Renting at Cornerstone LivingImportant tenant information

Welcome to your new home at Cornerstone Living As a tenant of Cornerstone Living, you are now part of a vibrant, modern neighbourhood.

This welcome pack provides you with all the essential information you will need while renting through Cornerstone Realty. It contains the details of your rights and responsibilities as a tenant, as well as important information about property maintenance issues and making any changes to your lease.

Please keep your welcome pack for future reference, as it contains answers to questions you are likely to have both now and in the future. We hope you find the contents of this guide useful and that you enjoy your time at Cornerstone Living.

Contents

Contacting your property manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

General tenancy rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Rent arrears. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Entry condition report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

General repairs & maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Keys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Mould . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Smoke alarms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Routine inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Break lease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Change of shared tenancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Paying your rent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Ending your tenancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Bond refunds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

3

Contacting your property managerOur property managers are here to support you at every stage of your tenancy. Whether you have an enquiry about your lease or a maintenance issue, we are here to help.

You can contact us via phone or email, or visit us in the heart of the Cornerstone community at the Sales and Community Centre.

Address: 88 Troughton Road (cnr Boundary Road), Sunnybank QLD 4190

Phone: 07 3345 7127

Mobile: 0473 181 052

Email: rentals@cornerstoneliving.com.au

Office hours

Rental office: Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm Saturday By appointment Sunday Closed

Sales office: Monday to Sunday 10.00am to 4.00pm Closed on Tuesdays

4

Rent arrearsWhilst we understand that unforeseen circumstances can sometimes result in your rent not being paid on time, it is imperative that you advise us via email as soon as a payment issue arises. Your property manager will help you to arrange a solution and to make your future payments on time, as stipulated in your lease agreement.

It is important that you are aware of the process involved in rent arrears. If we have received an email from you outlining your circumstances, please understand the following procedures will still occur. We have a duty to your landlord and their insurance company to document all arrears and breaches, and we take this seriously. You will find that most landlords will be happy to sort out a short-term issue if you keep in regular contact with us and don’t consistently fall behind in your rent.

THREE DAYS IN ARREARS

After three days, you will be contacted via SMS. A reminder SMS will then be sent DAILY until your rent is up to date. It is advisable for you to contact the office by email or phone upon receiving the first text message. This ensures that if there have been any issues with rent being received, we can deal with them quickly and issue your receipt of payment.

EIGHT DAYS IN ARREARS

After eight days, you will be issued with a Notice to Remedy Breach (Form 11). Once this form has been issued, you will have seven days to sort the breach.

SEVENTEEN DAYS IN ARREARS

After 17 days, you will be issued with a Notice to Leave (Form 12), which provides seven days’ notice

to vacate. You will be expected to have the property vacated and cleaned by the expiry of this notice. If there are any outstanding monies owed in excess of the rental bond, the tenants whose names appear on the General Tenancy Agreement will be listed on TICA and the funds will be pursued through the Queensland Civil Administration Tribunal. We take this matter seriously, so if anything unforeseen happens, proactive communication and payment arrangements should be made.

Entry condition reportAt the commencement of your tenancy, you are provided with an Entry Condition Report. This notes the general condition of the property prior to your residency. After you receive the keys to your property, please complete the report, initial each page, sign the document and return it to the Cornerstone Realty office within THREE DAYS, as required by the Residential Tenancies Authority.

What is the Entry Condition Report for?

This report documents the condition of the rental property prior to you moving in to the premises. It is by far the most important document for securing your bond refund when the time comes to vacate the property. By paying close attention and filling out the report in as much detail as possible, you will ensure the end of your tenancy can be dealt with promptly and professionally.

We will provide you with a fully signed copy of the Entry Condition Report via email.

General tenancy rules Never underestimate the importance of setting 15 minutes aside to familiarise yourself with your lease agreement. Remember, it is a legally binding contract and it’s essential that you are aware of your rights and obligations as a tenant, just as your landlord is aware of theirs.

To ensure your residence is a happy and stress-free home, there are four main guidelines you are required to abide by.

