Welcome to easy renting

A helpful tenant guide to make your

stay an easy one

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The management and staff at Time Conti Sheffield

look forward to being of service to you throughout

your tenancy. To help get you started, we have

created this simple brochure to make your stay an

easy one.

With our experience in property management, we

understand some of the questions you might have

upon moving into a rental property. This guide has

been created as a quick reference to offer handy

hints to help you feel comfortable in your new

home. Keep it in a safe place so that you can refer

to it as you need.

If you need more information on any of the issues

outlined or have a question that is not covered in

this booklet, please contact your property manager

- they’ll be happy to help you!

Tenancy agreement 3

Connecting gas, electricity and phone 8

Bins and the property condition report 9

Rental payments 10

Property inspections 11

Looking after equipment 12

Caring for your carpets 14

Moving out 16

Notice to vacate form 18

Request for early termination form 19

Your bond 20

Maintenance 22

Maintenance request form 24

Contents

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Signing your lease agreement

Upon signing your lease agreement and

collecting your keys, make sure that you

have received a receipt for your ingoing

payment (bond), you have a copy of your

lease agreement along with an information

booklet (statement of rights and duties),

when your next rental payment is due and

if you need to connect any of the utilities

at the property.

It is important that you understand your

responsibilities as a tenant. The terms and

conditions of your lease agreement are the

primary guidelines in which you maintain

your tenancy. If in doubt, contact your

Property Manager.

Parking and care of the premises

Vehicles must not be parked on either

the footpath or the lawns of the property.

Please park in the driveway or in the

designated carport/garage. If your property

forms part of a strata, there is usually only

provision for one car, with visitors parking

in the area allocated. Oil stains on the

driveway are your responsibility to clean

and remove. Use an oil drip tray to keep oil

leaks under control. Unregistered vehicles

shouldn’t be kept at your property unless

they are properly garaged, fully assembled

and the vehicle belongs to you.

Your tenancyagreement

Lawns and gardens

You must keep the lawns and gardens free from

weeds and in a good healthy condition (including

trees and shrubs). You will need to mow the lawns

(unless your lease agreement has mowing included)

and weed the gardens once per one/two weeks in

summer and once per two/three weeks in winter.

Lawns and shrubs will need to be watered (as per

water restriction guidelines specified by the Water

Corporation). Take care not to store equipment,

boxes or rubbish in the yard as it will kill the lawn

and will entice vermin.

Pets

Unless you have sought permission from the agent,

pets are not permitted at the property. If pets have

been approved, they will be noted on both your

application form and lease agreement. Small fish

tanks are generally allowable but larger tanks will

need to have permission sought from the landlord.

Small birds may be allowed however no cockatoos

without agent permission.

Pest control

Your lease agreement advises that you must

make sure that your property is free from pests

and vermin (cockroaches, fleas, spiders, ants).

Treatment is at your expense.

Noise & nuisance

Noise must be kept within the legal requirements

and your council can advise you of these limits. As

a general rule, if you can hear your music outside

your property - it is too loud!

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Make sure you read your lease agreement fully

Breach of tenancy

Make sure you read and understand your lease

agreement fully. If you fail to adhere to the terms

and conditions of your lease agreement, a breach

may be issued to you asking you to rectify the

default otherwise a termination may be put in

place. Likewise, if your rent is not paid on time,

a notice of termination will be issued giving you

seven (7) days to get all monies back up to date.

(refer rental payments section of booklet.)

Leaving the property before expiration

If you decide to terminate your lease agreement

early, you need to contact your Property Manager

immediately (also refer to moving out section of

this booklet). There are two options in breaking

your lease, paying out the remaining term of

your agreement or; continue paying rent until the

property is re-leased however you will also need to

pay all advertising costs and re-letting expenses to

the owner.

Tap washers & elements

Should you note that, due to wear and tear,

your tap washers or stove elements needing

maintenance - from taps being turned off too

hard or pots continuously boiling over damaging

elements, it is your responsibility to maintain such

items. You will be responsible for exhaust fans,

electrical fuses (ensuring in good working order)

and the replacement of light globes and fluorescent

tubes. If any damage does arise, you will need to

report it to your Property Manager within three

days of noticing the damage. If you do not report

damage you will be held responsible for its repair.

