Guidelines
This document provides a guideline to the process and timeframes involved when you vacate a Property. It is recommended that this document be read as soon as possible as it may assist you in the return of your Bond. The timeframes and guidelines provided have been taken from the Legislation governing Residential Tenancies in New South Wales. If you have any questions please contact NSW Fair Trading on 13 32 20 or www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au.
Agent provides vacate information and requirements
We confirm the Notice received and also provide you with all associated documents to help make the vacating process as smooth as possible. At this stage we will also begin the process of advertising the Property for rent. If you have allowed our Agency access to the Property for activity related to reletting the Property, our Agency will contact you ahead of each appointment. Access to occur only during the last 14 days prior to the end of the Tenancy unless the Tenant agrees.
Rent payments
Under the Residential Tenancies Act, rent is to be paid to the Agency up to and including the day you vacate and handover keys to the Property. Please do not stop paying rent and assume that this amount will be deducted from your Bond as the Bond is NOT to be used for rent payments. If required, the Bond may be used for costs associated with returning the Property back to the way it was at the start of the Tenancy except for fair wear and tear.
Tips to obtain a full bond refund
Refer to the Residential Condition Report provided at the beginning of the Tenancy in your Moving-In Kit. See if there are any changes to this report allowing for fair wear and tear. Use the Cleaning Checklist provided as a guide to assist you in cleaning the Property. If time does not permit you to attend to the work required yourself then we can recommend Professional Companies who provide the following services:
Always Reliable Cleaning – finn@alwaysreliable.com.au | Finn 0410 146 633
Focus Cleaning – contact@focuscleaningsydney.com.au | Melissa 0451 728 829
Five Star Carpet Cleaning – lisa@fivestarcarpets.com.au | 9948 7997
Pest Elite – info@pestelite.com.au | Jake Stephenson 0481 144 629
Greenlife Garden and Property Maintenance – rmaufay@gmail.com | 0405 023 508
On handover or vacate date
On the vacate or handover day, return all keys and documents to the Agency before 5 pm.
Vacate inspection
You will be invited to attend the Vacate Inspection with the Property Manager which is to be completed within 3 business days after you vacate. A date and time will be scheduled. We will try to accommodate a day or time to suit you, however it depends on availability. If you cannot or do not wish to attend the Vacate Inspection, please ensure you give our Agency the best contact details for you so the Bond can be finalised quickly. If attending the inspection, it is a good idea to take general cleaning items in case a spot clean is required in a few places missed. This saves time so you don’t have to return again. If further items require attention, the Property Manager will notify you of details and you will be given time to rectify – generally a 24 hour time frame. After items have been rectified, the Property Manager reinspects the Premises and completes the Claim for Refund of Bond form for you to submit to the NSW Fair Trading. If the item remains unsatisfactory, or you do not wish to return to the Property to attend to the issue/s we will engage a professional cleaner or contractor to attend to the issue/s and a claim will be made from the Bond for the costs associated. During this process, communication will be made with you by the Property Manager. Unless otherwise discussed with you, the Claim for Refund of Bond form will be completed within 3business days of you handing over the Property to the Agent.
If tenant and agent disagree
We try to resolve the issue as promptly as possible to enable the Property to be relet and to refund your Bond amount that is not in dispute if applicable. This means the amount of Bond required to complete the work will be held with NSW Fair Trading until the matter is resolved one way or another. A letter will be sent to the other party advising them of the claim and giving them 14 days to apply to the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal to dispute the claim. If no reply is received within 14 days the bond will then be paid out. The Agency can engage a professional cleaner or contractor (or both) to complete the items that need to be rectified and obtain Tax Invoices forming part of the claim on the Bond amount held. Usually a mediator from the NSW Fair Trading acts as a third party to help resolve the disputed Bond amount or issue/s. As a last resort, the Tribunal is in place to deal with the disputes and a decision is made by a Tribunal Member who considers evidence provided by the Agent and the Tenant related to the matter.