What you can and can’t do in a rental property
Renting a property comes with rights and responsibilities, all of which are designed to protect the value of the asset while providing you with a comfortable residence that’s yours to enjoy for the duration of the agreement.
That said, there’s some common misconceptions about what you can and can’t do in a rental, so let’s take a quick recap of what those are with this quick and easy list.
You can…enjoy the property in peace and privacy
When you rent a property, there’s a right to peace and privacy, and quiet enjoyment, meaning you can live in the residence without undue interruptions or interference.
In practise, this means you can expect to be notified if someone is to attend the property to make repairs, conduct maintenance, or inspect it.
You can also expect there will be no more than four routine inspections in a 12-month period.
In the meantime, you get to enjoy the property as your home, providing what you’re doing there doesn’t contravene the rental agreement, doesn’t disturb others, and is within the law.
You can…have guests and entertain
As part of the right to quiet enjoyment, you can also have guests over when you wish and entertain as you please.
That said, if you’re having regular house parties that are causing noise complaints, you’ll likely attract unwanted attention from your neighbours who may be within their rights to file a noise complaint.
You can…expect things to be safe and secure
By law, a rental owner is obliged to ensure the property remains in a condition that is safe and secure.
That means they are responsible for general maintenance and repairs that might be required from time to time.
However, there’s a caveat here. While the owner is responsible for things that break due to age or deterioration, if you have damaged something at the property the onus falls on the rental occupier to return it to its previous condition.
You can’t…make major alterations
As much as a wall colour bothers you or that kitchen layout is impractical, you cannot make major alterations to a rental property.
This includes painting walls, adding picture holes or any other changes that are likely to be permanent.
If you do these things without permission, they are classed as damage, which could see you required to fix them when you leave or run the risk of losing your bond.
You can’t…have a pet without permission
Although the rules around pets have changed in many states in recent years, a rental occupier still needs written permission from the owner to have one reside at the property.
You can’t…have people living there who aren’t on the agreement
All parties who live at the property permanently must be on the rental agreement. On that note, a rental occupier also cannot rent their property out on a short-term basis to someone else or as a holiday rental.
You can’t…conduct illegal activities
This should go without saying, but if you’re conducting illegal activities at a property, you are not only in breach of the law but also your rental agreement.
It’s a balance
Ultimately living in a rental property is about balance. On one hand you should expect to be respected as the person who lives there and pays rent for that privilege, but on the other the property also needs to be protected.
Ultimately it’s about treating the property with respect, while still enjoying it as the place you call home.
How we can assist
Our experienced property managers pride themselves on establishing great relationships with both rental occupiers and owners.
We manage every property as if it were our own and you can learn more about our property management services here.
Alternatively, if you are looking to rent a property, you can view the properties we currently have available here.
