At the end of March Rentwest celebrated a big milestone - we reached our 1000th property under management. Thank you to our wonderful owners for helping us reach such an impressive achievement.

We've put a few photos of the night up on Facebook.

Strong winds and storms can cause all kinds of headaches for property owners and tenants. We’d like to give you an idea of what we do when we get a call from a tenant telling us there’s been some damage to your home. While all situations are different, the procedure remains basically the same.

Here’s what happens:

1. Your tenant will contact us about the damage.
2. Your Property Manager will contact the appropriate maintenance company and ask them to fix anything that needs urgent repairs. They’ll also call you to advise you of the situation.
3. During this phone call, we’ll confirm your insurance details. We’ll also ask you for written authority to deal with the claim.
4. Your Property Manager will contact your insurer and advise that a claim is pending.
5. The maintenance company will go ahead and make the necessary temporary repairs and quote to repair or replace any other damage.
6. Your Property Manager will send your insurer a quote. We’ll advise you when this is done.
7. Once the quote has been approved, your insurer will get in touch with the maintenance company directly.
8. Repairs will be carried out.
9. The maintenance company will send an invoice straight to your insurer for payment.

Simple, right? The most important thing to remember is to keep your insurance cover up to date. If you’re not sure what your policy covers, be sure to check it now.

Lauren joined the Rentwest team in April 2011 as an Assistant Property Manager. Great at her job and able to support her colleagues effectively, Lauren is another shining example of our staff’s commitment to impeccable customer service.

An excellent communicator with impressive organisational skills, Lauren ensures that every detail is attended to promptly, just as our owners and tenants expect.

Lauren takes great pride in her work and she has an enthusiastic, can-do approach to property management. Lauren’s skills were recognised very quickly and she has now reached her goal of having her own rental portfolio.

One of the keys to successful long-term property investing is finding and keeping the right tenants. As Property Managers, we know that it’s vitally important to create a harmonious situation that works for everyone. This month we bring you the first in a three-part series in which we delve into our process for finding the best tenants and keeping them in your rental property.

First impressions
In the real estate business, first impressions are everything – and this applies to rental properties too. Your rental property needs to look better than others on the market or it just won’t get a look-in. We advise all our potential clients to attend to any repairs, clean their property thoroughly (including the yard) and, if they can, empty it of any personal items.

Motivated and organised renters know what they want – they’ll be the first to organise a walk-through and the first to sign a lease – so your property needs to excite them immediately. These types of applicants make terrific tenants, so you need to go out of your way to impress.

Checking the facts
Recognising a good tenant amongst a group of applicants requires some checking and verifying of information. At Rentwest we perform an extensive check into all potential tenants. When they apply for a property we ask them to provide a range of information, including:

• Driver’s licence
• Photo ID
• Passport
• References from previous landlords
• Details of employment.

We also run tenants’ names through the National Tenancy Database to determine if they have any defaults like owing rent, or property damages.

Vigilant screening of applicants takes a lot of work, but it’s absolutely necessary. We know that once a tenant moves into your home, it’s very difficult to get them out if issues arise. Doing this legwork first gives you (and us) some extra protection.

Regular inspections may take a bit of time to prepare for, but they’re a great way to ensure your rental property is being kept in good condition.

Inspections are the perfect time to discuss any issues you’re having, any changes to your living arrangements or any repairs that need to be carried out. They also provide your property manager with an opportunity to note down any seasonal maintenance that the owner may need to take care of.

While there are a number of tasks to complete for your inspection, here are ten things you shouldn’t overlook.

1. Remove any marks, dust or cobwebs from the ceiling, cornices and air-conditioning vents.
2. Clean dust from skirting boards.
3. Vacuum and clean window tracks and give the sills a wipe down.
4. Clean and dust light fittings.
5. Sweep and clear cobwebs from any verandahs, patios or eaves.
6. Remove oil stains from the driveway.
7. Sweep and weed paths and paving.
8. Wash all windows.
9. Clean your oven and stove top
10. Make sure your gardens and lawns are weed free, mowed and edged.

