As a tenant, you have several responsibilities some of these responsibilities include:

• Taking good care of the property and not damaging it.
• Paying the rent on time.
• Adhering to the terms of your tenancy agreement.
• Being responsible for household members and any visitors to your home. If their actions or behavior breach your tenancy agreement or the Residential Tenancies Act 2010, it could result in the termination of your tenancy.
• Maintaining the property to a reasonable standard and notifying the agent or landlord of any issues.
• Undertaking tasks such as changing standard light bulbs, unless these are specialist fittings requiring expertise.
• Connecting and paying for all utilities such as gas, electricity and water, provided there is a separate meter for each service.

Tenancy rights vary by state in Australia. While many laws are the same or similar no matter which state you’re in, there are many that differ. Which is why it pays to learn more about your state’s specific rules and regulations regardless of whether you’re renting privately or through a property manager.

In general, as a tenant, you have rights such as being provided with a copy of your tenancy agreement at the start of your tenancy and being provided with a vacant property that is in a reasonable state of cleanliness and repair at the start of your tenancy.

Once you have found/moved into a property

Rental Inspections: During rental inspections, property managers look for several things to identify and address underlying repair/maintenance issues. Here’s a rental inspection checklist containing the most noteworthy things that property managers look out for:

• Check the condition of appliances and safety features like smoke alarms.
• Ensure that gardens are maintained, and the lawn is mowed, watered, and weeded.
• Make sure the number of tenants is restricted to the names on the lease.
• Confirm that the rental agreement is being respected, with no unapproved pets on the property.

Dealing with Landlords

Most of the time landlords are pretty easy to deal with especially through a realestate agency but occasionally you may come across a difficult Landlord.

Dealing with a difficult landlord can be challenging, but there are several steps you can take to handle the situation. Here are some tips:

• Obvious but so underrated Be a good tenant: If you have a landlord who keeps a close eye on you or has obnoxious requests, the best thing you can do is be a good tenant for them. Of course, this means paying your rent on time.
• Communicate your needs clearly: Start by trying to resolve the issue with your landlord directly, in a calm and respectful manner.
• Document everything: Document everything, including any communication you have with your landlord.
• Take photos of the empty place when you move in and make sure to take pictures of anything that’s broken, damaged or otherwise in poor condition. Make any repair requests or other agreements in writing and keep the emails around until your lease is up.

Talk with other tenants: If you live in an apartment building or complex, talk with other tenants to see if they are experiencing similar issues with the landlord.

Seek help if necessary: If your attempts to resolve the issue directly with your landlord are unsuccessful, consider involving a lawyer or local housing authority.

Additionally, all tenants and landlords must comply with the Residential Tenancies Act 1987.

NSW Tenant rights: Fair Trading

QLD Tenant rights: RTA QLD

VIC Tenant rights: Consumer Affairs

ACT Tenant rights: Justice ACT

TAS Tenant rights: TAS CBOS

SA Tenant rights: CBS SA

NT Tenant rights: NT Consumer affairs

WA Tenant rights: Commerce WA