Renting your property involves so much more than finding someone who is willing to pay the rental amount asked. As many Investors have unfortunately discovered, an unsuitable tenant can easily turn an otherwise profitable venture into one where the returns are severely compromised. This can happen as a result of the Property being damaged, the premises being left in a dirty condition, rubbish being left and ruined gardens.

These scenarios are often accompanied by significant amounts of rent being owed

Poor tenancy selection also often results in the constant chasing of rent arrears, excessive maintenance on the Property, conflict with neighbours of the Property and the expense involved in replacing absconded tenants.

At Rentals Assist we use our very best endeavours to secure for our Clients the very best of the tenants available to the market at any given time. Our services are performed thoroughly and are both comprehensive and effective. That is to say our strategy of services cover all scenarios that could result in losses to our Client.

A description of our tenancy specific services follows.

Tenant Viewings

This is the first step in successfully renting your Property out to a suitable tenant and is an important aspect of tenant screening.

Rentals Assist personally escorts potential tenants through your Property to demonstrate its features and to receive registrations of interest from all interested parties. Our personal attendance ensures the security of your Property and provides us with invaluable insight into the nature and suitability of any potential applicants to rent.

We provide a full report on the numbers who have attended along with any comments made regarding the Property’s suitability for potential applicants as well as the number who have requested rental application forms. This is paramount in determining the Property’s appeal to the current market and the likelihood of a successful tenancy along with any review of marketing strategy.

Application Processing

Having received a written application to rent form, Rentals Assist will comprehensively process that application and personally contact all rental, employment, and personal references. This involves confirming the bona fides of references supplied as well as soliciting important information that will help the client determine the suitability or otherwise of a potential tenant.

Our screening process also involves referring the applicant’s details to the tenant default database. If the applicant has rented previously and defaulted on the terms of that tenancy agreement, then provided that the default has been reported, that information will be made available to Rentals Assist.

Any applicant who has successfully passed our rigorous screening process should be highly regarded as a desirable potential tenant.

All processed applications are referred to the Client for consideration and the Client’s acceptance of an application is conveyed to the applicant. All contact details of the approved applicant are provided to the Client.

Written Agreement Preparation

Having discussed at length our Client’s specific needs and wishes, we prepare a tenancy specific written agreement that embraces the Client’s expectations.

We do not simply provide a “one size fits all” tenancy document but include key conditions that provide the Property Investor with the maximum protection the Residential Tenancies Act can afford. In addition to this we add all clauses and special covenants that reflect our Client’s wishes in regard to Property specific behaviour.

For instance, if the Client wishes to retain the use of the Property’s garage as a storage facility for their own personal possessions, this is written into the agreement. If the use of equipment or machinery located on the premises is entirely at the tenant’s risk then again this is documented.

The prepared tenancy agreement is forwarded to the Client for final approval and a security bond lodgement form plus a Tenant Information Booklet are also provided at no additional cost.

Tenant Signup

The provision of a comprehensive written tenancy agreement will mean little if the provisions of that agreement are not understood by the tenant. That is why, at our Client’s request, Rentals Assist will coordinate an appointment with the tenant to fully explain the Client’s requirements as well as to explain the fundamental nature of their obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act.

Having obtained the tenant’s full understanding of their obligations all documentation is signed and copies provided to all parties as is required by law.

We will also receive and lodge on the Owner’s behalf the maximum security bond allowable under the Residential Tenancies Act and arrange for the first instalment of rent to be paid to the Owner.

The final steps of the appointment with the tenant include explaining the Client’s preferred method of rent payment, providing the tenant with a copy of the Tenant Information Booklet and arranging the issue of keys and alarm codes in conjunction with the Client.

Utility Setup

With all the considerations and arrangements that Property Investors need to undertake in order to prepare their Property for a new tenancy, transfer of telephone, gas, electricity and internet services are easily overlooked.

Rentals Assist are happy to provide assistance in this area by ensuring that all applicable services are transferred into the appropriate tenants name by the time they take up occupancy.

This ensures that no utility account continues to be used in your name after the tenancy has commenced thus avoiding the hassle of trying to calculate and recoup monies that may be owed to you as a result of your accounts not being finalized.

This can also be done for subsequent tenancies which then saves the Owner being caught up in resolving disputes between old and new tenants.