Some Not So Obvious Things You Need To Know Before Signing A Lease

Before renting in Adelaide you need to know these things.

Despite the large amount of properties available in Adelaide, or anywhere, there’s always a bit of pressure to find somewhere to live as fast as possible - especially if your current lease is coming to an end.

But just because there is a bit of pressure doesn’t mean you should sign that lease immediately. It’s a good idea to ask some questions first, or do some digging on the property or landlord. 

You’re going to think that a lot of this is obvious, and it is. But when you fall in love with a kitchen or backyard it can be hard to think about much else.

So here’s what you need to consider first:

1. Is it too good to be true?
   Over the years I’ve inspected some amazing properties only to later find myself in a living nightmare. It’s easy to avoid this with a little research, and one key indicator of whether you’re about to sign a lease to one of these places is the turnover rate.
   You can check the turnover rate at a property by going to Domain’s property profile page.
   
   A place that is re-listed very frequently could be a sign that something isn’t quite right.
   
2. Live By The Rules
   If you’re leasing a property under a strata or community title you should always find out exactly what you are responsible for, and what addition rules outside your lease you have to live by.
   
   Renting a place that looks perfect but has rules that conflict with your lifestyle is a surefire way to make you, your community and your landlord miserable. So make sure you check before you sign the lease.
   
3. Does everything work?
   Taking a shower while at an inspection is generally frowned upon, but making sure the shower works - and has adequate pressure - is a good idea. Checking that the lights, power points etc. are in working condition is essential. Check the windows to see if they open, whether they have blinds etc.
   
4. Can you make alterations?
   I’m the type of person that likes to decorate my house with pictures and art, so renting a place that won’t let me put up hooks is basically a non-starter. So one of the first questions I ask is about making small alterations. 
5. Day And Night
   Tossing and turning, stressing your mind because you didn’t check what the neighbourhood was like at night is a surefire way to make yourself go mad over the course of the year. Fortunately renting in Adelaide is a bit easier with most neighbourhoods being quiet at night, but it’s a good idea to check out the place anyway.
   
   For a quick online check head to: https://www.homely.com.au.
   
6. Do you really want to live there?
   When you’re inspecting a property for the first time it’s easy to fall in love with one thing and only think about that one thing. Once I inspected a place with a secret staircase, and I immediately felt the need to live in that house - fortunately more rational heads prevailed and I avoided what would have been a nightmare (think about everything that could be wrong with a place and double it).
   
   Don’t fall in love with the first place you visit; make sure that the location and house is actually somewhere you want to live.

As I said earlier, a lot of these things are very obvious. But when you’re inspecting houses it's easy to overlook or forget to inspect properly. Whether you’re renting in Adelaide or elsewhere, check to ensure that the place you like is somewhere you can live how you want to.

If you’re a tenant that isn’t satisfied with where you’re living, get in touch with Rosie and Rosie and we’ll help you find a place you can enjoy.