Things I have learned over the years about rental properties that I can use now.

[reynardo]

1) Check now whether it has an AC/Heating system. If not, compare the rent. A decent portable reverse-cycle AC can be bought for about $900 so you'd want to have at least $30 a week off the rent if that's so.

2) No swimming pools. Not in Melbourne, not in the middle of water restrictions. (Learned due to the trials and tribulations of dear friends who were assured that of course, if it was illegal to top up the pool, of course they should be expected to do it - then were hit with a bond charge at the end of the lease for not maintaining the pool.)

3) 10 minutes walk to a 25 minute train ride is fine. 20 minutes walk to a 15 minute train ride is fine. 30 minutes cross-country hike through the bushland, which is likely to happen in the dark in winter, to a train that will take up to 30 minutes to get in, is not.

4) We have no tame electrician here. Make sure the house is in good order.

5) On street parking will work in the quiet side street, unless said quiet side street is beside the racecourse.

6) If 9 out of 10 of the neighbourhood houses have bars on the windows, and there are doughnut marks on the road outside, seriously consider whether ths is a good idea.

Anyone want to add any little pearls of wisdom?

Comments

[freyaw.livejournal.com]

5a) Also near showgrounds and other large venues. Our old place was near the Adelaide showgrounds, and right next to the tram line. With the old trams, every fifteen minutes or so someone's car alarm would be triggered by the tram going past - people who used the parking spaces there regularly had learned to not have it set as sensitive.

6) Churches ring their bells on Sunday mornings. I sleep through it, and Bastard is at work, so this is not an issue for us.

[http://users.livejournal.com/raven_/]

Heating.
Fly screens.
Gas vs electric - for heating, hot water, AND cooking.

If you have friends that live in the area, ask them about agents. Find out which one is the slumlord, and avoid like plague.

Yard size. Are there a buttload of plants that you are expected to prolong the life of? How much water will this use? Lawn?

Bathroom ceiling. Find out when it was last painted, and with what. Check for mould.

[the-funkmeister.livejournal.com]

Rental Issue ~ 10) If the place has heating/cooling already, figure out if you have roof access before committing -- last thing one needs is the repair guy saying 'i'd fix it, if I could get there without pulling all the tiles off the roof' and leaving you with broken reverse cycle heating throughout WINTER!

( * In addition, i'd also mention things about Rottweiler Dogs and Small, School Aged Children with ADHD -- but that's because i'm an anti-social night person and loud sudden noises scare me -- and they rent, while I own next door, so that'll remain a personal current grievance :) )

[silverblue.livejournal.com]

Having a gardener who does nothing but get in, mow, and leave, is incredibly useful. Garden is always tidy, privacy is protected.

Ask about insulation. The current house is FAR saner than the previous (lolpool), but has none. NONE. As in, in Winter it is the same temp as outside, and in Summer it is actually hotter due to roof angle (48C. In. HOUSE). Lack of insulation means heating and cooling are vastly more expensive.

[jesusandrew.livejournal.com]

2) sounds like a case for the rental tribunal - it's not a reasonable demand. It should be something you can get around without such recourse if you get it in writing from either the estate agent or the owner.

[mr-figgy.livejournal.com]

I'm sure Lee Presson has many nuggets of wisdom if you need them, but I would know less than you do if any pertain to rental housing.

[lokicarbis.livejournal.com]

Does the landlord live next door and/or is prone to visit without mandatory notice?

[notasquirrel.livejournal.com]

maike shur yor note moovinge inn nexte dore toe thee 'kat laydee'. buyinge enuff 'welkom toe thee nayburhood' bombz fore al thee newe addishunz kud bankrupte switzurlande.

[emmycantbemeeko.livejournal.com]

6b) If there's razor wire encircling the property and the landlord brings up the "selling point" of security monitoring being included in the rent twice without being asked, run.

Or at least check the recent police blotters for the area before signing.

[frou-frou.livejournal.com]

A note on 5: probably not an issue because there will be permits for residents. We live near the racecourse and showgrounds and the impact (parking wise at least) is minimal. Of course, the rule still follows: your quiet street might have unexpected consequences so best to check.

By the way, have you picked a location for house hunting? Locals might have area-specific advice for you.

[nefaria.livejournal.com]

Just because the apartment is in the middle of a city doesn't necessarily mean that it will have cable TV available.

If garbage bags must be carried across icy rooftops in the winter to be deposited in a dumpster, run.

If the apartment is on the third floor and the landlady frowns on portable air conditioners, run.

[sly-girl.livejournal.com]

A good kitchen and a good bathroom make up for not so good elsewhere.

[keffufal.livejournal.com]

If you are verbally promised repairs, get a written document stating such.

Take photos of premises at start of lease (especially damaged areas), and of any problems that may occur along the way (eg water leaks).

Don't expect to be able to grow basil in the garden of the units without paint water being thrown on it.

Make sure all residents have keys and don't just leave the window ajar to be able to open the door - if you do this, junkies will come and shoot up in your kitchen - on more than one occasion.

Living across the road from the local shops WILL mean rubbish all over the footpath all the time. And the neighbourhood schizo pacing up and down out the front arguing with his imaginary friend for hours at a time "you fuckn bastard you smoked my fuckn stash"

Don't be surprised if between inspection and moving in, built-in furniture disappears and light pink carpet appears.

Just because it has a jacuzzi, doesn't mean that it works.

Just because it has a dishwasher, doesn't mean that it works.

Just because it has a gas stove, doesn't mean that when they replace it, it will still be a gas stove.

If it has a lawn, you WILL have to mow it. Otherwise you will get complaints and your neighbours will think the place is abandoned.

[scascot.livejournal.com]

6.1 Patched bullet holes in the walls and suspiciously new carpeting with a dated decor are also dead giveaways. (Pun not intended, but pretty damn funny.)

6.2 Crime scene tape is right out.

Depending on the area, knocking on the neighbor's doors, and asking them what it's like to live in the area might not be a bad idea. It might also get you insight into the problems associated with the previous tenants and/or their problems with the property. The neighborhood gossip grapevine is sometimes more reliable than the agent showing the property.

Also look for: Pipe corrosion and/or evidence of water leaks under the sinks. "Swampy", dead, or recently-dug areas of the yard, especially above the municipal sewer connection.

[amazon-42.livejournal.com]

All of the electricians in Melbourne are feral? Can't someone...round them up for shots, chipping, and neutering?

[alchemon.livejournal.com]

.. If there is ivy in the yard, make sure it's noted, and preferably considered a weed that the LANDLORD/Agent will remove. The damage ivy can make to property is quite horrendous, and of course to anything it grows on (such as trees that then fall on the house or fence, etc).

.. Never assume that anything (at all) provided with the property works. Get it ALL checked ASAP and listed on a condition report.

.. If there is a security gate, make sure that you get given all the necessary things (keys, a button, etc) to open it!

.. If the place is still rented at inspection time, and there appears to be stuff that 'cannot' be removed, it may indeed be removed by the leaving tenants (eg: split-system air-con, shiny new oven, etc). Make sure it's there when you sign (eg: meet at the property to sign?), and be sure to add a clause if it isn't that rent needs to be reduced or that the deal is broken.