TIPS FOR FINDING THE RIGHT PROPERTY
- Take a drive around the area that you are looking at, including adjoining areas. You may find a nearby area is equally appealing and may offer better value for money.
- Check our website and Facebook page for updates and new property listings.
- Take advantage of our open for inspection times or make an appointment to view properties that interest you on 6362 9560.
- You can submit your application before viewing the property. This lets us start reviewing your application ahead of time, leading to quicker approval times once you view the property. All applications are submitted online through 2Apply.
- Give as much detail as possible on your application form to avoid delays, and improve your chance of success.
STARTING A TENANCY
TENANCY APPLICATION
With One Agency Orange, you can submit your application for pre-processing before you view a property.
All applications are completed online via 2Apply which will require you to create an account. This account allows you to apply for multiple rental properties with the ease and speed of just one application. Follow all prompts in 2Apply to complete your application.
Q: Why do I need to provide so much information with my application?
A: To assist in establishing that you will make a good tenant, the properties managed by our office are protected by Landlord Insurance Policies. These policies require documented evidence to confirm the following:
– Proof of identity
– Proof of income / ability to meet rental payments
– Proof that you will make a good tenant.
Q: How long will it take to process my application?
A: We will commence checking your application as soon as we receive it; however the total time taken depends on how readily we can contact your references and how many other people have applied for the same property. Average time is 1-3 days.
Q: What can I do to improve my application?
A: Be organised. Make sure that you have all of the necessary documentation to accompany your application, and provide plenty of contact numbers for your references.
Q: What can I do to improve my chances of success?
A: We look for tenants with good rental history. Most importantly, we need to establish that your rent has been paid on time and the property has been well maintained and cared for.
Q: What if my application isn’t approved?
A: Normally there are several applicants for each property, and unfortunately not everyone can be approved. We will advise you if this is the case as soon as we receive confirmation from the owner of the property. If you are interested in another one of our rental properties you may request to transfer your application to that property.
Please note – it is the property owner’s decision on which application is approved for a property and they do not have to disclose their decision for approving or declining an application.
ONCE YOU APPLICATION HAS BEEN APPROVED…
On approval of your tenancy application, you will be asked to pay a holding deposit equivalent to one weeks rent. This deposit not only secures the property for you, but also becomes the first weeks rent when the tenancy commences. We will email this information to you once your application has been approved.
Once your holding deposit is received, we will draw up a Residential Tenancy Agreement and send this to you to sign electronically, along with the Bond payable and tenancy handbook. You do not have to come to the office! Saving you time, especially if you are moving from out-of-town.
Prior to collecting the keys to the property, you will be provided with a detailed Property Condition Report, which forms part of the Residential Tenancy Agreement. This is an important part of the agreement that will be used to determine any damage or costs that you may be responsible for at the end of the tenancy. It is important that you complete the ‘tenant agrees’ section of the condition report, sign it and return one copy to the agent within 7 days of the commencement date of the tenancy.
Along with the holding deposit (1st weeks rent) and bond (4 weeks rent), we also require the payment of a 2nd weeks rent, prior to the collection of the keys. Once all money has been received and all agreements signed, we will release the keys to you.
RENTAL BOND
Your rental bond will be lodged with the NSW Department of Fair Trading. The bond is held as security against any damage or undue wear and tear. The bond will be refunded promptly after you vacate, provided the property is left in as close as possible to the same condition as when the Residential Tenancy Agreement commenced (allowing for fair wear and tear) and there are no monies owing.
The bond will vary depending on the price of the rental property, and in NSW the maximum rental bond that can be asked for is 4 weeks rent. Once we tell the rental bond board to release your bond, it can sometimes take them up to 4 weeks to process the paperwork and return the bond to your nominated bank account.
LENGTH OF TENANCY AGREEMENT
The length of a tenancy agreement varies within NSW, however the standard term is usually 6 months for the initial agreement. Other lease periods may be negotiable.
Once the tenancy agreement has expired, you may be offered a new fixed term lease, or alternatively you can stay in the premises at the same rent (or at an increased rent if the rent is increased in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act 1987), but otherwise under the same terms unless or until the agreement is ended.
CONNECTION OF ELECTRICITY, PHONE, GAS ETC.
You can contact each of the utility providers separately or utilise the services of a free utilities connection company such as MyConnect to have all of your services connected at once.
Water will remain connected at the property and you will receive your first water usage bill during the first three months of your tenancy. In NSW it is the landlord’s responsibility to pay the connection charge, but the tenant is reliable for paying all water usage charges. Our agency will send an invoice with these charges to you once our office receives the water rates notice from council.
RENTAL PAYMENT
Rent must be paid electronically into our account before your rent’s due date. We do not have cash or eftpos facilities in the office. If at any time you are unable to meet your rental payment commitment please make immediate contact with your Property Manager.
DURING YOUR TENANCY
RENTAL INCREASES
The rent can be increased on the property only when the current tenancy agreement has expired, or is due to expire. In NSW, rent increases can only happen once every 12 month period.
PROPERTY INSPECTIONS
During the period of your tenancy the premises will be periodically inspected by the landlord or the landlord’s agent. You will be given appropriate notice, (no less than 7 days) that the inspection will take place. Under legislation we can conduct up to 4 inspections per year.
The purpose of these inspections is to check on any repairs or maintenance concerns that you may have. It is also our job as a property manager to ensure the property is being maintained in a satisfactory condition by you. Our first inspection is usually carried out in the first 3 months of occupation; and thereafter usually on a 6 monthly basis.
REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE
You can submit a maintenance request through TAPI, our maintenance reporting system or in writting to your property manager.
Repairs are attended to as promptly as possible, however, it is often necessary to obtain the landlords approval and/or quotes before any work can commence, so unfortunately a time lag is sometimes unavoidable.
Repair requests will not be taken over the phone or in person. All maintenance requests need to be in writing.
ENDING YOUR TENANCY
TERMINATION OF THE TENANCY AGREEMENT
Your residential tenancy agreement is a legal and binding contract, providing protection for both you and the landlord.
The agreement can be terminated by you in the following ways:
a) If you intend to vacate at the end of your Residential Tenancy Agreement you are required to give 14 days written notice prior to the expiration of the fixed term of the agreement.
b) Once the fixed term has expired you are at liberty to continue living at the property or to vacate. If you intend to vacate, written notice of 21 days must be given prior to the vacating date.
NOTE: Verbal notice will not be accepted
It is essential that you return keys on the due day as rent will be charged up to and including the day the keys are returned.