Tenant Guide

We have put together the following information to assist you throughout the period of your tenancy:

• Office Location
• Office Hours
• Rental Payments
• Rental Bond
• Electricity, Gas & Telephone
• Keys
• Inspections
• Repairs & Maintenance
• Vacating a Property
• Termination of Agreement

Office Location
250 The Parade NORWOOD SA 5067
Phone: (08) 8333 2333
Fax: (08) 8333 2403
Email: [email protected]

Office Hours
Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm
For emergency service after hours please contact 0415 060 996

Rental Payments
Rental payments may be made by a number of options:

• Cash
• Electronic Funds Transfer
• Centrepay (Centrelink automatic payment deduction)
• Cheque or money order

Payment details are as follows for EFT :

• Account Name: A & J Vella Real Estate
• Bank: Bendigo Bank
• BSB: 633-000
• Account Number: 148285166

When paying at the bank, please ensure that your surname and property address are included as a reference so your payment can be processed.

Rental Bond
Bond is required for rental premises and is held as security against any damage to the premises. The amount required is usually four week's rental but can be six week's rental if the rent is greater than $800 per week. It is necessary that it be paid prior to the commencement of your tenancy. Your rental bond will be lodged with the Residential Tenancies Bond Office.

Upon vacating, the bond will be refunded to you, providing the property is left in the same condition (or as close as possible allowing for fair wear and tear) as when the Residential Tenancy Agreement commenced, and there are no other monies owing.

Inspections
A property inspection will be conducted prior to the commencement of your Residential Tenancy Agreement to determine the 'entry' status of the property, and then conducted every three to four months during the course of your tenancy to check on how the property is being maintained and to see what routine maintenance may be required.

Seven to fourteen days notice will be provided for the inspection. You are not required to be present at the inspection.

A final or 'exit' inspection will be undertaken a the expiration of your lease once you have vacated the property. This inspection will determine if the property has been left in the same condition (or as close as possible allowing for fair wear and tear) as when the Residential Tenancy Agreement commenced.

Keys
A duplicate key to all properties is retained by Vella Real Estate for emergency access. Under special circumstances these keys may be borrowed during office hours, however must be returned within 24 hours. Identification will be required and no service is available out of office hours or on public holidays.

It is therefore advisable that you should also make private arrangements regarding the location of a spare key, should you inadvertently lock yourself out.

Locks may only be changed at your expense after obtaining permission from Vella Real Estate. In this event a spare set of keys must be supplied to our office within 24 hours.

Electricity, Gas & Telephone
Upon commencement or at the termination of your Residential Tenancy Agreement the tenant is responsible for organising the appropriate services to be placed in their name(s) and to have a meter reading prior to moving in or vacating the premises.

Set out below are contact numbers for some of these authorities:

• AGL: 131 245 (Electricity and Gas Connection)
• Origin Energy: 132 461 (Electricity and Gas Connection)
• Telstra: 132 200 (Telephone)
• Translation service 131 450

Insurance
Contents insurance is the responsibility of the tenant and we strongly encourage you to insure your personal possessions against any theft, loss or damage.

Repairs & Maintenance
All repairs are to be put in writing by emailing your property manager.

All repairs will be attended to as promptly as possible, however, it is often a requirement that the Landlord's approval and/or quotes must be obtained prior to any work commencing. Therefore, a delay is sometimes unavoidable.

Upkeep of gardens and grounds (such as weeding, mowing, watering, etc) are the responsibility of the tenant - including ensuring gutters are kept clean and free of obstruction.

Should you have difficulty maintaining your garden, please speak to one of our Property Managers. It is possible to organise gardening services at minimal expense.

Vacating a Property
When vacating it is the tenant's responsibility to ensure that the property is left in the same condition (or as close as possible allowing for fair wear and tear) as when the Residential Tenancy Agreement commenced, and that there are no monies owing.
Items to be aware of that are often forgotten are:

• Cleaning of oven, cooktop and exhaust fan
• Cleaning of ceiling fans and / or air-conditioner
• Cleaning of windows and window tracks
• Mowing of lawns
• Weeding of gardens
• Removal of rubbish

A detailed final inspection guide may be obtained from our office upon your request.

The agent will compare the condition of the property at vacating to the original property inspection report (allowing for fair wear and tear). Should items need to be rectified, the cost of such items may be deducted from the bond.

Termination of the Tenancy Agreement
Your Residential Tenancy Agreement is a legal and binding contract, providing protection for both you and the Landlord.

The Residential Tenancy Agreement can be terminated by you in the following ways:
 

• If you intend to vacate at the end of your Residential Tenancy Agreement, you are required to give not less than 28 days written notice prior to the expiry of the fixed term of your Agreement.
   
• For Periodic Lease, there will not be a fixed end-of-lease date. If you intend to vacate, written notice to that effect must be received by our office at least 21 days prior to the vacating date.
   
• Should you need to vacate the property prior to the expiration of your fixed term Residential Tenancy Agreement due to unforeseen circumstances, please contact your Property Manager immediately. In this situation, Vella Real Estate will endeavour to find another suitable tenant as soon as possible. However, you will be responsible for the lost of rent until such a time that another suitable tenant is found or end of your lease, whichever comes first. Additionally, you will be responsible for payment of a letting fee and any advertising costs.
   
• Any changes made to the Residential Tenancy Agreement will result in an administration fee payable by the tenant.