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Water - Landlords are required to provide tenants with a reasonable usage and supply of water. Where the tenant has abusively used water we are able to charge the difference between a reasonable consumption and the actual “abused” consumption. We have a tried and tested method of determining what is fair and reasonable and what is abusive and this may well vary from house to house and tenancy to tenancy as it is influenced by the number of occupants in the home, seasons and the individual features of a home such as lavish gardens, swimming pools etc (see white sheet enclosed). Please be aware that pools may not be topped up using town water unless the home has been fitted out with the mandatory water saving devices as dictated by Brisbane City Council.
Gardens - A tenant is only obliged to mow, weed and edge lawns and garden. Tenants are not required to prune, cutback or attend to any maintenance in areas that may be onerous/dangerous to access. In addition tenants are not obliged to nurture any newly established landscaping. Landlords therefore may be well advised to budget for the cost of pruning and providing maintenance for areas such as steep embankments or narrow areas above retaining walls/rock features.
Pets - We have noticed a significant increase in the number of tenants who have pets. A blanket refusal to consider applications with pets most certainly reduces the target market of potential tenants. Being open minded on the subject may well give you the leading edge in what has become a very competitive market place. We do obtain references on the pets and do explain to tenants their responsibilities. We have experienced very few problems that have arisen as a result of pets and these have all been resolvable.
Instruction Manuals - Please provide us with instruction manuals for any appliances including stoves, dishwashers, air-cons, alarm and irrigations systems. Tenants are not always able to figure out timers on stoves; different setting on air-cons etc, and this would then require a callout (at your expense) from a professional to explain.
Smoke Detectors & Safety Switches - Please also remember changes to legislation that now requires all rented homes to be fitted with a safety switch to all power points. These must be fitted within 6 months of any new tenancy or by February 2008, whichever happens first. Additionally all homes must be fitted with smoke detectors by no later than July 07. Lessors are also required by legislation to test and clean detectors within 30 days of every tenancy commencing as well as being required to change batteries when made aware the batteries are spent or almost spent. These obligations cannot be passed onto the tenant