by George Astudillo | Aug 24, 2018 | Financial, Reports, Tenant
If you want to live amongst Sydney’s most prestigious suburbs all signs are pointing East.
The Eastern Suburbs of Sydney have long been known for an increasing rental demand but what kind of rental prices are they fetching?
Bellevue Hill has taken the lead for highest median rent price for houses at $2048 p/w, with Point Piper taking number one spot for highest median rent price for units at $998 p/w.
According to Domain Groups latest Rental Report it seems Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs have graduated to become the most costly region in the country.
Overall, when you combine houses and apartments, the highest ranking Sydney suburbs for median rental prices, according to the latest Domain Group Data for June 2018, are;
- Darling Point – $2,625
- Watsons Bay – $2,500
- Tamarama – $2,200
- Bellevue Hill – $2,024
- Vaucluse – $1,875
- Kurraba Point – $1,800
- Rose Bay – $1,768
- Dover Heights – $1,700
- Double Bay – $1,690
- Clontarf – $1,650
When it comes to popularity as opposed to price and prestige, Sydney CBD was the most searched for suburb followed by Surry Hills, Paddington, Newtown and Darlinghurst. It seems convenience and ease of transport is highly desired by Sydney renters. Mosman is the suburb most frequently searched by those looking to purchase.
About Us
George Astudillo is the founder of Property Quarters, an agency that values communication and great relationships with its landlords.
George now has more than 30 years in real estate, including 15 years as the owner of a national real estate franchise. He’s also an accredited auctioneer and is the author of “The Landlord Mindset”, a book with his best tips to help landlords look after their investments. His book has been quoted in the SMH, The Huffington Post and The Age.
As the founder of Property Quarters, George takes great care in looking after his landlord’s investments. Having seen it all and worked with may landlords and tenants, he’s a strong mediator and negotiator and knows how to navigate through property legislation.
George is trusted by his landlords to advise on the financial management of their investments. He’s put in place proven processes to ensure each property he looks after is managed effectively to retain its value, quality tenants and rental income.
If you’re looking for a property manager who thinks like a landlord and whose business is built on tested processes, contact us by clicking HERE.
About Us
George Astudillo is the founder of Property Quarters, an agency that values communication and great relationships with its landlords.
George now has more than 30 years in real estate, including 15 years as the owner of a national real estate franchise. He’s also an accredited auctioneer and is the author of “The Landlord Mindset”, a book with his best tips to help landlords look after their investments. His book has been quoted in the SMH, The Huffington Post and The Age.
As the founder of Property Quarters, George takes great care in looking after his landlord’s investments. Having seen it all and worked with may landlords and tenants, he’s a strong mediator and negotiator and knows how to navigate through property legislation.
George is trusted by his landlords to advise on the financial management of their investments. He’s put in place proven processes to ensure each property he looks after is managed effectively to retain its value, quality tenants and rental income.
If you’re looking for a property manager who thinks like a landlord and whose business is built on tested processes, contact us by clicking HERE.
Copyright © 2022, www.propertyquarters.com.au
by George Astudillo | Aug 2, 2017 | Financial, Management Systems, Tenant
According to an ABC news article dated 14 April, 2015, “More than three quarters of a million Australians were the victims of identity theft in the past year, costing the average victim about $4,000…”.
As a landlord you must be sure who is getting the keys to your property. Using the “100 point checklist” together with a tenant reference check, will virtually eliminate the risk of identity fraud. The checklist is designed to accumulate 100 points from various sources. There must be at least one document from the primary documents list and one from the secondary documents list that has a photo.
Primary documents (only one can be used) 40 points
- Australian passport (current, or expired within past two years, but not cancelled)
- International passport (current, or expired within past two years, but not cancelled)
- Other document of identity, e.g. diplomatic/refugee (photo or signature)
Secondary documents – First document 30 points, others 25 points
- Current driver’s licence or permit (government issued)
- Working with children/teachers registration card
- Aviation security identification card
- Maritime security identification card
- Public employee photo ID card (government issued)
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs card
- Centrelink pensioner concession card or health care card (government issued)
- Current tertiary education institution photo ID
- Birth certificate/birth extract
- Australian citizenship certificate
- Reference from a doctor (must have been known for a period of at least twelve months)
10 points
- Foreign/international driver’s licence
- Proof of age card (government issued)
- Medicare card/private health care card
- Council rates notice
- Property lease/rental agreement
- Property insurance papers
- Tax declaration
- Superannuation statement
- Seniors card
- Electoral roll registration
- Motor vehicle registration or insurance documents
- Professional or trade association card
- Utility bills (phone, gas, electricity, water)
- Credit/debit card (if using more than one, each must be from different sources)
- Bank statement/passbook (if using more than one, each must be from different sources)
And don’t forget the tenancy reference check.
About Us
George Astudillo is the founder of Property Quarters, an agency that values communication and great relationships with its landlords.
