

Either landlord or tenant can terminate a tenancy by giving the other party the appropriate notice under The Residential Tenancies Act 1997.

If a tenant wants to simply vacate whilst on a monthly tenancy, 28 days written notice is required. It is accepted as received the day it arrives at our office. If there is still a fixed term in force, the tenant should call their Property Manager to discuss finding a suitable tenant ASAP. 28 days written notice is still required. The tenant is also responsible for the following:

a) Pay rent until the property is re-let to an approved tenant by the landlord or continue to pay rent until the expiration of the fixed term agreement, whichever occurs first.

b) Pay a pro rata letting fee to the agent.

c) Pay any pro rata advertising fee

d) Pay for credit checks conducted on new applicants pro rata

Vacating/Final Inspections

Upon receiving written notice that a tenant is vacating, our company will confirm this and provide a checklist as to how the tenant should leave the property. In short, the property should be left clean and tidy gardens attended to and if any accidental damage has occurred, this should also be attended to prior to the final inspection.

Our policy is to conduct the final inspection with the tenant once they have completely vacated the property and finished all their cleaning, gardening etc. On the basis that this has been done, most final inspections are straight forward to conduct. All keys, remote controls and the rentcard are to be handed over at this inspection. Our reference is always the original Condition Report completed by both parties at the commencement of the tenancy. A bond claim form is completed and signed by both the tenant and the agent to release the bond to the tenant. Any agreed deductions may be deducted from the bond.

If there are any disputes between the landlord and tenant and an agreement cannot be reached, a VCAT hearing will be applied for by our company. At this hearing, a referee hears evidence from both parties and will then make a binding decision. We feel it is wise to reach an agreement between both parties to avoid this - often time consuming process.