1. Pay your rent on time

2. Keep the property clean and tidy and undamaged

3. Be courteous and respectful of your neighbours

4. Be sure to understand the rules in your lease agreement

If there is anything you are unsure of please don’t hesitate to ask your property manager.

5

General maintenance and repairsAll requests for repairs and maintenance are to be supplied via email. The only exceptions to this are emergencies such as a gas leak or a burst water service. If possible, we ask that you include a photo of the item needing repair with your request. Please also ensure that in the event of an emergency, you follow up a call to our office with an email.

It is against the terms and conditions of a General Tenancy Agreement to stop paying rent for a maintenance issue. Late payments will be recorded on your rental history and you will also risk having a Notice to Remedy Breach (Form 11) issued to you.

A number of Maintenance Request Forms are provided at the start of your tenancy, and you can use these to advise your property manager of any issues.

Before lodging a maintenance request, please check the following.

Hot water systems

• Is the power or gas connected?

• Have you paid your electricity or gas account recently?

• Have you topped up the hot water system with the filler valve?

• Have you checked whether the safety switch has been tripped or a fuse blown?

Lights

• Have you checked if the safety switch has been tripped?

• Have you changed your light bulb?

Safety switch

If the safety switch is tripping, please unplug EVERYTHING in the home – this includes items such as the fridge and washing machine.

Reset the safety switch and then one by one, plug each item back in and turn the power point on. Often a faulty appliance will set off the safety switch when you plug it back in, which will help you to determine why the switch is tripping. If you do not properly conduct this procedure and the electrician finds that the safety switch was tripped by a faulty appliance that you own, the electrician’s call-out fee will be charged to you.

Air conditioner

• Have you checked whether the safety switch has been tripped?

• Have you changed the batteries in the remote control?

• Have you cleaned the filter?

Blocked drains

• Have you cleared the drain of any hair or soap residue?

• Have you tried a plunger?

Keys If you lock your keys in your property during business hours, you can visit our office to collect the office set of keys. Your identification will be requested and keys are required to be returned on the same day. After business hours, you will need to engage a locksmith at your own expense.

Should you lose the keys to your property, you will need to change the locks at your own cost. You will need to replace all the keys that were initially provided to you and supply our office with two additional sets of keys (one for the agency and the other for your landlord).

MouldDefining who is responsible for removing mould in your rental premises depends on when and how it developed. For example, if the mould developed due to your negligence – such as never opening windows or doors, or not utilising the supplied exhaust fan when showering – it may become your responsibility to have it professionally treated and removed.

It is your responsibility as a tenant to notify your property manager in writing as soon as you discover mould.

To prevent mould from developing, please take the following preventative measures:

• Turn on the exhaust fan while using the shower or laundry, especially the dryer.

• Allow plenty of sunlight into the property.

• If condensation builds up on the walls or ceiling, dry the area thoroughly.

• When weather permits, ensure you allow adequate ventilation throughout the property by opening a door or window.

• Leave internal doors open to allow for circulation – this is important when using a clothes dryer in an enclosed laundry.

6

Smoke alarmsSmoke alarms save lives

Under the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990, you are required to clean and test all smoke alarms in your rental home. This must be done at least once during a 12-month tenancy.

If your tenancy is less than 12 months, the lessor is required to clean and test all alarms, only if the tenancy is renewed. For example, if you have a six-month tenancy now, and an offer of renewal is provided in six months’ time and you accept this, the lessor must have all smoke alarms cleaned and tested. If the tenancy renewal is not offered or renewed, it then reverts to a periodic tenancy and the lessor obligation does not apply in this situation.

It is also a legal requirement for you to change smoke alarm batteries when they are flat or almost flat. If you become aware that a smoke alarm has failed or is about to fail, other than because of a flat battery, please advise our office immediately.

If you are unable to fulfil these legislative requirements personally, our agency can supply a list of preferred contractors to carry out the work for you at your expense. We strongly recommend that you ensure any contractors appointed on your behalf have adequate qualifications (if required) and hold public liability insurance.

You must not remove a smoke alarm, remove the battery (other then to replace it) or do anything to reduce the effectiveness of a smoke alarm. Penalties do apply for not complying with these requirements.

