I have a vacant property in Sydney or Melbourne. Should I worry?

You just had some news you weren’t expecting: Your property manager just called you to let you know that your tenant submitted their notice and you are faced with a vacant property in about 3 weeks! You are OK with it, given that your property has always been rented but you can’t help but feel
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bad tenant databases

All you ever wanted to know about Tenancy Databases

It may not be widely known, but Property Managers will use “Tenancy Databases” during the tenant selection process to uncover previous issues, before making a recommendation to the landlord. In a nutshell, these Databases are used as a way to ‘blacklist’ tenants that owed money after their tenancy ended or breached their agreement for a
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Asbestos is a known carcinogen

The facts and risks about asbestos

The Real Estate Institute of NSW in consultation with BIV Reports published this article recently in an attempt to educate property managers about asbestos in properties under their management. I took the opportunity to also do my own research and found some more information on the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA) website. Below I have summarised
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The test to confirm what you already know

The test to confirm what you already know!

Let’s face it, you may not hear from the property manager of your rental every day, but you already know in your heart if they are a top performer… or maybe they are just ticking boxes for you. Just to be sure though, I invite you to go through the telltale signs of the top
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Landlord Insurance

Insurers limit rent default payouts on Periodic Tenancies

Insurance companies limit their liability for rent default, if there is no current tenancy agreement! Yes, it’s true: Most insurance companies will limit a rent default claim, if there is no current tenancy agreement in place. I found that out the hard way, and I am still not very happy about it.   Insurance companies
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Routine Inspections Explained

Routine Inspections: All you ever wanted to know

The most important, and realistically only, tool a property manager has to ensure the physical well being of a property under their care, are the good old routine inspections. Simply put, routine inspections are on-site assessments that are carried out at regular intervals, to ensure that properties under a managing agent’s care, are looked after
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Tenant Responsibilities and Expectations

The most fundamental discussion a property manager needs to have with a new tenant is their day-to-day responsibilities under the Tenancy Act. It’s amazing how often property managers neglect to have a simple conversation assuming that tenants somehow are familiar with the intricacies of the legislation and familiar with what is expected of them… Well,
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Rental Bonds have gone online – information for tenants

Did you know that from January 2017, all self-managing landlords and property agents must be registered with Rental Bonds Online (RBO)? Did you also know that they must offer the service to new tenants? It’s true and not only that but it must be offered as the first option for lodgement of their residential rental bond.
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Changing your Property Manager

Question: When should you consider changing your Property Manager? Answer: As soon as you lose trust in their ability to manage your property and not a minute later. Things rarely improve. Question: Why should you consider changing your Property Manager? Answer: Because you may be better served by another who is simply better at it
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