Renting – Avoid Common Mistakes Before You Sign on the Dotted Line

Sydney, Australia, October 21, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Disputes, maintenance issues, difficult neighbours and the like can ruin your rental experience. Most disputes arise from misunderstandings between tenants and landlords, and a lack of due diligence by tenants before signing the agreement. The reality is that the majority of complaints emerge from the tenants’ side.

“Our experience has shown that many tenants do not fully understand their rights and responsibilities when signing a lease agreement and this most often leads to disputes. Tenants should always make sure that they read the agreement and especially any appendices thoroughly. Tenants should not be afraid to question anything they don’t understand before signing,” said Pia Vogel, HomeSource, Joint Managing Director.

“The inspection of the property is also crucial - showers, taps, water pressure, appliances, lights, cupboard interiors, parking facilities (if included), common areas, toilets, power points, floor coverings, blinds, windows and doors, cleanliness, any signs of bugs and mould; and finally whether there is mobile phone coverage, should all be checked to minimize the risk of nasty surprises once the agreement is signed.

If your landlord has promised to make any repairs you asked for after the inspection, make sure it’s noted in the agreement and most importantly, you need to clarify how maintenance and emergency repairs are handled.

“Tenants usually don’t have any idea who to call or where to get assistance in case of an emergency and generally rely on the property manager or landlord to be available. Tenants should ask for a listing of preferred tradespeople; or if the property is covered by a maintenance and emergency repair cover like Landlord Assist to make sure that assistance will be available 24/7,” Ms Vogel also added.

Landlord Assist is an Australian first and has been specifically designed to cover the main sources of unforeseen repairs covering electrical and plumbing maintenance and emergencies. Once joined, Landlord Assist covers the labor costs associated with these sorts of repairs, providing a reliable and convenient point of contact for tenants and potentially saves the landlord $1000s per year.

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