TENANT INFORMATION GUIDE FOR TENANTS (VIC) | Page 4

Renting a home

Essentials for tenants
• Do not sign anything unless you
understand what it means.
• Never sign a blank form – for
example, a bond form – even if
it looks official.

At the beginning of a tenancy
• read and sign your ‘Residential
Tenancy Agreement’ form
• keep a copy of anything you sign
• seek advice if you have a tenancy issue
or question
• check that your new home is completely
safe, and raise any issues with your
landlord or agent
• complete a ‘Condition Report’ if you
have paid a bond – you can add to or
edit a ‘Condition Report’ completed
by an agent > see The ‘Condition
Report’ on page 12 for details
• consider taking photos of the property
before or on the day you move in
• complete and sign the ‘Bond Lodgement’
form and keep the receipt > see The bond
on page 11 for details
• contact the utility companies of your
choice to ensure these are connected
by the time you move in.

During a tenancy
• communicate with your landlord or
agent and keep them informed of any
problems that may arise
• make sure you pay your rent on time
• keep all records such as rent receipts
• keep your property reasonably clean;
this will minimise any problems that
may occur during a landlord or agent
inspection

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• Official notices you give your
landlord or agent must include
all the required details. Use the
forms on the Consumer Affairs
Victoria website or the RentRight
app to ensure you provide the
right information to your landlord
or agent.
• get written permission from your
landlord if you wish to sub-let or assign
the tenancy agreement to someone
else
• let your landlord or agent know
of any repairs that need to be done
> see Repairs on page 20 for details
• put all requests to your landlord or
agent in writing. Forms are available
from Consumer Affairs Victoria.

At the end of a tenancy
• give adequate notice when planning
to leave; the notice period will depend
on your reason for leaving
> see When you want to end the tenancy
on page 30 for details
• pay any outstanding rent
• check your responsibilities for
separately metered utilities
• clean the property
• consider taking photos after you
move your furniture out to show the
condition of the property
• take all your belongings with you
> see Belongings left behind on page 36
for details
• keep the ‘Condition Report’ in case
of a dispute
• try to agree with your landlord
on the return of the bond
> see Agreeing on the return of the bond
on page 35 for details