Office hours for enquiries and advice:
Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m - 5:30 p.m
Saturday 9.00 a.m - 1.00 p.m
Sales: (03) 5440 5000
Rentals: (03) 5440 5060
Commercial / Industrial Sales and Leasing: (03) 5440 5090
Rental Payments
Are to be made 2 weeks in advance by one of the options provided at the commencement of the tenancy. If you experience any difficulties in paying your rent, we encourage you to please contact your Property Manager to discuss as soon as possible.
Applying to rent
Each day, DCK rental list is updated and available on our internet site and at reception. In a majority of cases, an appointment is to be made with our property manager to view a property. Those that are available for inspection without our property manager, an appointment will be made with occupant. Contact our office to make a suitable time.
Prospective tenants can apply for a property by completing an application form. The application form is required to be completed in full detail with references provided where appropriate. As our company has a major responsibility in leasing and managing the property, it is essential that we check credentials before properties are let.
Once an application is approved, a Tenancy Agreement is raised for the landlord and the tenant to sign. It is a legally binding agreement whereby both parties agree to abide by conditions set out in the agreement. The lease is based on the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.
At the signing of this agreement, the tenant is required to pay their bond and rent by two separate cheques. The rental cheque being 2 weeks rent in advance is payable to DCK Real Estate and the bond is for four weeks payable to the R.T.B.A. (Residential Tenancies Bond Authority). The R.T.B.A. hold onto the bond in trust for the tenant until it is released back to the tenant upon a successful completion of the tenancy.
Before taking occupancy of the premises, our company will complete a detailed Condition Report as evidence to how the property has been presented to the tenant. The tenant has three working days to make any corrections to this report before signing it and returning it to our agency. A Statement of Rights and Duties is also provided to the tenant, which is a summary outline of both parties rights under a tenancy agreement.
Periodic Inspections
During the term of your tenancy it is our policy to conduct six month inspections.Your Property Manager will contact you to arrange a mutually convenient time to carry out the inspection.These inspections are to monitor how the property is being maintained and also to see what routine maintenance is required to be carried out by the landlord.
Keys
One set of keys is provided at the commencement of the tenancy. In some cases, a back-up set is held by our agency. These keys are security coded. If a tenant locks themselves out or loses their keys, the office set if held - may be collected by the tenant in office hours, provided suitable photo ID is produced and they are signed for. These keys must be returned within 24 hours. It is always wise that the tenant arranges a spare set of keys that are readily and easily accessible in case the above situation arises out of office hours. If a tenant changes a lock, they are required to pass a copy onto their agent.
Insurance
We strongly suggest that you insure your personal possessions against loss, damage or theft. The landlord does not have any obligation to insure your personal items.
Repairs and maintenance
All repairs unless deemed as urgent under The Residential Tenancies Act 1997 are to be put in writing using the Maintenance Form provided in your tenant folder.
Either the landlord or a tradesman organised by our firm will contact you to arrange a mutually convenient time to carry out the repair ASAP.
For Urgent Repairs after 5.30pm in the evening or before 9.00am weekdays and after 1pm Saturdays, please refer to the urgent repairs information listed on your tenancy lease schedule given to you at the beginning of your tenancy.
Terminating a tenancy agreement
Either landlord or tenant can terminate a tenancy by giving the other party the appropriate notice under The Residential Tenancies Act 1997.
If a tenant wants to simply vacate whilst on a monthly tenancy, 28 days written notice is required. It is accepted as received the day it arrives at our office. If there is still a fixed term in force, the tenant should call their Property Manager to discuss finding a suitable tenant ASAP. 28 days written notice is still required. The tenant is also responsible for the following:
a) Pay rent until the property is re-let to an approved tenant by the landlord or continue to pay rent until the expiration of the fixed term agreement, whichever occurs first.
b) Pay a pro rata letting fee to the agent.
Vacating/Final Inspections
Upon receiving written notice that a tenant is vacating our company will confirm this and provide a checklist as to how the tenant should leave the property. In short, the property should be left clean and tidy gardens attended to and if any accidental damage has occurred, this should also be attended to prior to the final inspection.
Our policy is to conduct the final inspection once the tenant has completely vacated the property and finished all their cleaning, gardening etc. On the basis that this has been done, most final inspections are straight forward to conduct. Our reference is always the original Condition Report completed by both parties at the commencement of the tenancy. A bond claim form is completed and signed by both the tenant and the agent to authorise the RTBA to release the bond to the tenant. Any agreed deductions may be deducted from the bond.
If there are any disputes between the landlord and tenant and an agreement cannot be reached, a VCAT hearing will be applied for by our company. At this hearing, a referee hears evidence from both parties and will then make a binding decision. We feel it is wise to reach an agreement between both parties to avoid this - often time consuming process. |