Private Landlord Lease Agreement Tasmania
Here’s what you need to do as a landlord and how to protect yourself if you’re leasing property yourself in TAS.
Before Approving a Tenant
- Ensure you have a check done on the tenant (you can arrange this through us).
- Phone/ check all the tenant’s references (our tenancy application asks them to supply current employer, current landlord, and personal references).
- Ensure you have physically sighted proof of identification, proof of income, proof of address, and proof of rental history (e.g. lease agreement, written reference, or tenant ledger)
Once you’re ready to approve a Tenant
- Meet and sign a Residential tenancy agreement form. You can request a copy from us via email, or use our digital lease agreements to have the tenant sign online.
- Complete a property condition report at or before the start of the tenancy, and give the tenant two signed copies. Keep one copy for yourself. Your tenant signs one and returns it to you within 2 days. Where possible, it’s helpful to complete the report together to minimise disagreements. You can request this form from us via email.
- Request a bond of up to 4 weeks rent. In Tasmania you can’t accept bond money yourself: your tenant pays it straight to the Rental Deposit Authority (RDA) online through MyBond. You can read how that works here.
- If you use a property agent and they collect the bond on your behalf, they must lodge it with the RDA within 10 working days.
During the Tenancy
- Conduct routine property inspections (not more than once every 3 months), giving the tenant at least 24 hours notice each time.
- Make sure you keep documentation of any occurrences (e.g. copies of any letters/receipts you send to tenant, photos of any damage etc.), just in case there’s ever a dispute,
Other
We strongly recommend completing National Tenancy Database/TICA blacklist checks before approving any tenant (you can arrange this through PropertyNow).
As well as checking tenancy blacklists, you should consider checking the ACCR criminal court attendance database here. You can also order full police background checks through PropertyNow, if you wish.
Most importantly, we recommend taking out Landlords Insurance – this covers you for theft, malicious damage, or loss of rent if the tenant stops paying. There are many different providers so make sure to shop around. Here’s two to get you started:
We also strongly recommend reading the Renting Guide and the Minimum Standards for Premises: A Guide for Tenants and Property Owners offered by the Tasmanian Government.
We hope this information helps! Got more questions? Don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email.