Preparing your Investment for Lease

Under the NSW Residential Tenancies Act, an owner must:

Ensure that the property is clean, fit and safe to live in, and in a good state of repair.Maintain the premises in good repair and in a way that the premises remain fit for the resident to live in.
At Green St Property Management when you contact us for a lease appraisal we will provide you with suggestions for achieving the maximum rental, and with any items in the property that represent any health or safety concerns, we will provide recommendations to ensure that you are not exposed legally.

Our knowledge and experience is invaluable when assessing your property.

Items we may refer to when we inspect your investment property

Smoke alarms

We highly recommend you (click here) to read about smoke alarms and legislative requirements.

Swimming pool maintenance & safety checklist

If your investment property has a swimming pool, we recommend that you include a professional pool maintenance fee in the weekly rent. (The swimming pool checklist), developed by the NSW Water Safety Taskforce in consultation with local councils, has been designed to assist pool owners determine whether their pool fence or other barrier complies with the legislation.

Water efficiency

Under the NSW Residential Tenancies Act, your investment property must meet required “water efficiency” standards if you are going to charge the residents for water usage. We are happy to arrange one of our qualified plumbers to provide a water efficiency audit. A Compliance Certificate is then issued and kept on your file. Refer to us for further information or read more.

Pest control

For houses, we recommend a pest control treatment be carried out annually. If you are vacating a property where a dog/cat has been kept, a flea treatment is recommended.

Exterior cleaning & garden tidy up

For houses, we recommend pruning back any overhanging trees/vines, weeding of garden beds, mowing and edging of lawns and removal of garden waste. Pressure cleaning of driveways and/or paving areas is also recommended.

Security

Ensure that the investment property provides adequate security to enable residents to obtain contents insurance for their personal items. Also it is recommended that all locks are secure and all operate effectively with keys.

Windows and doors

Ensure that all windows and doors (including cupboard doors), open and close easily. All locks and keys must be fully functional so that the premises are fully secure.

Keys

Ensure at least 3 sets of keys, security swipe cards & remote controls (if applicable) have been provided to your Portfolio Manager including keys for window locks, garage, garden sheds and the letterbox.

Bins

Council waste bins must be made available for the resident’s use. This includes the general waste bin, the green waste bin and the recycling bin.

Appliances

It is a legal requirement that any appliances left at your investment property for use by the resident must be maintained in a working condition by the owner. It is recommended that owners retain the original warranty and appliance manuals, and provide a copy for reference by the residents.

Strata owners corporation

If the property is a strata unit, villa or townhouse, a copy of the Strata By-Laws should be provided to us as we are legally obliged to provide the resident with a copy. Should the Strata By-Laws be changed or updated by the Owners Corporation, please provide us with a copy of the changed By-Laws so they can be provided to the resident. When your investment property has been leased, we also advise the Owners Corporation/Strata Manager know the name & contact details of the new resident.

Carpet cleaning

We recommend that professional carpet cleaning be carried out prior to a resident moving in. The resident is required, at the end of their lease, to ensure that the carpet is left in as close as possible the same condition as when they moved in (fair wear and tear excepted). Having the carpets professionally cleaned prior to the resident moving in, sets a good standard.

Cleaning

It is very important at the commencement of the tenancy, that the property has a PRE-RESIDENT CLEAN. We can arrange a pre-resident clean quote with one of our recommended cleaners if required. If we hand over your investment property with a high standard of cleanliness, we can ensure the residents return the property to the same standard of clean at the end of the tenancy.

General repairs & safety issues

Upon inspecting your investment property, we will make recommendations as to any repairs/safety issues that may need to be addressed–prior to a resident moving in.

Looking for Houses For Sale, Rental Properties (Residential and Commercial), Listings, Appraisals and Property Management in Newcastle, Adamstown, Cooks Hill, Islington, Merewether, New Lambton, Hunter Valley and Lake Macquarie areas, Green St Property has your investment covered all the way.