Information For Tenants


Information for New Tenants 
 
The following information may assist you during your Tenancy with West Coast Real Estate. 
 
1. Car Parking
Vehicles are to be parked only in designated parking areas. Parking on lawns or garden areas is prohibited.
 
Provision must be made by Tenants to ensure that the parking area is protected from oil leakage from their vehicles.
 
2. Change of Employment
It is very important that we are notified immediately of any change of employment and any new contact telephone numbers are also supplied to us.
 
Click here to email us rentals@wcre.com.au
 
3. Electricity, Gas and Telephone Connections
It is a Tenants’ responsibility to arrange connection of services to the property in their name and to have all accounts finalised upon vacating.
 
Please notify us immediately of your new home telephone number and email address.
 
    Electricity
    Synergy 
    13 13 53 Residential
    1313 54 (Business)
 
    Telephone
    Contact Telstra 13 22 00
 
    Gas 
    Alinta 13 13 58; or
    Kleenheat Gas 1923733
 
4. Insurance
Your personal items and effects are your responsibility. If you wish to insure your furniture and personal belongings you must take out your own insurance policy. The Lessor is responsible for insuring the building but this does not cover your contents and personal effects. We strongly recommend that you obtain Contents Insurance for your furnishings and personal items. The Lessor has no obligation to insure your personal belongings.
 
5. Keys
A duplicate set of keys is retained by West Coast Real Estate for emergency access. No key service is available after normal office hours, on weekends or public holidays. Under special circumstances, and upon producing identification, the keys can be borrowed, during office hours, but must be returned to our office the same day. It is advisable that you make your own private arrangements regarding the location of a spare key, should you accidentally lock yourself out of the premises. Locks are not to be changed without the written consent of the owner.
 
6. Office Hours
Our office hours are:
 
Monday to Friday - 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Saturday closed
Sunday and Public Holidays – closed
 
7. Periodic Inspections
During the course of your Tenancy, the premises will be inspected periodically by West Coast Real Estate with a minimum of 7 days' notice in writing. Our first inspection will generally take place 6 weeks after the commencement of the Tenancy and every 3 months thereafter.
 
Our tenancy inspections are carried out to ensure that the property is being maintained in accordance with the Residential Tenancy Agreement and to ensure that any maintenance is reported to the Lessor on a regular basis.
 
During the course of your Tenancy, the premises will be inspected periodically by West Coast Real Estate with a minimum of 7 days' notice in writing.
 
8. Property Condition Report
The Property Condition Report is filled out at the commencement of your Tenancy to record the cleanliness and general condition of your property.
 
It is the record of the condition of the property and should be checked by the Tenant, signed and returned to our office within 7 days of the commencement of the Tenancy.
 
If the Property Condition Report is not checked, signed and returned to West Coast Real Estate within that time, it is then deemed that the Tenant has agreed with all of the comments noted in the original report which was carried out by our Property Manager.
 
If there are a number of significant discrepancies, our Property Manager may need to make an appointment to meet you at the property to ensure we have an agreed report.
 
9. Rent Payments
Rental payments may be made by Cash, Bank cheques, or preferably Direct Debit Transfer.
 
Rent is always payable in advance and is due on or before the due date which is stated in your tenancy agreement.
 
The amount of rent paid cannot be less than stated on your Tenancy Agreement. Our Property Managers review their Vacancy Reports every day.
 
If at any time you are unable to pay your Rent on or before the due date, please make immediate contact with your Property Manager. Failure to pay rent may result in proceedings to terminate your Tenancy.
 
10. Repairs and Maintenance
All general repairs and maintenance matters are to be referred to our office immediately in writing by post, fax or email detailing your name, address, contact details and the nature of the required repairs (including the make and model of any relevant appliances).
 
Repairs will be attended to as promptly as possible, however, in the majority of cases it is often necessary to obtain the Landlord’s approval and quotes before any work can commence.
 
Any damage not reported during your tenancy may be deemed tenant liability and claimed against the security bond.
 
EMERGENCY REPAIRS: If you have an EMERGENCY that cannot wait until the office is open, and you have endeavored to make an effort to contact our director Mark on 0415 586 767 you can call a suitable qualified tradesman (or Synergy, Alinta, Water Corporation etc) to attend to the problem. You will then need to advise our office of the problem at the start of the next business day (and any action you have taken).
 
Examples of emergency or urgent repairs:
  • A burst water service
  • A blocked toilet (where there is only one toilet in the property)
  • A broken sewerage fitting
  • A serious roof leak
  • An electrical fault likely to cause damage to property or to endanger human life
  • Flooding of property
  • Substantial damage caused by flooding, storm or fire
Please make sure you contact our office by email or telephone to report maintenance problems.
 
Click here for a maintenance form. 
 
Troubleshooting - Residual Circuit Breakers (RCD)
 
If your power goes off unexpectedly or only in a specific area of your house, check the circuit breakers prior to contacting our Agency. If the switch is in the ‘OFF’ position, it possibly means that the circuit breaker has been tripped. Reset switch to ‘ON’ position.
 
Residual Current Devices (RCDs) detect an imbalance in the electrical current and disconnect the power within 10 to 50 milliseconds, preventing electrocution and fire. Electrical accidents can occur in an instant and RCDs are the only device that can protect you and your family from these hidden dangers. Electrical hazards are often hidden and can be difficult to identify, such as a small hole in an extension lead or a power board damaged internally. Regulations now require all rental properties must have at least two RCDs in the meter box or distribution board. Testing them regularly is a small investment in money and time. It will provide long term protection for you and your family against serious injury and death. It is suggested that RCD’s are tested every three (3) months.
 
