REIQ Best Practice Guidelines v03.23 - Flipbook - Page 44
(b) Member Property Managers must ensure the
security bond is lodged with the Residential
Tenancies Authority (RTA) within 10 days of
receiving it, with a fully completed Bond
Lodgement Form46 including the contact
details of the tenant.
Note: see guideline 64 for refund of security
bond and making a claim.
(d) keep in communication with the tenants; and
(e) not provide tenants with legal or
financial advice and refer the tenant to
the RTA or such other authority or relevant
advisors to assist the tenant with any query in
relation to tenancy laws.
28. FORM 18A GENERAL TENANCY
AGREEMENT
26. INCREASE IN SECURITY
Member Property Managers may only increase the
amount of security bond taken from the tenant if47:
(a) the rent is increased under the relevant Form
18a or Form R18; and
(b) the prescribed notice is given to the tenant by
the Member Property Manager:
i.
at least 11 months after the Form 18a
or Form R18 commenced; or
ii.
the rental bond has been increased
previously, and identifying the
payment date as being a date at least
1 month after the date of the notice.
(c) Member Property Managers must ensure
additional security bond is lodged with the RTA
using a fully completed Bond Lodgement
Form.
27. DEALING WITH TENANTS
When dealing with tenants, Member Property
Managers should:
(a) provide a response to tenants within a
reasonable time of receiving communication, a
notice or correspondence;
(b) act courteously and professionally in all
communications;
(c) keep detailed, accurate and complete records
of all communications with the tenant
including emails, letters, notices and file notes
of phone calls;
(a) Member Property Managers must prepare the
Form 18a by completing the particulars of the
agreement correctly and with reasonable care.
This includes:
i.
inserting the correct legal description
of the Client and tenant/s;
ii.
inserting the correct legal description
of property; and
iii.
if a special condition is required, the
Member Property Manager only
inserting a special condition if they are
certain that condition has been
prepared by a Legal Practitioner.
(b) An Information Statement must be provided to
a tenant with the Form 18a containing
information about the duties and entitlements
of the parties, the procedures for resolving
disputes and entities to which issues about the
agreement may be referred48.
(c) Member Property Managers may sign the
Form 18a on behalf of the Client, if authorised
in writing by their Client.
(d) A fully signed copy of the Form 18a must be
provided to the tenant within 14 days49.
All RTA Forms
Available in Realworks
The REIQ has developed a
Schedule of compliant
Special Terms for the Form 18a
46
Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, s116
Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, s154
48
Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, s67
49
Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, s62
47
REIQ BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES
V08.23
44