What are the Tenant's Responsibilities in Victoria

According to the Residential Tenancy Laws in Victoria, Tenants must perform certain responsibilities during their tenancy period. These responsibilities give clarity, avoid rental disputes and maintain a transparent tenant-landlord relationship in the long run.

Clarity on outlined rights and responsibilities can also help you protect your hard-earned bond money (which is equal to four weeks’ rent). So, it is good to read your tenancy agreement carefully and know the terms and conditions before signing the document.

However, if you are new as a renter in Victoria, look at the following tenant’s responsibilities that will make your journey easier and hassle-free.

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1. Fill out the Property Condition Report

An entry condition report outlines the property’s actual condition at the start of a tenancy. Therefore, tenants must inspect every nook and cranny of the property for damaged and unclean areas.

You must complete and return one copy of the condition report within 7 days of signing the lease agreement. It is good to take photos and videos of existing damages as evidence.

2. Paying Rent on Time and Full

This is one of the key responsibilities when you start living in a rental property. Make sure you pay the rent on a specific date. As per the tenancy laws, landlords or property managers have the right to charge penalties for late rent payments. They can even terminate your tenancy if you fail to pay your rent on time.

3. Maintaining a Clean rental Unit

As a responsible renter in Melbourne, you must take care of your rental property. Regular cleaning of all rooms, important spots, and exterior areas can help prevent the spread of dust, dirt, germs, and ailments.

Also, focus on removing rubbish on a regular basis and pay attention to the general cleanliness standard to maintain a healthy and hygienic indoor environment. Use eco-friendly cleaning products, such as vinegar, baking soda, lemon, hydrogen peroxide, etc, to tackle stubborn stains, grime, carpet spills and germs.

Tip: You can create a daily or weekly house cleaning schedule and keep the premises shiny and inviting.

4. Handling Minor Repairs

A tenant is also responsible for minor repair tasks to keep the premises in a habitable and pristine condition. The minor repairs include:

• Keeping a yard tidy
• Repairing broken doors or window frames (if caused by you)
• Changing light bulbs
• Decorating the interiors

Make sure you take permission from your landlord before doing necessary repairs.

If you want to know more about residential property repair & maintenance, then you can visit here:

5. Report Major Repairs to the Landlord

If you encounter major damage within the property, make sure you report the issue to your landlord immediately. This allows them to address the issue and fix it.

The major repairs could be related to smoke detectors, defects in the electrical board, water leakage, pests, gas leak, black mould, etc. As per the laws, tenants are not obligated for existing damages. They have to cover the repairs if anything is damaged during their tenancy.

6. Avoiding a nuisance

Maintaining a noise level to an appropriate level is one of the major clauses in the rental agreement. Landlords never appreciate tenants who create unnecessary nuisance and ruin the peaceful decorum of society.

As a tenant, you must maintain a peaceful and quiet ambience and avoid disturbing your neighbours during your lease.

Plus, engaging in illegal activities or domestic violence is unbearable by the Residential Tenancy Laws in Victoria. Landlords can immediately terminate your tenancy in case you breach your agreement.

7. Returning the Property to Reasonably Clean

Are you at the end of your tenancy? Most tenants lose their bond money because they don’t know the responsibility of leaving the property cleanly.

The tenancy laws in Victoria clearly state that the property should be reasonably clean as you received it at the beginning of your tenancy. This excludes normal wear and tear.

You can hire experts for a professional end of lease cleaning Melbourne and secure the full bond money. They always come fully-equipped with proper tools and a pre-approved cleaning checklist which covers:

• Ceiling walls, fans and light fixtures
• Shelves, cabinets and light switches
• Picture frames
• Windows, blinds and curtains
• Door frames
• Carpets and Rugs
• Kitchen Appliances (Oven, Microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, etc)
• Countertops, stovetop, range hood filters, sink and faucets
• Bathroom chrome fixtures
• Showerhead, curtains, glass doors and bathtub
• The toilet bowl and the rim area
• Bathroom tiles and grout lines
• Sink, faucets and towel rails
• Floors
• Laundry room
• Patio area
• Garage Walls

They can help you pass the end-of-tenancy inspection without getting into any dispute. Make sure you do proper research and book the best company in Melbourne, Victoria which specialises in an end of lease cleaning.

Wrapping up

These are some key responsibilities that every tenant should consider before signing a rental agreement. This can help them move out of a rental property without any dispute. Know your role and responsibilities as a tenant and secure your full bond money at the end of your tenancy.