General Information For Tenants

This is the fine print. Make sure you read it carefully.

Tenant – a person or persons (you) living and renting a unit, house of townhouse from a lessor (owner/landlord).

Starting a tenancy:

1. The government regulates all tenancies. You are required to complete any forms provided, which will outline the rent required each week along with the terms and conditions of the tenancy. The tenancy forms a contract between you and the individual owner of the property. The General Tenancies Agreement is a formal written contract between the tenant and the lessor outlining the terms and conditions for your rental period.

2. It is common practice that you are required to pay 2 weeks in advance for rental payments at all times.

3. A housing deposit, usually 4 weeks rent, is lodged with a government agency called the Residential Tenancy Authority (RTA). It is designed to offer protection to the owner or establishment against the tenant breaching the agreement (for example: rent not being paid, or damage to the property). Ensure that you receive a receipt once you have paid bond, and sign a Bond Lodgement (Form 2). This form must be lodged with the RTA within 10 days of you paying bond. You will then receive an official receipt from the RTA.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Once you have signed your documentation and the housing deposit (bond) is lodged, you will be given an Entry Condition Report (Form 1a). Your real estate agent will explain this in further detail.

The lessor (owner/landlord) and the tenant both complete the report. This is to detail the condition of the property prior to you living there. Remember to examine the property thoroughly and list all existing damage (photos or a video may also be beneficial).

For more information, the RTA has produced a booklet called Renting in Queensland (Form 17a). It can be downloaded from www.rta.qld.gov.au. This is a fantastic step-by-step guide for tenants and is a useful reference if you have any queries or concerns.

What if I don’t get along with my housemate, or I decide I don’t want to live there anymore?

• It is important to understand that you are entering into a contract with the owner of the property. If you don’t like your housemate or the property is not what you were after, this does not waive your legal obligations or give you the right to end your lease early without additional costs to you.

• The Accommodation People can help you find another room, while replacing your share of the house/apartment you were living in. This is not easy and can be a timely and costly experience for you.

• If you want to leave early, the owner of the unit is entitled to receive rent from you until you are able to find an acceptable tenant to replace you. It is normal practice for you to continue to pay the rent until another person can be found, regardless of whether you are living there or not. It is also normal for you to have to pay for all advertising undertaken to find a new tenant.

What happens when my lease ends?

To receive your full housing deposit (bond) back when your lease ends, you must:

• Dry-clean all carpets in the apartment or house (by a company recommended by your lessor or real estate agent) at your own cost.
• Clean the house so it is in the same condition as when you arrived.
• Fill out an Exit Condition Report (Form 14a). This records the condition of the premises at the end of the tenancy.

How do I retrieve my housing deposit (bond)?

To retrieve your bond, you will need to put in an application to the Residential Tenancy Authority. For this, you will need to do the following:

• Clean your house as detailed above.
• Complete a Refund of Rental Bond (Form 4) – contact the RTA for a form to be sent to you. Make sure you include your forwarding address so that your bond can be returned. Also make a copy for your records.
• Send the form to: RTA, GPO Box 390, Brisbane QLD 4001 or drop it to the RTA office at 33 Herschel Street, Brisbane.
• Or, once you and your lessor have signed the refund form, you can take it to an Australia Post Office in Queensland to receive your bond.

If you have any problems with getting your housing deposit (bond) back, the RTA can assist with dispute resolution.

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