(Image credit: Horia Varlan)

By August 2011, every residential rental property in W.A. should have been fitted with two residual current devices (RCD’s). These RCD’s prevent electrocution by monitoring the flow of electricity in a home. If an imbalance in the current is detected, the RCD’s immediately stop the flow.

In order to keep the RCD’s in good working order, we ask that every three months tenants perform a very simple test on each device. Here’s what you do:

• Go to the meter box or distribution box and locate the RCD’s.
• Press the ‘Test’ button on the front of the device quickly and then release it.

Pressing the ‘Test’ button will stimulate an earth leakage fault and will indicate if the device is working properly. You may need to reset electric clocks and timing devices after you perform this test.

If the RCD fails to operate, please contact your property manager. We’ll need to contact a licensed electrical contractor to test and replace the unit.

If you have any questions about the RCD’s installed at your property, please contact us.

Rentwest is teaming up with the Department of Housing on a new project called the Rental Pathways Scheme (RPS). The focus of the initiative is to get long-term public housing tenants out of the system and into the private market by working with property management specialists like Rentwest and our owners.
The Department of Housing will individually select tenants that they deem suitable for the scheme. These tenants will:

• Have the means to rent privately.
• No longer need assistance from the Department of Housing.
• Have a good tenancy history.
• Have income that exceeds the public housing limits.

We’ve been told that the scheme isn’t for everyone and only the cream of the crop will be eligible.
Incentives offered for home owners.
The Department of Housing is offering considerable incentives to get home owners on board, including:

• Guaranteed rent for the term of the lease.
• Upfront payment of up to 20% of the annual rental income. 
• Up to $5,000 compensation for any malicious damage caused by the tenant. 
• A 12-month lease with an additional 12-month option for participating home owners. 
• Dedicated staff from the Department of Housing solely focused on the RPS.

For home owners, the main benefit of the RPS is having long-term, stable tenants in your investment property. If you’d like to know more about the scheme, or if you are interested in participating, please contact the office on 9314 9888.

Rentwest’s emergency phone is manned seven days a week; but remember, it’s for emergencies only. Unsure of what constitutes an emergency? Here are some examples.

• No hot water.
• No electricity or an electrical problem that may cause harm.
• Severe plumbing issues.
• Severe damage to the property.

What isn’t an emergency?

• General repairs or maintenance.
• Leaking taps.
• Problems with reticulation.
• Blocked toilets.
• Oven/stove not working.

In the event that your property is damaged in a storm, it’s best to call the State Emergency Services on 1300 130 039.

Remember, if you go ahead with a repair that isn’t classed as an emergency, the owner isn’t obliged to pay for it. Always check with your property manager if you are in any doubt.

Winter is on its way which means you need to act now to winter-proof your rental property. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Clear gutters and drainpipes.
   Over summer, leaves and other debris can build up in your gutters and roof valleys. If you leave this rubbish in place, it could lead to overflowing or blocked gutters, which could damage your brickwork and roof cavity. Before the winter rains hit, you’ll need to give your gutters and roof a thorough clean. If debris is an ongoing problem, consider buying and fitting a leaf gutter guard for extra protection.
2. Prune overhanging trees and shrubs.
   Overhanging branches from large trees can bring down power lines or cause significant damage to your roof in a storm. Organise for a professional tree lopper to take care of any branches that could cause problems over the course of winter.
3. Fix any broken roof tiles.
   Broken, cracked or missing roof tiles can cause a lot of damage to your roof over winter. Water can enter your roof space, exposed neighbouring tiles can be damaged and lifted by wind and heat can escape through the gaps, rendering your winter heating efforts useless. Do a quick check of your roof and organise to repair or replace any tiles that need fixing.

(Image credit: mccun934)

This is just a general reminder that any questions or issues relating to your property should be addressed to your Property Manager.

If you’re not sure who your Property Manager is, please send us an email or call (08) 9314 9888 and we can provide you with the details you need.