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Hot water systems

Before reporting hot water systems that

aren’t working, make sure that you have

checked the pilot light (if gas) or fuse

(electric) are intact and working. Any leaks

from a hot water system will need to be

reported immediately.

Water consumption

Water consumption is payable by the

tenant and upon vacating the property,

a special water meter reading may

be required. The charge for a water

meter reading is depicted by the Water

Corporation and charged to the tenant on

the final account.

Picture hooks & Blu Tack

You are not permitted to place any picture

hooks or Blu Tack to the walls of the

property (inside or out). However, if you

would like to install a picture hook, your

request will be forwarded to the owner for

consideration. With Blu Tack, it does mark

walls and therefore creates a problem if

you use and damage the walls as a result.

Stickers, posters and items adhered to

walls with self-stick or adhesive can cause

damage to the walls. If damage is to the

extent that they will require sanding back

and repainting, this will be done at the

tenants expense.

Keys

You will be issued will all available keys

at the commencement of your tenancy.

You cannot change the locks without

the written authority from your Property

Manager. All keys are to be returned to the

agent upon vacating otherwise rent will be

charged until they are. It is imperative that

the Property Manager retains a master set

of your keys at the office.

Connecting electricity

Contact Synergy on 13 13 53

Check with your Property Manager if you are

required to put the electricity on in your name

as some strata properties have the electricity

already connected!

Connecting gas

Before ringing Alinta Gas, see that your property

does have gas connections (stove, hot water

system). You can contact Alinta Gas on 13 13 58.

Connecting the phone

For all phone connections, contact your phone or

internet supplier.

Connecting gas, electricity and phone

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Bin collection

Is your wheelie bin missing? Let your

Property Manager know so that a

replacement can be ordered for you. You

may wish to speak to your local council to

find out when collection day is or if they

offer recycling services.

Property condition reports

When you move into a property you

will need to ensure that you receive a

property condition report from your

Property Manager within seven (7) of

the commencement date of the tenancy.

Likewise, once you receive this report, you

have seven (7) days to complete and return

it to the Property Manager. Failure to return

a report will result in the final inspection

being carried out against the initial

report issued.

A property condition report is vital to

record the condition of the property from

the start of your tenancy. It is important

that upon vacating the property at the

expiration of your tenancy that you return

the property in that same condition.

Make sure you keep a copy of the report

once you have completed it for future

reference.

If there are any discrepancies or items you

do not agree with or understand, please

contact your Property Manager to meet at

the property to discuss.

Bins and property condition reports

Under the Residential Tenancies Act, there are

various steps that can be taken against you if your

rent falls into arrears. By paying your rent on or

before the due date at all times, you’ll save on time

and effort for everyone. Rent will need to be paid

by BPAY as stated on your lease agreement.

If you experience any difficulties paying

your rent, you need to advise your property

manager immediately.

Any rent that is in arrears will incur a Notice of

Termination for Non Payment of Rent. If the rent

is then not paid in full as per the date due on the

notice of termination, an application may be

made to the local court for vacant possession of

the property.

Please note that as stated in your lease agreement,

if you default in any way during your tenancy,

your name will be registered with TICA & REIWA

defaulting tenants database.

There is no lenience in relation to rent arrears and

rent must be paid on time and in full.

NB: It is a good idea to keep all your rent receipts in a safe place in case you have a query and that you don’t wait to get a call from the Property Manager querying why the rent is late - pay without prompting.

Rental payments

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Your first inspection will be carried out

approximately six (6) weeks after the

commencement of your tenancy. Thereafter,

inspections will usually occur on a quarterly basis

unless otherwise agreed with your Landlord.

