Frequently Asked Questions – Landlords

Before you rent your property we recommend you take the following steps;

• Install Smoke Alarms and Residual Currency Devices (RCD’S); Ensure the property is compliant with the Building Regulations 2012, for further information please refer to https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/ or speak with our team.
• Ensure the property meets the minimum security requirements as outlined in the Residential Tenancies Regulations 1989, for further information please speak with our team. This includes, locks, security screens, porch lights and window latches.
• Have carpets professionally cleaned.
• Have the property professionally cleaned so that there is little discussion/ reduced disputes once the tenant vacates.
• Redirect your mail.
• Arrange the final readings of your utilities to be taken but do not cut off the supply.

We Love Rentals® can arrange all the above for you if you require.

We always strive to get you the maximum rent possible; however we must also ensure the rental amount is in line with current market conditions. Both factors are important to present your property on the market for rent successfully. We consider factors such as demand, what rentals are available now, what we have rented right now and the condition of your property. It’s a good idea to understand typical West Australian property management fees, too.

You may place your property on the market at the rental amount you wish. However keep in mind that it is the market demand that set the rent, and if the market (prospective tenants looking for a rental property) deem the amount of rent too high; your property may stay vacant for longer than necessary.

At We Love Rentals® we conduct six monthly rent reviews to ensure that the rent of your property is continually up to date. When we need to secure you a new tenant or renew an existing lease, we will always review the rent against market conditions to achieve maximum value. We will always contact you for permission before the rent is altered.

We ask that all prospective tenants over the age of 16 complete an application form and provide 100 points of identification. By signing the form the prospective tenant is giving us permission to check the information provided. We will never discuss an applicant with you until this application form is completed.

With the information provided we confirm their payment and tenancy history by calling their current and/or previous landlord/agent as well as confirming their employment and income, and checking them against three National Tenancy Internet Databases to see if they have been lodged as a bad tenant by a previous agent. The main tenancy databases that we check are TICA, National Tenancy Database, VEDA and Barclays.

In some cases the applicant may not have a prior tenancy history as they are first time renters. We try and confirm other information that may give us insight into their ability to maintain a tenancy in your rental property. For example this would be a stable employment history or evidence that they have been a home owner.

If in the unlikely event a prospective tenant contacts you to discuss their application, or in fact asks questions regarding their rejected application, we insist that you ask them to contact us. If they persist, we insist that you do not discuss anything further to avoid unnecessary problems and complications. At no stage will we give an applicant your contact number.

Legally we do not have to give the applicant a reason and by industry practice we never give a reason to why the application was declined.

You do! We will simply give you the information we have collected and by using our experience give you a possible guide as to the tenancy outcome. At the end of the day it is always your choice.

No reputable property management agency in Perth can guarantee any approved tenant for your property. We can only attempt to collect information on their past history and confirm their income arrangements. As their paying of rent and maintaining the property is purely voluntary we cannot guarantee any tenancy outcome. This is a landlord risk that comes will allowing someone else to rent your property.

We asked that the property be presented in the best manner possible to attract the right tenant for your property. A bad first impression can detract the right tenants from renting your property.

The property should be presented ‘reasonably clean’ in accordance with legislative requirements. As a very general rule, we ask the tenant to leave the property in the same standard as they found it.

The demand for unfurnished properties is high across the Perth Metro area. We recommend that, unless your property is within the 5-8kms of the CBD, you plan to rent your property out unfurnished. This will reduce your vacancy period as in most cases there are far more tenants looking for an unfurnished property. However, if your property is inner Perth City then please speak to us to see what we recommend for your particular property.

In general, you cannot ask for more than the equivalent of four week’s rent however the following exceptions apply: if you have been living in the property for the previous 3 months, then the bond is negotiable; if the rent is more than $1200 per week then the bond is negotiable.

We only refund the bond after the following has occurred; the tenant has fully vacated the property and all keys have been returned, the property has been inspected and is satisfactory when compared with the initial incoming report, all monies are paid which includes any outstanding rent, water or anything owed by the tenant and if the tenant is breaking their lease, any re-letting fees and advertising costs are paid.

We can arrange rental payments on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis, whatever suits you best.

Paying the rent is always a voluntary action on behalf of the tenant. We can never force a tenant to pay their rent. Even a tribunal can only order a tenant to pay the rent but can never physically force them to pay. We Love Rentals® has a zero tolerance policy on rental arrears. If the tenant does not pay rent we send and SMS on the first day then send a 7 Day Termination Notice on the third day. This notice seeks to terminate the tenancy and require the tenant to vacate the premises within 7 days or pay the outstanding amount in full. If the outstanding amount isn’t paid in full, we then apply to court to attempt to recover the damages.

Absolutely. Even a good tenancy can turn bad. If the tenant’s circumstances changes sometimes the tenancy can become unstable. Landlord insurance will cover rent lost due to tenant defaults and malicious damage to the property cause by the tenant. It is very important to know what your landlord insurance policy will and won’t cover. Please consult with your insurer to ensure you are fully aware of the extent of your cover.

Around 46% of tenants own a pet. We recommend taking each application on its merit and we will feed our findings back to you for the final decision. Many pet owners make great tenants. We take a pet bond of $260 (the legal limit) for your property’s protection. Recent Western Australian government legislation changes mean pets are allowed, but tenants must seek permission first. See our guide to making your rental property pet-friendly.