To test a RCD: - Press the ‘test’ button on the front of each RCD device, then release. To restore the power simply move the ON/OFF switch back to the ON position. This test resets the RCD, ensuring it is ready to protect the residents from electrocution. You must immediately contact our Agency if a RCD does not operate.
 
Further information can be obtained from the Department of Commerce website CLICK HERE
 
IF the switch will not remain in ‘ON’ position when reset: 
  • Disconnect all appliances on protected circuit
  • Reset switch to ‘ON’ position
  • Plug in each appliance individually, until faulty appliance trips the Circuit Breaker to ‘OFF’
  • Remove faulty appliance
  • Reset switch to ‘ON’. The protected circuit should now run satisfactorily
  • Remember to get faulty appliances checked and/or repaired before using again.
If the faulty appliance is the property of the tenant, any accounts will be deemed Tenant Liability.
 
11. Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms require regular testing and cleaning as only working smoke alarms can provide the critical early warning needed to save lives and minimise property damage.
 
To ensure smoke alarms work properly, FESA encourages householders to test smoke alarms monthly, undertake annual maintenance checks and replace batteries annually, where required.
 
Smoke Alarms are equipped with a button for test purposes. Use a broom handle to reach the test button if you can’t reach. In addition run the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner over the grill area of each smoke alarm to remove any dust build up that may interfere with its effectiveness.
 
Please contact our Agency if you are concerned about the performance of your smoke alarm after testing.
 
Further information can be obtained from the FESA website CLICK HERE
 
12. Security Bond
West Coast Real Estate requires that a Security Bond be paid before the commencement of all Residential Tenancy Agreements. The Bond will be lodged with the Bond Administrator. 
 
The Bond is held as security against any damage, undue wear and tear and/or outstanding monies owing at the end of the Tenancy and to ensure the property is left in the same condition as when the Tenancy commenced and there are no outstanding monies owing.
 
A refund of the Security Bond will be made only after all of the keys have been returned and sufficient time has been allowed for our staff to inspect the property and obtained the special water reading account from the Water Corporation.
 
A Bond Statement will be mailed to you outlining your expected refund. 
 
13. Vacating - Giving Notice
The Residential Tenancy Agreement is a binding Contract providing protection for both the Landlord and the Tenant.
 
The Residential Tenancy Agreement can be terminated by the Tenant in the following ways:
 
(1) If you intend to vacate the premises at the end of your fixed term Lease you will be required to provide us in writing of your intention to do so, giving 30 days notice prior to the lease expiry date.
 
(2) If you are vacating premises with no fixed term Lease (Periodic Tenancy) then you will be required to give our Agency 21 days' notice in writing, prior to your intended vacating date.
 
14. Vacating - Final Inspection
When you have given notice to terminate your Tenancy we will require that you supply us with your forwarding address and contact details.
 
Arrangements should be made with the Property Manager for a suitable time to conduct a Final Inspection of the property and a Vacating Tenancy Guidelines will be posted to you, as a checklist to assist, as you prepare to vacate.
 
The Final Inspection can only be completed once the property is free of all personal effects, carpets professionally cleaned, all general cleaning completed, gardening completed and if any fumigation (if a pet has been at the property) arranged.
 
When inspecting the property for the refund of the security bond, our staff will pay particular attention to the cleanliness of such things as curtains, windows, floors, blinds, stoves (i.e. griller and oven), hand basin, sink, showers, baths and toilets in accordance with the Property Condition Report (PCR) which was agreed at the commencement of your tenancy.
 
Please be reminded that you are responsible for rent until all keys for the property have been returned to West Coast Real Estate.
 
Bond refund applications are only processed after the satisfactory completion of the Final Inspection and all outstanding monies (including water usage charges) have been paid.
 
15. Vacating - Breaking A Lease
A Residential Tenancy Agreement is a binding Contract providing protection for both the Landlord and the Tenant.
 
If, however, unforeseen circumstances arise and you must vacate the premises prior to the end of your fixed term Residential Tenancy Agreement, please contact your Property Manager immediately to discuss finding a suitable replacement Tenant.
 
You will be required to complete a form seeking consent to break your Lease and confirming acknowledgement of the following responsibilities:
  • Continuation of all rent payments, in full, through until the date that a new Tenant takes occupancy of the premises.
  • Maintaining the property (including keeping electricity on at the property for the lawns and gardens) even if you are no longer residing in the property up to the date the new lease commences.
  • Payment of the Un-expired portion of the Letting Fee to reimburse the owner
  • Payment for the final inspection fee to reimburse the owner
  • Payment of advertising costs incurred in re-letting the property to reimburse the owner.
Any new Applicants will be subject to the same screening process as when you first applied. Approval will be sought from the Owner prior to accepting any new tenants.
 
We are unable to relinquish you of your legal obligation to the current lease until any new Tenant has executed their Tenancy Agreement and paid their Ingoings. Under no circumstances will a transfer of tenancy be permitted without prior written approval by the Lessor otherwise you will be held responsible for payment of rent and for any damage caused by another person. Please contact your Property Manager and the correct procedure will be outlined to you.
 
16. Water Usage
Unless otherwise specified in the Residential Tenancy Agreement the Tenant is responsible for all water consumed on the property.
 
Accounts are issued on a regular basis and are adjusted for the period of Tenancy.
 
Information regarding water usage can be obtained from the Water Corporation website CLICK HERE