09Jun2016
7 Things to Note During End of Lease in Sydney
Property inspection during end of lease is usually stressful for nearly every tenant. It’s a process that is difficult to escape especially if you are living in a city like Sydney.
At some point you will rent a house or flat and will be required to go through property inspection when the lease agreement expires. As a tenant, the most important thing is to pass the inspection in order to receive your bond money. Here are 7 important tips on how to pass property inspection during end of lease:
The inspection does not just happen abruptly because the landlord has to notify you in advance about the same. Most property owners will give you a week’s notice which is enough time to get your things in order.
The lease agreement usually contains the date of expiry and that means that you’ll have knowledge of when the contract ends. You should then take advantage of that to ensure that the flat or house is in good condition before the inspection process begins.
It’s much easier to take care of issues like cleaning, painting and repairs when you have enough time than when you are in a hurry. Doing things when you don’t have much time is disadvantageous because you are likely to miss important issues or not tend to them properly.
Pretend that you are the landlord and carry out a mock inspection just to determine areas of the house that need repair or cleaning. It will help you to come up with a list of issues that require fixing.
Try and put yourself in the landlord’s position so that you don’t ignore anything that needs attention. A mock inspection goes a long way in helping you to address various problem areas and prepares you well in advance for the actual house inspection process.
Most tenants do not realize how important this is yet it’s an ideal way of assuming a position of impartiality to make the process as smooth as possible. I don’t think that there is any tenant out there who would enjoy losing his or her hard earned money simply because they failed to prepare for end of lease inspection.
A clean house is a great place to live in because it’s welcoming and comfortable to spend time in. Cleanliness also enhances the aesthetic value of the house by making it look amazing and ”new”. Property managers tend to be petty and very strict with tenants with dirty flats.
It portrays you as someone who is irresponsible and careless and also an indication of much more serious damages to the property. If you can’t keep the very place that you live in tidy then how can you be responsible enough to prevent or even repair damages to the property?
The landlord may overlook minor issues simply because the flat is clean but when it’s dirty, even the very minor problems will be noticed. As you prepare for the final inspection, make an effort to thoroughly clean the property and have it looking wonderful. If you don’t have enough time to clean your property yourself, then it’s best to hire professional end of lease cleaners in Sydney to do the job for you.
The property should be in the same condition that you found it in or even better. Take time to fix every broken window, damaged sockets, tiles and carry out water damage repairs. If any part of the roof needs repair or replacement, ensure that you do the necessary.
If you can’t repair all the broken and damaged areas and parts of the house, the landlord will use your bond money to meet the arising costs. You may realize that sometimes the costs of doing the repairs yourself are much lower than the bond money deposited.
At the end of the day you are the one who will have lost. In fact if there is one thing that property managers and landlords are always very particular about during the final property inspection exercise, it’s repairs. Handle that and you’ll have a very pleasant time. It’s also just good manners to fix what you’ve broken.
Do not focus so much on the interior parts of the house and forget the exterior. If the property has a garden, make sure that you tend to it and have it looking neat and beautiful. Mow the lawn and trim the trees around the compound and keep them looking presentable. All these go a long way in making the property appear lovely and well taken care of.
The law requires tenants and property owners to have pest control done in case pets are kept in the house. This cost will be absorbed by the pet owner, which means that as a tenant who keeps pet animals, you will pay for the pest control services.
Ensure that this is done before the inspection and have proof of the same in terms of documentation. You can move your pets to a friend’s or family member’s house until you move out of the property. You can also save a reasonable amount of money when you contract and pay for the services yourself as opposed to leaving that task to the property manager.
Some tenants are easily intimidated by property owners during inspection. Remember that the landlord is not doing you a favor by leasing out his or her property to you and neither are you doing him or her any by living on the property. It is simply a business arrangement guided by a contract.
Don’t panic or feel intimidated during the inspection exercise. If there is a blame that you feel has been unfairly apportioned to you, raise it up. Learn to hold your end and take responsibility for only that which you should.
There have been several cases in Sydney where property managers have tried to use the inspections to deduct part of the tenants’ bond money. By being firm, confident and reasonable, you not only protect yourself from exploitation but also establish the tone of your interaction during the inspection process.
