Your responsibilities as a landlord
In NSW, landlords must provide and maintain the property in a reasonable state of repair, taking into account its age, rent and prospective life. That includes keeping it fit to live in and making sure fixtures, appliances and services provided with the home keep working.
Tenants are responsible for keeping the property reasonably clean and for reporting problems promptly. Clear reporting and quick decisions keep small issues small.
- Keep supplied appliances, hot water, plumbing and electrics working.
- Make sure smoke alarms are installed and kept in working order.
- Respond to repair requests within a reasonable time.
Urgent repairs
Some repairs cannot wait. In NSW, urgent repairs include things like a burst water service, a blocked or broken toilet, a serious roof leak, a gas leak, a dangerous electrical fault, flooding or serious flood damage, serious storm or fire damage, and the failure of an essential service such as hot water, cooking or heating, or the gas, electricity or water supply.
These need to be arranged straight away. If tenants cannot reach the landlord or the agency, they may be able to arrange an urgent repair themselves and be reimbursed. Agreeing an approval limit with your team in advance means urgent work can go ahead without delay.
- Agree a spending limit your team can approve without waiting for you.
- Keep a reliable after-hours contact for emergencies.
- Have preferred trades for plumbing, electrical and locks.
Non-urgent repairs and approvals
For everything else, such as a dripping tap, a loose cupboard door or a worn flyscreen, your team will normally gather details and photos, get a quote where needed and send it to you for approval.
A quick reply helps everyone. Delays frustrate tenants and can let a minor issue turn into a larger one. If you would rather use your own contractor, let your team know their details in advance.
- Ask for photos and a clear description with each request.
- Request more than one quote for larger jobs.
- Reply to quotes in writing so the approval is recorded.
Planning ahead
Some costs are predictable. Hot water systems, appliances, carpet and paint all have a working life, and replacing them on your own schedule is usually cheaper and less disruptive than replacing them in an emergency.
Use inspection reports to build a simple plan of what may need replacing in the next year or two, and set money aside for it.
- Note the age of the hot water system and major appliances.
- Book gutter cleaning and similar seasonal work before it is needed.
- Keep warranties and service records with the property file.
Let’s talk about your property.
Discuss your plans and the next steps with our team.
