How to Reduce Vacancy & Ensure a Flawless Move-in / out

The tenant handover process is a critical stage of managing your investment property. You will be juggling 2 groups of people coming in and out, and getting your rental home back into its original state.

We will pick up from 60 days out from tenancy end date.

60 days out:

OUTGOING TENANT: Send exit instructions. Miscommunication is the usual culprit for things turning ugly at the end of tenancies. Letting the tenant know exactly what is expected of them will set you all up for as stress free a time as possible.

Exit package to include:

Confirm the exit date, lay out the remaining rent due dates and amounts.

Remind them the bond is not to cover rent and they must continue to make normal payments.

Cleaning list and instructions

Don’t assume the tenants standards match your own and understand they are only required to leave the property in a ‘reasonably clean and tidy state’. It is very unlikely that the property will be in the same or better condition than it was at the start of the tenancy.

Send the tenants a list of cleaning instructions to follow and suggest they may prefer to just use an end of tenancy cleaning company. You cannot require this, but suggestion can go a long way.

Original ingoing condition report

This in conjunction with a cleaning list is really as clear as you can get about expectations.

Bonus: Consider organising a pre exit vacate inspection. Especially if your current occupant has not kept the property up to a reasonable standard. They will need plenty of time to arrange cleaning and repairs and likely need these pointed out to them.

30 days out:

INCOMING TENANT: Place ad online.

Most prospective tenants are already living somewhere and need to give at minimum 3 weeks’ notice before they could move into your property. advertising much earlier than 5 weeks will drop your ad too far down the list(off the front page) by the time serious renters are needing somewhere.

Also 5 weeks of viewings will get a bit tiring for your existing tenants to deal with and may interfere with their ‘peaceful enjoyment’ of the property.

Process applications and take an option fee from your preferred tenant to lock them in until the property is vacant.

Have your new tenant sign the lease as soon as possible from acceptance to give you each some security.

14 days out:

Have cleaning company/any repairs (that cannot be completed now) booked for the day after vacate date.

7 days out:

OUTGOING TENANT: Organise final inspection. This should be held within 48 hours of the existing tenancy ending and before new occupants move in. 4.

The tenant does not need to be present for the final inspection. We suggest telling them “Final move out inspection will be done at X time on X date, if you want to be there that’s no problem, otherwise I will do this myself and let you know about the bond refund.

INGOING TENANT: Collect remaining move in costs, remind them of move in date and organise a time for key handover.

Move out date:

OUTGOING TENANT: Collect keys, perform final inspection. Bond refund.

In the next day or so, if any repairs or cleaning is required from the bond, make copies or receipts and send to the leaving tenants with bond refund form showing those deductions.

Move in Date:

INGOING TENANT: Have the tenant fill out an ingoing inspection report, or do it together.

Job done!

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is exclusively for promotional purposes and is not to be relied upon for legal or contractual dealings. Tenant Source recommends you seek independent legal advice, and that you may need to seek technical or other advice and information prior to making any actions in regards to tenancies in your investment properties. Tenant Source Ltd including its staff and directors accepts no responsibility for any issues arising as a result of taking advice from this publication.