You will receive notice of these inspections by

receiving 2 letters and a text message from the

property manager, notification of inspections

consist of a proposal letter sent approximately 2-4

weeks prior to the inspection, the text message

is then sent approximately 2 weeks prior to

the inspection allowing a tenant the chance to

make alternative arrangements if needed, the

final confirmation letter is sent 7-10 days before

the inspection. You are not required to be at the

inspection as the inspection is held during business

hours however you are given a time frame between

8.30am and 12pm or 12pm and 5pm. For most

properties we have a master key and will proceed

with the inspection in your absence. If we cannot

gain access to your property, we will advise

accordingly and will arrange a further appointment.

To help us with your inspection, please leave a note

on the kitchen bench with a list of anything that

you believe requires attention. You can do the same

with any questions that you may have, we will try

to help where possible.

Please note, although we understand some tenant’s

concerns at being present for these inspections,

we are unable at times to specify an exact time

that we will be at your property. We do have some

flexibility and will do what we can (within reason)

to accommodate your needs, however contact needs

to be made with your Property Manager prior to 48

hours of your inspection.

Property inspections

Here are some general tips you can use in order to

care for the appliances at your property.

Electricity supply

If you don’t have power, check that your safety

switch hasn’t tripped or a fuse hasn’t blown.

If the switch has tripped; reset it according to

the instructions that should be present near the

switch. If it trips again, unplug your appliances,

turn all power points off. Reset the trip switch and

commence re-plugging your appliance one by one

- you will soon know which appliance is tripping

the system. If the appliance belongs to you - arrange

repair to your discretion, if the appliance belongs to

the owner, advise your Property Manager.

If the meter box contains old style fuses and not

circuit breakers, these fuses should not be attempted

to be changed unless you are an experienced/

qualified electrician and the main switch to the

power board is off.

Has your neighbour got power? If not, contact

Synergy to see if there is a fault in the area.

If the above checks have all failed, ring your

Property Manager.

Hot water systems

Is the hot water system running out of hot water

quickly? Have you checked to see if the system

needs topping up (not all systems have this facility),

if it needs topping up, locate the filler valve to the

side of the system and lift the lever until the water

flows from the overflow. This may need doing every

three - four months. If your system is gas - has the

pilot light gone out? To re-light the pilot light, follow

the instructions on the side of the hot water system.

Looking after equipment

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Oven & stove

Electric stoves with hot plates not working

- contact your Property Manager. If the

oven is not heating, check to see if the

indicator light is on, if not, the oven may

have switched over to automatic. Refer

to instruction booklet/manual to reset

the oven to manual cooking. If this fails,

contact your Property Manager.

Gas stoves not working - contact your

Property Manager to arrange repair.

NB: you have paid your electricity/gas account haven’t you?

Washing machine

If you find that the washing machine is not

draining away water - check that the hose

isn’t kinked and that the power and taps

are on. Please check these items before

calling through as maintenance.

Clothes dryer

Is the dryer taking longer than normal to

run a load of clothes? Have you checked

the lint filter? Get into the practice of

removing the lint from the filter after

each load and know when the filter needs

replacing - it is a fire hazard if you do

not regularly check your dryer. You will

also need to ensure that there is sufficient

ventilation to operate effectively.

Don’t forget that if the washing machine/

dryer is your own - we do not carry out

maintenance on it.

Keeping it clean

When you rent a property, you will be responsible

for maintaining the condition of the carpets. It is

easy to keep the carpet looking good and lasting for

years if you follow these simple guidelines;

Keep it regular

If you regularly vacuum the carpets it will slow

down the wear and tear and will prevent everyday

dirt and soil from causing unnecessary damage.

Vacuum thoroughly at least once a week. Heavier

traffic areas (i.e.: hallways) may need vacuuming

more frequently.

Keep it smart

Try laying mats in areas that are frequently used

to help keep the carpets clean. If there is direct

sunlight hitting the carpets in one particular area,

draw the curtains when possible. Rental property

carpets are steamed cleaned at the end of each

tenancy, but those tenants who are in a property

for a longer period of time may want to consider

having the carpets steamed cleaned every 12-18

months to help keep the carpets in order. Contact

your Property Manager for a recommended

carpet cleaner.

