While Renting Apartments in Sydney Australia you need to consider the two categories of apartment renting: furnished and unfurnished Sydney Apartments.
People who plan to live in Sydney for long usually opt for the unfurnished Sydney apartments. The leases on these apartments are usually for a minimum of 6 months. You can ask for a lease of 1 year if you wish. This guarantees that the owner will not kick you out of the place should s/he wishes to lease it to someone else which happens often. The cheapest rent we came across was A$100. This will be in a low end suburb. The rent is usually advertised as a weekly rent. However, the contact might ask you to pay it weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. The rent amount is based on the suburb that you live in. Please check the Sydney suburbs section of this site.
In unfurnished Sydney apartments, you have to pay the electricity and water bills yourself. There is a bond that you have to pay for the Sydney Water and Electricity. . You also need to pay 4 weeks bond for any rental property. This Sydney Apartment rental bond stays with an independent entity and is released when you vacate the property and return it back clean, neat and unharmed!
Sydney Furnished apartments are more suited for short term stays and can be rented on weekly basis. The rent ranges from A$200 to A$2000 per week. This usually covers the Electricity bill, but you'd better check.
To get an apartment or a flat or even a house in Sydney, you can check these two sites for online rental property:
Once you like a Sydney Apartment, call the real estate agent who will handle the lease between you and the owner.
Apartment and flat owners in Sydney Australia advertise their property for rent in newspapers and at real estate offices mainly. The real estate agents will assist you find, inspect and decide on a suitable house or a flat to rent.
You may need to supply some paper work before you can rent a property. You will be required to pay rent in advance. Couple of weeks is the norm.
The first payment will include a bond that is refundable at the end of the rental. The lease contract is a legal contract. If you have, doubts or concerns about a lease seek legal advice before signing the contract.
The Sydney property rental market has been extremely tight for the past year. Housing shortages have made it increasingly difficult to get good deals on rent in Sydney. Sydney renters have been prepared to offer 20 per cent above the asking rental to secure a quality property in a prime locations.
You need to be well prepared when you set out on your property search. The competition to secure the rental property of your choice might be hard. Some areas of Sydney are more popular than other and there may be no second chance for a first impression. So be organised before you even begin your search. Here are some tips to help you find the Sydney property for Rent.
1- Set your budget
Make sure you are very clear about how much you can afford to pay. Your rent shouldn’t consume more than one third of your weekly income – if you earn $900 a week, your rent should not be higher than $300 per week.
2- Consider the location
Do you want to be within walking or cycling distance of shops, the beach, nightclubs, your friends? Not having a car with save you money that can go towards your rent. How much can you save on travel costs if you live close to work?
3- Make a checklist:
Will you share with others or do you need privacy?
Does it have a large off-peak hot water system ?
Do you really need a garage?
Are there sufficient power points in each room and working light fittings.
What size property do you need? Are there smoke detectors?
Is there a laundry with washer and dryer (or space for them)
Check security devices such as locks or bars on windows and doors
Is there a phone line and high speed internet connection?
4- View the property
You need supporting reference documents prepared before you view a property. These documents include: your driver's license or passport, copies of your latest pay slips and bank statement, a letter of recommendation from your employer, references from previous landlords or property agents and rent receipts, electricity or phone accounts in your name from previous addresses, character references.
5- Be on time to meet the property agent. Be well groomed to make a good impression. If you plan to share the property with friends or family, make sure they visit the property with you. Be prepared to make a quick decision about a property and fill in an application on the spot.
6- Be honest on your application form. Be persistent and keep in regular contact with the agent to find out how your application is progressing.
7- Understand your rights in the Sydney rental market
8- If your application is accepted, do not sign anything until you have checked the Tenancy Agreement contract.
9- Make sure you understand all its terms and conditions, especially about what costs might be incurred if you break your agreement early.
10- You can visit the Office of Fair Trading website to download information on Tenant’s Rights and Bonds. You will generally have to pay your rent in advance and provide a bond of around 4 week’s rent in Sydney
This will be lodged with the Rental Bonds office in your state and will be refunded when you leave unless there is damage to the property or monies outstanding. Don’t forget to Inspect the property thoroughly
11- Keep a record of any conversations you have with your real estate property management agent – dates and a brief outline of what was discussed. This can help in any future dispute or misunderstanding.
12- Before you move into the property, do an entry inspection with your landlord. Take a camera with you on this inspection. Keep a copy of these photos and the completed Inventory and Condition Report to check against on your departure.