Some banks are offering borrowers the ability to defer their home loan payments for up to 6 months – as a landlord myself I wanted to get a better understanding of how this works and what the consequences are of doing so. As many home owners and landlords face difficult decisions on how they’ll get through the economic impact of the Coronavirus, there has been a push from the media and the Government for banks to get on board and help out landlords who are facing job loss and a loss of rental income from their tenants. As a landlord myself, I was curious as to what the banks were offering and ..read more

In-light of the current Coronavirus situation, here are some tips on converting your short-term AIRBNB rental to a long term rental. With global travel coming to a near screeching halt, airlines and hotels aren’t the only one’s facing difficult times. This week Airbnb announced that any guests who made reservations on or before 14th March 2020 can cancel their bookings with no fee’s or penalties. This is a positive for guests but it means that Airbnb hosts are now facing long vacancies. Many hosts are now looking at renting out their properties as long term rentals. In the last week I’ve spoke ..read more

NEW PET LAWS TAKE A BITE OUT OF LANDLORDS RIGHTS On Monday 2 March, 2020, one of the most controversial changes to the rental laws will take effect. Landlords across Victoria will lose the right to say “no, I’d prefer no pets in my property”. Victorian landlords will no longer be able to “unreasonably” refuse a tenant from having a pet in their property. As a dog owner myself, I think pets are great. As a landlord, I think it should be my decision if I let my tenants have a pet or not. And as an agent, there are going to be some steps I have to take to protect my clients properties which may m ..read more

Apartment living can be great... if you find the right apartment to buy. Buying an apartment can be a great option when it comes to buying a home to live in or as part of your investment property portfolio. Finding the right apartment and knowing what to look out for is essential to ensure you make a good purchase. When considering buying an apartment, make sure to consider ALL of the costs associated with apartment ownership; this will include more than just the initial purchase price. You’ll also need to consider Owners Corporation fee’s, special levies for building works etc. Here’s a check ..read more

Owners Corporations reforms make Airbnb apartment owners liable. Do you rent your apartment out on Airbnb or any other short stay website? If so, you could now face fines if your guests have a party. In the battle to control the wave of wild parties being held at short-stay apartments across the state, the Government have just introduced changes to the Owners Corporation Act 2006 with the hope to stop apartments being treated as party venues disturbing other residents and destroying the common areas. The reforms which came into effect on 1st February 2019, arm Owners Corporations with the abil ..read more

Why landlord insurance is a MUST for all landlords. If you’re a new or experienced landlord, it’s important to protect yourself against the risks of owning an investment property. Landlord insurance is a must to make sure your covered when things don’t go as planned through your property investment journey. We manage over 400 properties, ranging in price from $300pw through to $1900pw. Regardless of the style of property you own or how much it’s worth, I always recommend my clients compare landlord insurance policies and find a quality comprehensive cover that will protect them. Throughout the ..read more

Everything you need to know about the 139 "Rent Fair" reforms to the rental industry. From the legislation changes to renting with pets, Bonds being capped at 4 weeks rent and automatic bond returns after 14 days - if you're a landord, tenant or you work in the Real Estate industry, then you'll find this guide useful. I've broken down the 139 reforms into sections to make it easier to navigate. Part 1 - Modern regulation and processes Part 2 - Before a residential rental agreement Part 3 - Rent and bonds Part 4 - During a residential rental agreement Part 5 - Property conditions Part 6 - Urgen ..read more

Modern regulation and processes Reform 1.  The terminology for residential tenancies will be updated as follows: Tenants will be referred to as renters Landlords will be referred to as residential rental providers (RRPs) Rooming house owners will be referred to as rooming house operators Reform 2.  The Residential Tenancies Act will include new legislative objectives that reflect its role in the modern regulation of rental accommodation. Reform 3. A Commissioner for Residential Tenancies will: champion the rights of Victorian renters, with a focus on renter experiences in the priv ..read more

Some banks are offering borrowers the ability to defer their home loan payments for up to 6 months – as a landlord myself I wanted to get a better understanding of how this works and what the consequences are of doing so. As many home owners and landlords face difficult decisions on how they’ll get through the economic impact of the Coronavirus, there has been a push from the media and the Government for banks to get on board and help out landlords who are facing job loss and a loss of rental income from their tenants. As a landlord myself, I was curious as to what the banks were offering and ..read more

In-light of the current Coronavirus situation, here are some tips on converting your short-term AIRBNB rental to a long term rental. With global travel coming to a near screeching halt, airlines and hotels aren’t the only one’s facing difficult times. This week Airbnb announced that any guests who made reservations on or before 14th March can cancel their bookings with no fee’s or penalties. This is a positive for guests but it means that Airbnb hosts are now facing long vacancies. Many hosts are now looking at renting out their properties as long term rentals. In the last week I’ve spoken to ..read more