Carpet damage

If there is a loop of carpet that has pulled out -

DO NOT try and pull it further. This will in turn

create a run in the carpet which can be expensive

to fix. Instead, cut off the pulled loop to the level

of the rest of the carpet, using sharp scissors (blunt

scissors will cause fraying). Be careful not to

damage the other loops surrounding.

Caring for your carpets

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If there is high humidity, carpets extending

wall to wall may experience rippling. If

this does not subside after the humidity

has lowered, contact your Property

Manager so an expert can look at and treat

accordingly.

Burn marks - from cigarettes or ironing

on the carpet - sometimes these can be

repaired but you should not attempt to fix

these yourself. You will be responsible for

any repairs due to burn marks and it is

advised that you seek the assistance of an

expert in this field.

Stained carpets

Act immediately - if there is a spill or

accident you can prevent staining. Follow

these 5 simple steps:

1. Scoop out any solids before cleaning

2. Blot as much liquid as possible with a

clean white towel or paper towel

3. Clean according to spot removal guide,

apply cleaning agent to a clean towel,

not directly onto the carpet

4. Rinse with cold water or lukewarm

water, don’t saturate

5. Blot dry with absorbent material such as

a paper towel or use a cold air fan to

complete drying

NB: Do not scrub the area, start from the outer edge and work your way towards the centre.

Remember:

1. Vacuum frequently

2. Remove spills immediately

3. Professional steam clean

Well, you’ve decided to move from your property

upon expiration of your lease agreement. Don’t

forget that there are a few things that you will need

to do to ensure that your move is as smooth as

possible, without too many headaches.

Giving notice

When you have made the decision that you will

be moving out of the property, you will need to

advise your property manager in writing. Should

you be ending a fixed term least agreement and

wish to vacate upon the expiry, you will need to

give 30 days’ notice. When on a periodic lease you

will need to give 21 day notice in writing at any

time. The date you leave cannot be sooner than the

expiration date of your lease agreement or before

the expiry of the 21 or 30 days.

Preparing to move

Upon giving notice, you will receive written

confirmation from your Property Manager that your

notice has been received. If you do not receive this,

please call your Property Manager to ensure all

details are in order.

Make a list of all the people you need to inform

of your new address. As you receive mail in

the weeks leading up to your move, check

that the sender is on your list. Don’t forget to

include family and friends, banks, subscriptions,

catalogues/mailing lists, clubs .

Arrange for the redirection of your mail through the

post office. Do you have the newspaper delivered?

You might want to cancel this service.

Moving out

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Arrange for the disconnection of

your telephone, electricity and gas (if

applicable) just before the date of moving

-so that you are not left without these

services too early.

Have you hired a removalist truck?

You might need to book them weeks

in advance. Have you arranged for the

cleaning of the carpets and the general

cleaning of your property? Check the copy

of the property condition report and make

sure that there aren’t any items that you

need to take care of.

Moving day

Try and have everything out of the house

the day before. Defrost the fridge/freezer

(put down a towel to catch those drips)

and leave out all your cleaning products.

Once you’ve moved everything out, do a

double check of all the rooms (especially

cupboards) to make sure you haven’t left

anything behind. When everything is in

order, make sure the property is secured

and locked and you have returned the keys

to Time Conti Sheffield with the carpet

cleaning receipt. The final inspection will

be carried out within 48 hours of the keys

being returned. Rent will still be charged

until all keys have been accounted for.

Have you hired a truck?

1) I/we wish to give notice of our intention to vacate the premises:

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name/s of tenant/s on lease agreement: _____________________________________________________________________

Phone: (hm) _______________________ (wk) _______________________ (mbl) ___________________________________

email: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) My/our forwarding address after vacating the above property will be:

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) The date in which I intend to vacate the property: / /

4) Is this date prior to the expiration of your lease agreement? Yes No

5) Reasons for vacating: __________________________________________________________________________________

This notice is in accordance with sections 53 (3), 67, 68 & 69 of the Residential Tenancies Act, 1987. The period of notice given is no less than 21 days for a periodic tenancy or no less than 30 days for a fixed term tenancy. A tenant under an agreement shall notify the agent of the address (or postal address) of where they will be next residing.

