Finding a Tenant 

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To find a good tenant, set clear standards and consider these factors.

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• Financial Stability: Check if the tenant can pay rent regularly and on schedule. Ask for evidence of their income and job to confirm they have enough money to cover the rent.
• Rental History: Inquire about their previous rental history to understand how they have maintained and cared for previous properties. Contacting their past landlords can provide valuable insights into their behaviour as a tenant.
• References: Request personal and professional references to better understand the tenant's character, responsibility, and reliability.
• Credit Check: Review the tenant's credit report for any unpaid debts or issues that could impact their rent payment ability.
• Communication and Responsiveness: Assess how effectively the prospective tenant communicates during the application process. A responsive tenant who is open to communication is more likely to address issues promptly.
• Respect for Property: Look for individuals who treat the property with care and respect. Tenants who are responsible take better care of the property.
• Stability and Longevity: Consider tenants who show stability and a commitment to a longer-term tenancy. Frequent moves indicate instability.
• Legal Background: Perform a background check to ensure no serious legal issues could pose problems during the tenancy.
• Meeting Tenancy Conditions: Ensure the prospective tenant understands and agrees to abide by the general tenancy conditions, including respecting neighbours, being responsible for their actions, and promptly addressing any issues.

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Landlords Responsibilities 

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Housing providers like landlords, real estate agents, and hotel/motel owners have certain duties and landlord rights SA under the Residential Tenancies Act 1995. But they can't choose tenants based on personal traits because that's against the law. These decisions include:

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Refusing to Sell or Rent Property

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It is illegal to refuse to sell or rent a property to someone based on their characteristics.

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Equal Treatment of Applications 

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All rental applications for the same property should be processed fairly and without discrimination. Treating one application differently from others based on personal characteristics is not allowed.

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Accommodation Terms and Bonds

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Landlords or agents cannot impose higher bonds or change the terms of accommodation based on personal characteristics.

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Equal Access to Benefits and Facilities

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All tenants have a right to use the same benefits and facilities the property offers. It's illegal to deny or limit access based on personal characteristics.

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Accommodation Extension and Renewal

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Landlords or agents cannot refuse to extend or renew accommodation based on personal characteristics.

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Eviction

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It's against the law to evict tenants because of who they are. Sexual harassment is also illegal in rental properties. Landlords, agents, tenants, and potential tenants shouldn't do it.

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Responsibility for Repairs and Maintenance

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Landlords and tenants share responsibility for repairs and maintenance. The tenant should tell the landlord or property management if something needs fixing. The landlord must fix the problem in a timely. There are specific landlord responsibilities SA for repairs and maintenance between landlords and tenants.

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Landlord's Responsibilities

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• The landlord typically takes care of consumables, such as replacing blown light globes and tap filters.
• The landlord usually does extensive gardening work, like pruning fruit trees.

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Tenant's Responsibilities

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Tenants are usually responsible for specific tasks, such as cleaning air conditioner filters (if provided with instructions) and general gardening work, like mowing and weeding. Tenants are usually responsible for specific tasks, such as cleaning air conditioner filters (if provided with instructions) and general gardening work, like mowing and weeding. Landlords must make necessary repairs, even if tenants knew of the problem when they moved in. Exceptions may apply. However, there might be certain exceptions:

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• Items explicitly excluded in the tenancy agreement might not be the landlord responsibilities SA for repairs.
• Serious structural issues listed in a housing improvement notice might not be required to be fixed by the landlord.

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Landlord's Right to Enter the Property

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Landlords have the right to enter rental properties under certain circumstances. For example, they can enter to make repairs after giving the tenant at least 48 hours notice. They can also enter without notice in an emergency to ensure the tenant's safety. Landlords should address any issues promptly, as failure to do so could violate the rental agreement. 

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Taking Responsibility for Tenant-Caused Damage

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You are responsible for any damage that occurs while you are staying on the property, even if it is accidental.

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Here's the lowdown on tenant-caused damage:

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Own Up to It

If there is damage in your home, you must repair it and inform your landlord, regardless of the size of the damage.

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Timely Repairs

Act promptly! Tell your landlord about the damages and ask them to fix it quickly. This helps to maintain the property in good condition.

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Lending a Hand

If your landlord fixes the damage and you say yes, they may charge you $28.45 per hour plus the cost of materials. It's important to work together!

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Keep Things Shipshape

If the damage isn't fixed, your landlord can issue a notice asking you to handle the repairs or face the possibility of the lease agreement ending. So let's avoid that!

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Dealing with Pests and Vermin

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Landlords are responsible for getting rid of pests when the tenant moves in. They need to act quickly to get rid of the pests listed.

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• Ants
• Bees and wasps (also during the tenancy if they nest within wall cavities)
• Cockroaches, fleas, and spiders
• Mice and rats
• Snakes (limited to the tenancy period and contingent on the landlord's breach of agreement, such as neglecting piles of rubbish in the garden)

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If there are bugs or rodents in the rental property, the tenant has to get rid of them. The landlord should also block anyways for pests to get inside again. The following pests fall under the landlord responsibilities SA:

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• White ants
• Possums (landlords must remove them and seal entry points)
• Birds (landlords are responsible for their removal and sealing entry points).

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Elevate Your Property Investment with Houst

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