Routine inspectionsYour property will be inspected every three to four months. A notice and information regarding the inspection will be sent to you via email at least seven days prior to the inspection.

On the day, we will inspect the premises to ensure that the property is being well maintained and to identify any repairs or maintenance that need to be addressed. We request that you remove any items such as cleaning products from under the kitchen, laundry and bathroom sinks, so we can check for water marks or any sign of leaks.

Break leaseIn order to break your lease, you will need to advise your property manager in writing of the circumstances and reasons for your decision.

You will also be responsible for the following:

• Paying the break lease fee of one weeks’ rent plus GST.

• Paying the advertising costs for finding a new tenant ($65 plus GST).

• Paying rent until the day before another tenancy commences.

• Specifying a vacate date using the Notice of Intention to Leave (Form 13). This form is located on the Residential Tenancies Authority website and a copy is also provided in the folder given to you at the start of your lease.

Change of shared tenancyIf there is a change to the people residing in your property, there are a number of steps you need to follow:

• You must notify our office of the changes in writing.

• The tenant vacating must complete a Notice of Intention to Leave (Form 13).

• Prior to moving in, the prospective tenant must complete an Approved Application Form and be approved by the landlord.

• Once the owner has approved the new tenant, a Change of Bond Form can be completed. Please note we do not issue a bond refund for a change in shared tenancy and you must do your own bond cash transfers. The Change of Bond Form is used to update bond records with the Residential Tenancies Authority.

These procedures also apply if additional tenants such as partners wish to move in to the property. Unapproved persons living in the property is a breach of the tenancy and you may be issued with a Notice to Remedy Breach (Form 11), which will be noted on your rental history. It is important that the landlord approves all persons residing in the property.

If the original leaseholder does not remain at the property after a change of shared tenancy, a break lease procedure must be followed.

7

Paying your rentPlease ensure that you pay your rent via the method specified on your General Tenancy Agreement. If you have been provided with a tenant reference number, you should always use this to prevent any errors in payment. If you do not use the reference number and we do not correctly receive the money, you may be at risk of receiving a Notice to Remedy Breach (Form 11) for unpaid rent. This is why it is imperative for you to follow the guidelines as per your agreement, which the property manager explains at the start of your tenancy.

Ending your tenancyAt the end of your tenancy, one of two things will occur.

• You will be offered a lease renewal for a new fixed-term tenancy; or

• You will be issued with a Notice to Leave (Form 12).

You will be provided with all relevant information approximately three months before your lease expires. If you do not wish to continue the tenancy after the lease end date, you are required by law to provide us with a minimum of 14 days notice in writing. You can do this by completing a Notice of Intention to Leave (Form 13).

Your notice period will start when we have received this form and provided a receipt of acknowledgement. Please contact our office if you do not receive this receipt from us, as your 14 days will not start until we receive and acknowledge receipt of the form.

Bond refundThe following steps will assist you to have your bond fully refunded in the shortest possible timeframe:

• Pay all rent up to and including your date of vacate.

• Clean and return the property in the same condition as it was before you moved in (refer to the Entry Condition Report and complete the Exit Condition Report).

• Have the carpet professionally steam cleaned and supply the cleaning receipt when returning the keys.

• Return all keys and ensure they are signed back into the office, along with your signed Exit Condition Report.

• Complete all details on the Bond Refund Form, including your bank account details and forwarding address. This form will be emailed to you once the exit inspection is completed and all is satisfactory.

In the event that the property is not left in a satisfactory condition, you will be given the opportunity to return to it within 24 hours to rectify any issues. If you are unable to do so, or if you do not properly amend the issue, we can engage professionals on your behalf and the costs for this will be deducted from your bond.

Need more information? We hope you found this guide useful. Please keep it in an accessible place until the end of your tenancy. If you have any further questions, you can contact our office on the details below.

Address: The Cornerstone Living Sales and Community Centre 88 Troughton Road (cnr Boundary Road), Sunnybank QLD 4190

Phone: 07 3345 7127

Mobile: 0473 181 052

Email: rentals@cornerstoneliving.com.au

Enjoy your new home!