Signed by:

Tenant: ___________________________________________________Date: __________________________________________

__________________________________________________________Date: __________________________________________

__________________________________________________________Date: __________________________________________

“Service you deserve, advice you can trust.”

Please detach page from booklet and forward to Time Conti Sheffield, 338 Albany Highway, Victoria Park, WA 6100.

Notice to vacate

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This form is to be completed and returned to the office of Time Conti Sheffield within three (3) working days.

To: 338 Albany Highway, Victoria Park Attention: _______________________________ (Property Manager)

I/We, _______________________________________________________________________________ (tenant/s)

hereby advise that we wish to deliver vacant possession of the premises situated at:

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

on _______ / _______ / _________ being prior to the expiration date stated in our agreement.

We wish to seek early termination for the reason of: _________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Our fixed term agreement is due to expire on ___________ / _______ / _________

The tenant acknowledges that in order to deliver vacant possession prior to the expiration of the fixed term agreement, the owner may not give consent unless the tenant pays:

a) The rent and all outgoings on the property until the property is relet

b) Any costs reasonably incurred in respect of the reletting of the premises including-

i) Reimbursement to the owner of the unexpired portion of the letting fee charged at the commencement of the tenancy

ii) Reimbursement to the owner for the cost of the inspection/inventory fee

c) Advertising costs (payable in advance)

d) The cost of the upkeep of the property until it is re-let

Please note that this a request by the tenant to terminate the lease early and is not an agreement in relation to a breach by the Tenant of the lease

to pay rent or any other term of the lease. The Owner may not consent to the early termination of the lease until the property is relet with all the

lease obligations applying and that the reletting of the property has occurred.

Forwarding address: _____________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact phone numbers:(wk) ________________ (hm) ________________ (mb) _____________________________

Signed and acknowledged by the registered tenant/s of the property:

_________________________________________________________Date: ___________________________________________

_________________________________________________________Date: ___________________________________________

_________________________________________________________Date: ___________________________________________

_________________________________________________________Date: ___________________________________________

Please detach page from booklet and forward to Time Conti Sheffield, 338 Albany Highway, Victoria Park, WA 6100.

Request by tenant for early termination during a fixed term tenancy

Bond monies are not released until the final

inspection has taken place and all items that require

attention have been fulfilled. Also ensure that you

have returned all your keys.

If there is any work that needs to be done, this may

be deducted from your bond if you do not assist the

Property Manager with the required rectification

that is advised to you.

Use the following as a guide for cleaning purposes

upon vacating:

General areas

• Doors, ceilings, walls, floors, skirting boards,

window ledges, window tracks and fittings - all to

be free from marks, dirt, dust & cobwebs

• Windows to be cleaned (inside and out - where

practical) and left free from streaks

• Clean out cupboards

Fittings

• Light fittings need to be cleaned and cobwebs

removed (inside and out - where applicable).

• Don’t forget to replace any broken bulbs or fittings

• Have you damaged the curtains - do they need

cleaning?

• Vertical/venetian blinds need to be in good

working order

Carpets

• Carpets need to be professionally cleaned by a

reputable company and a receipt to be provided

• If you’re property is furnished, don’t forget to get the

upholstery professionally cleaned with the carpets

Your bond

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Bathrooms

• Ensure the shower recess, bath, sink, toilet,

cabinets, exhaust fans, drawers & mirrors are

cleaned thoroughly, don’t forget around tap

handles, drains and toilet bowls

• Remove hair, soap residue and mildew/mould

• Shower screens need to be clean (replace curtains

if need be)

Kitchen

• Clean exhaust fans, ventilation grills, rangehoods

• Oven/stoves needs to be cleaned throughout -

free from grease and carbon deposits

• Cupboards/drawers to be cleaned out (warm

soapy water)

• Sinks to be clear of food and stains, clean

dishwasher filters and cutlery baskets - leave the

doors open after cleaning to prevent mould

Living areas & bedrooms

• Remove scuff marks from walls and floors

• Clean air conditioner filters/ceiling fans/heaters -

free from dust

• Remove any stickers/Blue Tac and repair as

necessary

• Clean out robes

External

• Remove all rubbish from the yard (garden waste),

mow lawns, trim edges, and weed garden beds

• Do the gutters need cleaning? Remove leaf litter

from base of downpipes

• Clean out carports (remove any oil stains),

pergolas, patios

• Do any sprinkler heads need replacing?