George now has more than 30 years in real estate, including 15 years as the owner of a national real estate franchise. He’s also an accredited auctioneer and is the author of “The Landlord Mindset”, a book with his best tips to help landlords look after their investments. His book has been quoted in the SMH, The Huffington Post and The Age.
As the founder of Property Quarters, George takes great care in looking after his landlord’s investments. Having seen it all and worked with may landlords and tenants, he’s a strong mediator and negotiator and knows how to navigate through property legislation.
George is trusted by his landlords to advise on the financial management of their investments. He’s put in place proven processes to ensure each property he looks after is managed effectively to retain its value, quality tenants and rental income.
If you’re looking for a property manager who thinks like a landlord and whose business is built on tested processes, contact us by clicking HERE.
Copyright © 2022, www.propertyquarters.com.au
by George Astudillo | Apr 3, 2017 | Management Systems, Planning, Presentation, Repairs and Maintenance, Tenant
With winter now upon us, it is important to ensure your investment property is prepared for the change in weather.
The number one challenge in winter is mould.
More and more research is becoming available on the health dangers posed by mould, though it is still a grey area in regards to rental properties.
There are basically four ways that mould exists in properties:
Lifestyle
Cooking, showers and drying clothes indoors are the main ways that tenants contribute to the build-up of excessive moisture inside a property. Without adequate ventilation, the excess moisture will result in condensation and eventually mould will form. The best and cheapest remedy is ventilation – opening windows or providing airways to let the steam and condensation escape.
Repairs and maintenance
Mould can also be caused by a lack of maintenance, or repairs that have not been carried out quickly enough. For example, if a blocked gutter spills water onto walls and inside wall cavities, this would be a maintenance issue. If the gutters need replacing, it would be a repair issue.
It is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure that the property is maintained correctly and that repairs are carried out in a timely manner to prevent mould occurring.
Design of the property
Sometimes it’s the design of a property – the way it is sited or built – that may cause mould to become a problem. Some south-facing walls rarely see any sunshine and will remain damp for much longer after rainfalls. In persistent wet weather, walls may not get a chance to dry out. Additionally, there will be areas of the house such as basements that are more prone to condensation.
Climate
Tropical zones where high temperatures are combined with high humidity and/or rainfall, such as Cairns, are more prone to mould growth.
Given that there is little one can do to change the structure of a property, it becomes the tenant’s responsibility to make sure there is adequate ventilation to prevent the build-up of mould.
Mould can be destructive to both the property and its fittings. By making it easier for the tenant to manage and prevent mould build up, you are also looking after your own interests.
Tips to counter mould:
- Have the kitchen exhaust fan and clothes dryer ducted to the outside wherever possible to help ventilate rather than recirculate.
- In bathrooms, choose an exhaust fan activated by the light switch to control steam.
- Regular cleaning is necessary in bathrooms, kitchens and laundries particularly around tile grout and silicon.
- Make sure showers are properly water-proofed to meet the National Construction Code standards so as to prevent water seeping through walls. This is very common in older properties. Waterproof membranes don’t last forever and are likely to break down in five to ten years.
- Under-house ventilation systems can reduce moisture collecting under floors. They can be inexpensive and automatic, timed to self-activate throughout the day.
- Use mould-inhibiting paints to reduce the effects of condensation.
- In wet areas, use paints with a higher gloss level and avoid a matt or flat finish.
- Control damp coming from outside by checking for leaks in roofs, gutters and downpipes.
- Install a gutter-guard system to prevent leaves causing blockages.
- Consider window security that enables some windows to be left slightly open to provide ventilation.
Winter is coming, is your property ready?
For more handy tips on preparing your property for winter see our blog “Winter is Coming- A Rental Property Checklist”
About Us
George Astudillo is the founder of Property Quarters, an agency that values communication and great relationships with its landlords.
George now has more than 30 years in real estate, including 15 years as the owner of a national real estate franchise. He’s also an accredited auctioneer and is the author of “The Landlord Mindset”, a book with his best tips to help landlords look after their investments. His book has been quoted in the SMH, The Huffington Post and The Age.
As the founder of Property Quarters, George takes great care in looking after his landlord’s investments. Having seen it all and worked with may landlords and tenants, he’s a strong mediator and negotiator and knows how to navigate through property legislation.
George is trusted by his landlords to advise on the financial management of their investments. He’s put in place proven processes to ensure each property he looks after is managed effectively to retain its value, quality tenants and rental income.
If you’re looking for a property manager who thinks like a landlord and whose business is built on tested processes, contact us by clicking HERE.
Copyright © 2022, www.propertyquarters.com.au
by George Astudillo | Sep 8, 2016 | Landlord mindset, Management Systems, Repairs and Maintenance, Tenant
We’ve all heard the stories about the landlords from hell.
