The work you do before a rental goes to market shows up in how quickly it leases and the kind of tenant it attracts. A clean, well-maintained home photographs better, draws more enquiries and makes the entry condition report a fair benchmark for the end of the tenancy. This is general information: your situation may call for advice from a tradesperson, insurer or accountant.

Clean and freshen up

Cleaning is the cheapest improvement you can make.

  • A professional clean, including windows, tracks and skirting boards
  • Carpets steam cleaned
  • Scuffs washed off, or a neutral repaint between long tenancies
  • Lawns and gardens tidy, with trees trimmed back from the roof

Fix the small things

Small defects put off good applicants and turn into first-week repair requests. Check for:

  • dripping taps, running toilets and slow drains
  • sticking doors and locks that don’t work smoothly
  • blown globes and loose power points
  • torn fly screens and damaged blinds

Every rental must also meet the minimum housing standards.

What Townsville tenants look for

The climate shapes what renters value here.

  • Air conditioning and fans: serviced, with clean filters
  • Ventilation: working exhaust fans help keep mould away in the wet season
  • Outdoor living: covered patios, decks and shade
  • Security screens: often asked about, especially by families

Before cyclone season, clear the gutters and check the roof.

Compliance before move-in

Some obligations must be met before a tenant moves in. Our landlords page has more detail.

  • Smoke alarms: interconnected photoelectric alarms, tested and cleaned within 30 days before the tenancy starts or is renewed. We arrange these checks through specialist providers.
  • Pool safety: a compliant barrier and a current pool safety certificate
  • Water charging: only if the property is individually metered, water efficient, and the lease allows it
  • Keys and locks: every external lock working, with a full set of keys

Landlord insurance

Building insurance covers the structure, but usually not the risks of renting a property out. When comparing landlord policies, check:

  • rent default and loss of rent
  • malicious and accidental damage by tenants
  • storm, cyclone and flood cover
  • legal costs if a dispute goes to the tribunal

Review it each year, well before cyclone season, because insurers can restrict new cover once a cyclone is forecast.

A depreciation schedule

You may be able to claim depreciation on the building and some fixtures and fittings. A schedule prepared by a qualified quantity surveyor sets out what can be claimed.

The rules depend on when the property was built and bought, and changes in 2017 limited claims on some items in second-hand homes. Ask your accountant, or see the ATO’s rental properties guide.

How we help

When you sign with us, we walk through the property with you, suggest what’s worth doing before it goes to market, and arrange trades if you’d like us to. You get a realistic rent range based on recent leases nearby, and once it’s listed, you hear from us every week until it’s leased.

Request a free rental appraisal or read how our property management works.