At some point you will rent a house or flat and will be required to go through property inspection when the lease agreement expires. As a tenant, the most important thing is to pass the inspection in order to receive your bond money. Here are 7 important tips on how to pass property inspection during end of lease:
1. Prepare Early Enough
The inspection does not just happen abruptly because the landlord has to notify you in advance about the same. Most property owners will give you a week’s notice which is enough time to get your things in order.
The lease agreement usually contains the date of expiry and that means that you’ll have knowledge of when the contract ends. You should then take advantage of that to ensure that the flat or house is in good condition before the inspection process begins.
It’s much easier to take care of issues like cleaning, painting and repairs when you have enough time than when you are in a hurry. Doing things when you don’t have much time is disadvantageous because you are likely to miss important issues or not tend to them properly.
2. Carry Out Your Own Inspection First
Pretend that you are the landlord and carry out a mock inspection just to determine areas of the house that need repair or cleaning. It will help you to come up with a list of issues that require fixing.
Try and put yourself in the landlord’s position so that you don’t ignore anything that needs attention. A mock inspection goes a long way in helping you to address various problem areas and prepares you well in advance for the actual house inspection process.
Most tenants do not realize how important this is yet it’s an ideal way of assuming a position of impartiality to make the process as smooth as possible. I don’t think that there is any tenant out there who would enjoy losing his or her hard earned money simply because they failed to prepare for end of lease inspection.
3. Clean The House and The Surrounding Areas
A clean house is a great place to live in because it’s welcoming and comfortable to spend time in. Cleanliness also enhances the aesthetic value of the house by making it look amazing and ”new”. Property managers tend to be petty and very strict with tenants with dirty flats.
It portrays you as someone who is irresponsible and careless and also an indication of much more serious damages to the property. If you can’t keep the very place that you live in tidy then how can you be responsible enough to prevent or even repair damages to the property?
The landlord may overlook minor issues simply because the flat is clean but when it’s dirty, even the very minor problems will be noticed. As you prepare for the final inspection, make an effort to thoroughly clean the property and have it looking wonderful. If you don’t have enough time to clean your property yourself, then it’s best to hire professional end of lease cleaners in Sydney to do the job for you.
4. Do The Repairs
The property should be in the same condition that you found it in or even better. Take time to fix every broken window, damaged sockets, tiles and carry out water damage repairs. If any part of the roof needs repair or replacement, ensure that you do the necessary.
If you can’t repair all the broken and damaged areas and parts of the house, the landlord will use your bond money to meet the arising costs. You may realize that sometimes the costs of doing the repairs yourself are much lower than the bond money deposited.
At the end of the day you are the one who will have lost. In fact if there is one thing that property managers and landlords are always very particular about during the final property inspection exercise, it’s repairs. Handle that and you’ll have a very pleasant time. It’s also just good manners to fix what you’ve broken.
5. Take Care Of The Garden
Do not focus so much on the interior parts of the house and forget the exterior. If the property has a garden, make sure that you tend to it and have it looking neat and beautiful. Mow the lawn and trim the trees around the compound and keep them looking presentable. All these go a long way in making the property appear lovely and well taken care of.
6. Arrange For Pest Control If You Keep Pet Animals
The law requires tenants and property owners to have pest control done in case pets are kept in the house. This cost will be absorbed by the pet owner, which means that as a tenant who keeps pet animals, you will pay for the pest control services.
Ensure that this is done before the inspection and have proof of the same in terms of documentation. You can move your pets to a friend’s or family member’s house until you move out of the property. You can also save a reasonable amount of money when you contract and pay for the services yourself as opposed to leaving that task to the property manager.
7. Don’t Panic, Hold Your End
Some tenants are easily intimidated by property owners during inspection. Remember that the landlord is not doing you a favor by leasing out his or her property to you and neither are you doing him or her any by living on the property. It is simply a business arrangement guided by a contract.
Don’t panic or feel intimidated during the inspection exercise. If there is a blame that you feel has been unfairly apportioned to you, raise it up. Learn to hold your end and take responsibility for only that which you should.
There have been several cases in Sydney where property managers have tried to use the inspections to deduct part of the tenants’ bond money. By being firm, confident and reasonable, you not only protect yourself from exploitation but also establish the tone of your interaction during the inspection process.