The ‘slum landlords’ who treat their tenants like lower class citizens. Repairs either take forever or don’t happen at all. Some landlords preside over conditions that are inappropriate, sometimes even dangerous…
Read the full Huffington Post Australia interview HERE.
Copyright © 2016, www.propertyquarters.com.au
by George Astudillo | Jul 25, 2016 | Presentation, Tenant
There are rules you need to follow if you want to attract the ideal tenants.
One of the major challenges for any property owner is attracting tenants who actually want to live in your house or apartment. It’s vital to have a positive first impression if you want to lease your property at the top rental dollar, as well as attract the ideal tenants.
“The problem with most rental properties is that they look and smell like rental properties.” Real estate expert George Astudillo told The Huffington Post Australia it was worth putting an effort in to attract the best tenant.
Read the full Huffington Post Australia interview HERE or take a look at our blog “7 easy ways to Present Your Property to Attract Great Tenants”
About Us
George Astudillo is the founder of Property Quarters, an agency that values communication and great relationships with its landlords.
George now has more than 30 years in real estate, including 15 years as the owner of a national real estate franchise. He’s also an accredited auctioneer and is the author of “The Landlord Mindset”, a book with his best tips to help landlords look after their investments. His book has been quoted in the SMH, The Huffington Post and The Age.
As the founder of Property Quarters, George takes great care in looking after his landlord’s investments. Having seen it all and worked with may landlords and tenants, he’s a strong mediator and negotiator and knows how to navigate through property legislation.
George is trusted by his landlords to advise on the financial management of their investments. He’s put in place proven processes to ensure each property he looks after is managed effectively to retain its value, quality tenants and rental income.
If you’re looking for a property manager who thinks like a landlord and whose business is built on tested processes, contact us by clicking HERE.
Copyright © 2022, www.propertyquarters.com.au
by George Astudillo | Jul 10, 2016 | Legislation, Tenant
The Residential Tenancies Act 2010 includes provisions for the current minister to “…conduct a review after five years to determine whether the policy objectives of the Act remain valid and whether its terms remain appropriate for securing those objectives.”
It’s comforting to know that our legislation is progressive enough to allow for corrections. Nothing is perfect, and this review allows for the public at large whether individually or through special interest groups, to voice an opinion of changes that would benefit the community through property legislation.
Public submissions closed on 29 January 2016 and the NSW Fair Trading has been reviewing those submissions. On the 17th of June they released “Residential Tenancies Act 2010 – Statutory Review” outlining their recommendations with an explanation for each.
Amendments to Act will be drafted in 2017.
Recommendations include
• Clarity on shared housing arrangements.
• Disclosure requirements, particularly for properties used in drug crime.
• Strata by-laws – to be issued to tenants when signing a lease.
• Update to the Tenant’s checklist to include safety requirements.
• Rental Bonds
– Remain at 4 weeks.
– Abolish the payment of interest to tenants.
– All landlords/agents register with Rental Bonds online.
• Ability for condition reports to contain photos.
• Agent/landlord to consult with the tenant for the use of internal photos for marketing.
• Water usage – more clarity on what is “separately metered premises”.
• Rent increases – no need to send “60 days’ notice” if increase is already documented in a fixed term lease.
• Repairs
– Allowance for a tenant to terminate a lease based on repairs not being carried out.
– Time-frames for repairs.
– Authority for the Tribunal to order the landlord to carry out repairs.
• Alterations – landlord may not unreasonably refuse consent for minor alterations that would make the premises livable for disabled or elderly tenants.
• Changes to the Act that will encourage long term leases.
• A better method for calculating a tenant’s liability when breaking a lease.
• Domestic Violence – make it easier for victims of domestic violence to terminate a lease.
• Residential tenancy databases – tenants not to be charged to find out if they are listed.
• Allow for notices to be served electronically.
The full report can be downloaded here
To see different tenancy legislations in different states see our link “Renting in Australia- One Country, Eight Different Rules”
About Us
George Astudillo is the founder of Property Quarters, an agency that values communication and great relationships with its landlords.
George now has more than 30 years in real estate, including 15 years as the owner of a national real estate franchise. He’s also an accredited auctioneer and is the author of “The Landlord Mindset”, a book with his best tips to help landlords look after their investments. His book has been quoted in the SMH, The Huffington Post and The Age.
As the founder of Property Quarters, George takes great care in looking after his landlord’s investments. Having seen it all and worked with may landlords and tenants, he’s a strong mediator and negotiator and knows how to navigate through property legislation.
George is trusted by his landlords to advise on the financial management of their investments. He’s put in place proven processes to ensure each property he looks after is managed effectively to retain its value, quality tenants and rental income.
If you’re looking for a property manager who thinks like a landlord and whose business is built on tested processes, contact us by clicking HERE.
Copyright © 2022, www.propertyquarters.com.au
