Have you gone through a situation where a real estate agent pokes into your cupboard? So annoying, right? Well, fear not, this post is for you.
There are times when real estate agents have to enter your rental property for inspection. But the tenants still have some rights. So, can real estate agents look in cupboards?
No, real estate agents can’t look in cupboards. Even if the landlord owns the cupboards – the things inside them belong to the tenant. A real estate agent can inspect the cupboards from the outside. This is to make sure they are not damaged. But that too only when the landlord owns the cupboard.
Are you looking forward to more information about what a real estate agent can do? This post is for you. This article talks about:
- Renter’s rights
- Responsibilities of landlords
- Real estate agent’s reasons for access to a rental property
- Real estate agents’ access to cupboards
For additional information, you might also want to know if landlords can take photos during an inspection.
What are the rights and responsibilities of a renter?
You have certain rights and responsibilities if you’re a renter/tenant in Australia. When you rent a property, as a tenant you have some rights. So, during the period of a lease agreement, no one can access it without your permission.
However, sometimes the landlord might need a property inspection for repairs. Plus, when you’re moving out the landlord might need to show the property to a new renter. Whatever the reasons for the inspection are, the privacy of the renter is always respected. The following are the main rights of a tenant:
- Provision of a clean home when the lease starts
- Safe deposit of rental bond money
- A condition report for the house
- 7 to 24 days notice of an inspection
- 72 hours notice of reasonable access for ordinary repairs
- 60 days notice for a rent increase
Besides these rights, the tenants also have some responsibilities. If you are a tenant, you must:
- Take care of the property
- Not use the property for illegal purposes
- Pay rent on time during the period of lease or tenancy agreement
- Take landlord’s permission if someone else moves in with them
- Reporting repairs to the landlord
- Take permission for any alterations in the property
- 21 days proper notice to terminate the residential tenancy agreement
When can a real estate agent/property manager enter your rental property?
A real estate agent or property manager can enter your rental property for certain reasons. The privacy of the tenant is respected but sometimes it is necessary to do so. The following are a few instances when a real estate agent can access the rental property:
- To show the property to prospective tenants, lenders, or prospective buyers
- To find out the value of the property
- To take pictures and videos of the property for listing or advertising
- For general inspection on behalf of the landlord
- When a renter hasn’t met legal obligations under the RTA (Residential Tenants Act)
Depending on the reason for entry, the property manager must provide prior written notice to the tenant. For general inspection, the tenant must be given a 7-day notice and for repairs, they must be given a 24-hours notice. Besides that, if the landlord wants to show the property to a renter, lender, or buyer, they must give a 48-hours notice. It is also better to have a rental inspection checklist to avoid confusion.
Can real estate agents look in cupboards?
Now coming to the main question, can real estate agents look in cupboards? As mentioned earlier, real estate agents can’t look in cupboards if the tenants own them. If the landlord is concerned about the repairs and damages, they can ask the property manager to inspect the rental property.
However, the real estate agents can look only into those things that the landlord owns. So, if the landlord owns the cupboard, they can make sure if the cupboard is in the right condition.
This involves routine inspections from outside to make sure if it isn’t damaged. Looking into the cupboards means disrespecting the privacy of the tenant. Built-in wardrobes are also owned by the landlord, but still looking inside means looking into the possessions of the tenant. To ensure a smooth rental inspection, the renter and the landlord must be on the same page.
What are rental bonds?
A rental bond is a type of monetary protection for the landlord. This type of bond is needed when the tenant vacates the property and there are unplanned costs. The real estate agents or property managers will ask for a rental bond from the tenant before the lease starts. The amount for this bond varies according to state. But in most states, the amount is not more than four weeks’ rent.
People also ask
Can real estate agents take photos during rental inspection?
Real estate agents take photos for routine inspection or advertising the property. However, they can take photos of the tenant’s belongings only with their consent. Tenants can’t refuse access to their landlords during the notice periods in the rental properties. Also, taking photos is allowed for advertising purposes, but not for the tenants’ possessions.
How often can real estate agents inspect your rental property?
Rental inspections are carried out because the landlord needs to make sure the tenant is not damaging the property. However, how often a real estate agent can inspect differ slightly from state to state. For instance, in QLD, a real estate agent can carry out an inspection only once every 3 months. In New South Wales, the property manager can inspect around 4 times in 1 year.
What do real estate agents look for in the windows during routine inspections?
Real estate agents look for cracks, scratches, holes and tears in the windows during an inspection. The main aim to look for in the windows is to make sure the window is not damaged.
