News
Wishing You a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!
Dear Owners/Tenants/Valued Clients, As we wrap up another incredible year, the team at Equity Property Management would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your support and trust in us throughout 2024. To our Property Owners, thank you for allowing us to manage your sales and rental investments with confidence. Your partnership enables us to deliver exceptional service and...
What Exactly Does a Property Manager Do?
Getting your rental property listed on a site like realestate.com.au or Domain is just the first step – managing the day-to-day operations is where the real work begins. That’s where we come in, as your property manager. However, many landlords are often unclear about what’s involved in the ongoing management and upkeep of a rental property. What Do Property Managers Really D...
Rental Applications - Make yours stand out from the crowd!!
What Property Managers Look for in Your Rental Application Finding the perfect rental home is an exciting journey, but securing it often hinges on submitting a strong rental application. Property managers sift through numerous applications, looking for specific qualities and information that indicate a reliable and trustworthy tenant. Here is what your new property manager is looking f...
How Often Should You Have Your Gutters Cleaned?
How Often Should You Have Your Gutters Cleaned? You should be cleaning your gutters at least once every year. That’s every home… once a year… no matter where you live… Even if you have gutter guards… But… some homes need it more often. And to be honest, some homes can go 2 years…It all depends on your home and it’s surroun...
MAINTENANCE - WHO'S RESPONSIBLE??
Maintenance guidelines ‘Maintenance’ is referred to in some of the duty sections of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 and in the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021 but is not defined by these laws. The guidelines set out maintenance activities that should be undertaken by rental providers and renters, in addition to those specified under the law, to ensure they ar...
INSURANCE
Do I require insurance as a renter (tenant)? Recent natural disasters have underscored the importance of being insured. But what about if you're renting a property rather than owning it? What kind of insurance is necessary, and what does the rental providers (landlord's) policy cover? Let's briefly examine the significance of insurance and clarify which aspects are co...
Pets in Rental Properties - QLD
Renting with pets A tenant must seek written approval from the property manager/owner to keep a pet at the rental property. It is a significant breach if an animal, other than a working dog, is kept at the premises without the property manager/owner’s approval. Any nuisance and damages caused by an approved pet are the responsibility of the tenant and pet damages are not con...
Pets in Rental Properties - VIC
Pets in rental properties Skip listen and sharing tools Renters who want to have a pet in the property must ask their rental provider (landlord) for permission. Rental providers must have a good reason to refuse the renter’s request. Rental providers can apply to VCAT for an order to refuse permission. All renters, including those with pets, have a responsibility to...
What are the Minimum Standards for Rentals in Victoria?
Victoria’s rental minimum standards cover basic requirements relating to a renter’s amenity, safety and privacy. Now more than ever, rental providers need to be accountable for and on top of issues relating to their property. This is to protect the renter by providing them with a safe place to live that is in good repair—a fundamental human right. Therefore, it is imper...
What are the Minimum Standards for Rentals in Queensland?
In Queensland, strengthened repair and maintenance obligations commenced from 1 October 2022 to support the staggered introduction of minimum housing standards from 1 September 2023. Minimum Housing Standards apply to new leases entered from 1 September 2023 and all tenancies from 1 September 2024. To meet minimum standards, properties in Queensland must: 1. Be weatherpro...
Thinking about switching agents? It's easier than you think.
Landlords often believe that changing property management agents is a complicated and time-consuming ordeal. However, it's not as daunting as it seems. What many landlords don't realise is that the process can be quite straightforward. In most cases, all you need to do is provide written notice, and your new agent will take care of the rest on your behalf. Typically, property management agreeme...
Why invest in Queensland
Investing in property in Queensland, Australia can be a good opportunity for several reasons. One of the main reasons is that property prices in Queensland have historically been more affordable compared to other states like New South Wales and Victoria. Additionally, Queensland has a diverse and growing economy, which can provide a stable rental market for investors. The state also has a high ...
Why use a Property Manager
Legal compliance: A property manager can ensure that the property is being rented out in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations in Queensland, such as the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 and the Residential Tenancies Authority. Rent collection and tenant management: A property manager can handle the collection of rent and other payments, as w...
These are our top 10 tips for preventing mould within a rental property
Open Windows While it’s tempting to batten down the hatches until spring, try to ventilate your house as much as possible. Kitchens and bathrooms are at the highest risk of developing mould, so when cooking or having a shower, open a window or two for a short time to help the moisture flow out of the house instead of building up. Alternatively, have air vents retro-fitted into your wi...
Brisbane House Price Forecast
Brisbane’s house prices remained resilient over 2020 when other markets were impacted by the economic impact of COVID-19. Now, moving forward, the Sunshine State will shine with strong demand for homes, particularly in lifestyle areas, likely to deliver double-digit capital growth over the next 12 months. Brisbane house prices have increased 5.9% over the last quarter alone an...
Rental law reform proposals
Housing Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 On 18 June 2021 the Queensland Government introduced the Housing Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 to the Queensland Parliament. Proposed reform areas include: ensuring all parties have appropriate approved reasons for all parties to end a tenancy prescribing Minimum Housing Standards options for people experiencing...
South East Queensland’s top affordable home locations
Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on the average loan for a first home buyer in Australia was $418,214 with an average deposit of $104,554, according to Finder. This means the average first home buyer will be looking at the sub-$550,000 price range where incentives and grants may be available. For those hunting a home under $550,000, this market can be challen...
Smoke Alarm Compliance
Smoke alarms in all dwellings must: be photoelectric (AS 3786-2014); and not also contain an ionisation sensor; and be less than 10 years old; and operate when tested; and be interconnected with every other smoke alarm in the dwelling so all activate together; and be either hardwired or powered by a non-removable 10-year battery. Smoke alarms must be installed on each sto...