• Sweep all hardstand areas

• Replace any light bulbs throughout

• Do you have all keys?

Maintenance

Maintenance - There are three categories of

urgency for repairs and maintenance. Help to

determine what is urgent and what steps you

can take to assist:

Category A - Urgent

This category includes situations that could lead

to the death or serious injury of a person, endanger

health or cause damage to the property:

• Gas leaks

• Fire

• Live bare electrical wires in accessible location

• Burst water pipes

• Severe storm or water damage

• Sewerage blockage

• Break and enter and property needs to be secured

• Structural damage - major, threatening safety

of occupants

Should any of the above occur at any time during

office hours, the tenant will need to contact the

Property Manager immediately. If the situation

arises outside office hours, try contacting the

Property Manager on their mobile, if you are

unable to reach them, leave a message advising of

the situation. The response time for these repairs

should be within 24 - 48 hours.

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Category B - Priority

Situations that may cause an inconvenience to a

tenant:

• Blocked drains (minor, not health hazard)

• No hot water

• Toilet cisterns not working or overflowing

• Broken windows

• Faulty locks

• No lighting or power to power points

Report these items to your Property Manager at the

earliest opportunity. The response time for repairs

should be within 48-72 hours.

Category C - Routine

Situations that may cause an inconvenience to a

tenant, or in the long term, affect the value of the

property:

• Doors sticking

• Leaking gutters

• Fence repairs

• Slow internal leaks to any closed cabinets or

cupboards (especially kitchen and bathroom)

These could be reported at an inspection or as soon

as noticed. The response time for the repair should

be within 7 days.

Please note the response time from the maintenance contractor may differ, depending on their availability at the time it is reported. Repairs may also be subject to parts/replacement availability.

Maintenance request form

Please detach page from booklet and forward to Time Conti Sheffield, 338 Albany Highway, Victoria Park, WA 6100.

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact details: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Email address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Required Maintenance: ____________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(a/h) ______________________ (wk) _____________________ (mbl) _______________________________________________

If your maintenance is related to a hot water system/stove/oven, please indicate: Gas Electric

Make: _____________________________Model: _______________________ Location: ______________________________

I hereby authorise Time Conti Sheffield to give out my contact details to the relevant tradesperson employed by Time Conti Sheffield in order to repair the maintenance listed above.

For access to my property, please ask the tradesperson to:

contact me first in which access details will be discussed accordingly

please proceed in allowing the tradesperson to collect the master key from your office in order to complete the job, in which there is no need for the tradesperson to contact me first

Signed: ______________________________________________________________________Date: ______________________

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Any personal information that the tenant provides within this maintenance order request and any information collected during the term of the tenancy

may be disclosed for the purpose it was collected to other parties (landlords, referees, other agents, third party operators: maintenance tradespeople,

tenancy reference database ). Time Conti Sheffield collects personal information from you to provide an effective service. Time Conti Sheffield takes

reasonable steps to protect your personal information from loss, misuse, unauthorised disclosure or destruction. Time Conti Sheffield has in place

generally accepted standards of technology and security in order to keep your personal information safe. Only authorised Time Conti Sheffield staff

may access your personal information.

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338 Albany Highway, Victoria Park Western Australia 6100

T: 08 9362 5333 F: 08 9362 6999 W: timeconti.com.au

Member of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia

Thank you for renting

with Time Conti Sheffield

Don’t forget, if this property isn’t exactly what you wanted or

your situation has changed, when your lease comes up for expiry

check with your Property Manager to see what other properties

are available. There’s no need to leave us. Alternatively all our

available properties are advertised on our website at:

timeconti.com.au