Tips to help you when you vacate.

To assist you in your move, here is a guideline about the process and timeframes involved when you vacate a rental property. 
(Timeframes and guidelines provided are from Residential Tenancies in Queensland legislation).

 If you have any questions please contact our Property Management Team on 07 4669 1790  or call the RTA (Residential Tenancies Authority on 1300 366 311 or www.rta.qld.gov.au.

The Key Steps 

First Step:
It is important that you first complete a Notice Of Intention To Leave - RTA Form 13 - click HERE to download and email it to reception@sbfn.com.auor drop it into our office at Shop 2, 1-7 Warrego Highway Chinchilla. 

We will confirm receipt and then provide you with all associated paperwork, you must give 14 days notice to help make the vacating process as smooth as possible.

At this stage, we will also begin the process of advertising the property for rent.  We will contact you ahead of each appointment to show the property to prospective tenants.

Rent Payments: 
Under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, you must continue to pay your rent to the Managing Agent (First National Mudgeeraba) up to and including the day you vacate and hand over keys to the Property.

Important:  please do not stop paying rent and assume that this amount will be deducted from your bond as the bond is NOT to be used for rent payments. If required, the bond may be used for costs associated with returning the Property back to the way it was at the start of the tenancy (except for fair wear and tear).

Tips to help you obtain a full bond refund:

Start by referring to your Entry Condition Report that you completed at the beginning of your tenancy. Note any changes (allowing for fair wear and tear) and use this to assist you in completing your Exit Condition Report.

We will provide you with a Vacate information email which explains the procedure and what your obligations are to finalize your tenancy. 

If time does not permit you to attend to the work required yourself then we can help by recommending professional companies who can provide services such as:
* Cleaning 
* Lawns, Gardens, Paths 
* Carpet Cleaning 
* Painting etc

Following completion of any work required, you can re-check the Entry Condition Report and complete the Exit Condition Report.

On handover or vacate date: 
Please return all keys and paperwork, as per the vacate checklist to First National Surat Basin before 9am the next business day.

Vacate Inspection:  
Our Property Manager will complete the vacate inspection within 3 business days after you vacate.  Please ensure you have given our Agency the best contact details for you so the Bond can be finalized quickly.

If any further items require attention, our Property Manager will notify you of the details and you will be given time to rectify (generally 24 hours).  Once this is done, our Property Manager will reinspect the property and complete the RTA Form 4 - Bond Refund or provide you with the form for you to submit to the RTA.

If any items remains unsatisfactory, or you do not wish to return to the Property to attend to any issues yourself, we will engage a professional cleaner or contractor to attend and a claim will be made from your Bond for any costs. During this process, our Property Manager we will continue to communicate with you. Unless otherwise discussed with you, the Bond Refund form will be completed within 3 business days of you handing over the property to the Agent.

If there is a disagreement between the Tenant and First National Surat Basin:
We are here to help. We try to resolve any issues as promptly as possible to enable the Property to be re-let and to refund any bond amount that is not in dispute, if applicable. This means the amount of bond required to complete the work will be held at the RTA until the matter is resolved one way or another.  You may contact the RTA and complete a Form 16 - Dispute Resolution form. 

Our agency can engage a professional contractor to complete any items that need to be rectified and obtain a Tax Invoices forming part of the claim on the Bond amount held. Usually, a mediator from the RTA acts as a third party to help resolve the disputed Bond amount or issue/s.

As a last resort, QCAT is in place to deal with the dispute.  Here a decision is made by a Referee who considers evidence provided by the Agent and the Tenant related to the matter.


We may be able to help you find your next rental property:

There's sometimes a lot of competition amongst prospective tenants for newly vacated properties. That's why it's so important to let us know what you're looking for.  Click Here to see our current rental listings.