Finding a good rental property and actually being approved for it may be the biggest stress factor for renters, but it’s not their only worry.
From dealing with regular inspections to getting their bond back and even the risk of being blacklisted on a rental database, we look at seven of the biggest worries tenants have.
1. Being approved for a rental
In a tight rental market – which Perth is experiencing right now – it’s easy for tenants to get discouraged if they are constantly rejected for properties. That’s why it’s so important to have your application prepared and ready to go as soon as you inspect a property and decide it’s right for you.
If you’re not sure where to start, the state government has a handy guide for renting a home in WA. You can also speak to the property manager about what you are looking for. For example, at Rentwest we have a wide portfolio of properties and we can often suggest houses and apartments you may not have previously considered.
2. Making modifications to the home
With homeownership getting further and further out of reach for younger generations, it’s important that tenants are able to see their rental property as their ‘home’, not just somewhere they are staying before they have to move on to the next one.
So things like making minor modifications to the property are becoming more important to renters – whether that’s hanging a family portrait, repainting a room, or installing safety features or some basic shelving for added storage. Recent changes to legislation have alleviated some of these worries for tenants, allowing them to make small changes in certain situations.
3. Rental hikes
No tenant applies for a property with the mindset that they will happily pay more for it in six months’ time. Yes, it’s a reality for renters, but it’s also a constant worry for them. After all, the average weekly house rent in Perth reached a six-year high in mid-2021.
Many applicants are applying for properties that are within their financial means right now, so if they end up facing rental hikes after their initial contract has run its course, rental affordability can become an issue. As property managers, we do our due diligence to ensure tenants are not paying more than they can afford when they apply for a rental property, because it is in everyone’s interest to avoid rental stress down the track.
4. Maintenance issues
It’s something we’ve all experienced at some point in our lives. The hot-water system breaks down or the air conditioning isn’t working and you need to get the landlord’s permission to fix it. Having a landlord who is quick to respond and fix the issue can be the difference between leaving after the contract is up, or becoming a long-term tenant.
The good news is that by choosing an agency like Rentwest, you can access your tenant portal online and make a maintenance request as soon as an issue arises.
5. Getting blacklisted
While tenancy blacklisting is actually quite rare, it’s a worry that’s in the back of many tenants’ minds when they apply for a new property – have they been blacklisted? Tenancy databases do exist and people can be blacklisted for being bad tenants. But there are strict rules, which vary by state, to stop tenants from being blacklisted maliciously or without good cause.
A good property manager, however, can act as an intermediary for any issues that arise between tenant and landlord. With all parties seeking the best possible outcome, it will rarely result in someone being blacklisted.
6. Inspections
Inspections are a fact of life for the 25% of the Australian population who are tenants. As long as the landlord or property manager adheres to the rules around when they can occur and for what reason, inspections should be a minor – but necessary – inconvenience to ensure all parties are taking care of the property.
7. Getting bond back
Many tenants worry that by leaving a rental property or seeing out their contract, the landlord will be unhappy and try to keep their bond from them. This myth is propagated because of a few bad landlords, but the truth is that landlords – like tenants – just want the exit process to go as smoothly as possible.
Property managers can make the transition easy and hassle-free for all parties. And as long as the tenant has abided by the contract, left the property in good condition and ensured it is clean and the garden maintained for the next tenant, then there should be no reason why the bond is withheld.
Article Source: www.rentwest.com.au
