Office Hours

The office is open from Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 5.00pm and Saturday from 9am to 12noon. If you require service outside these hours, the office number diverts to the mobile number of the property manager on duty for that weekend. You will also be provided with a list of after hours and emergency service providers which you can contact direct should the circumstances warrant it.  

Electricity, Gas and Telephone

We have formed an alliance with Connect Now, a specialist utility connection service provider, who can assist you in connecting and disconnecting your phone, gas and electricity when you move into one of Cameo’s properties and also when you choose to leave. Better still the service is completely free of charge.
 
If you wish to use this extremely convenient service please let your property manager know.  

Water Usage

The Water Legislation Amendment Act 2007 brought changes to the way that lessors charge tenants for water usage at rental properties in Queensland.  Owners are now able to pass on 100% of the water usage charge after 1 April 2008, in certain circumstances.
 
While lessors have always had the ability to charge for water usage above a reasonable amount, this new legislation allows for all water consumption to be passed on to the tenant where set criteria are met, that is; 

• The premises are individually metered or water is delivered to the premises
• The tenancy agreement states the tenant must pay for water
• The premises are water efficient.

For premises to be deemed as being water efficient, toilets, showerheads and internal cold taps (including single mixer taps but excluding bath tubs and taps for appliances) must:

• Have a 3 star rating or higher under the Water Efficiency and labelling Standards Scheme (WELS)
• Be of equivalent performance

A lessor is only able to pass on water charges if all the criteria have been met, however lessors are not able to pass on any fixed cost for the supply of water.
 
The majority of premises that are individually metered are freestanding houses, some villas and town houses.
 
Apartments and blocks of flats generally are not individually metered and therefore charges would not be able to be passed on to the tenant.
 
Any lessor contemplating installing individual metering will have to discuss their options directly with their local council, as councils quite often prefer a particular type and style of metering and there may be other considerations, such as meter readings and ongoing maintenance.
 
Commencement date for the water usage costs vary depending on when the lease stated. All new leases signed on or after 1st April and existing periodic agreements will be able to pass on the costs if the criteria have been met.
 
Fixed term tenancies commenced on or prior to 1st April will have to wait until the expiry of the tenancy or 1st April 2009 (which ever occurs first).
 
All costs associated with the installation of water saving devices & individual meters will have to be met by the landlord. The landlord will be required to provide the tenant with copies of actual bills, showing the amount that is to be paid. The tenant will have one month to make the payment. Source RTA magazine. 

Rental Payments

Your rent must be paid up to date at all times. If at any time you are unable to make a rental payment, please contact your Property Manager. If we do not receive your rental payment and you have not contacted us then this may lead to you being issued with a Notice to Remedy to Breach and/or ultimately a Notice to Leave, so please do not let your situation get out of hand. Communicate with us at all times and we will assist where possible to avoid such an outcome.  

Entry Condition Report

This report is very important to you as it outlines the condition of the property at the commencement of your tenancy and will be used when you vacate the property to determine if there are any variations that you need to reinstate.
 
We will provide you with two copies of this report when you sign the tenancy agreement. You should review the Report thoroughly and feel free to make any additional comments if you feel that the report is not entirely accurate.
 
It is also very important that after you have reviewed the report that you return it to us within 3 days of the commencement of your tenancy; we will then countersign the report and give you a copy for your records.  

Rental Bond

Your rental bond will be lodged with the Residential Tenancies Authority and is held as security against any unpaid rent or damage to the property. Shortly after lodgment, you will receive written confirmation from the RTA that they have received your rental bond and will provide you with a Rental Bond Lodgment Number.
 
Your rental bond will be refunded to you promptly after you have vacated the property provided that your rent is up to date and there are no monies owing for cleaning or repairs to the property. 

Inspections during your Tenancy

During the course of your tenancy, your Property Manager will conduct quarterly inspections. We will contact you in advance to arrange a convenient time and will always ensure that we give you at least 7 days notice in the form of a RTA Form 9 – Entry Notice.  

Maintenance Requirements

At the time of your quarterly inspections, Cameo will make every effort to ensure that a maintenance check is conducted at the same time to ensure that the property is always a safe and comfortable abode. At any time during your tenancy should a maintenance issue arise, you are formally required to submit a maintenance request in writing.
 
You can utilise our online Maintenance Request form which can be accessed from the Cameo Tenants menu. 

Expiry of Your Tenancy

Prior to the expiry of your tenancy agreement your property manager will contact you to discuss renewing your agreement or vacating the property.
 
Should you wish to stay on your property Manger will contact the lessor and discuss a new lease term, please be aware that there is a possibility that the rent could be increased for the new lease term.
 
Should you decide to vacate the property you must give at least 14 days notice in writing in the form of an RTA Form 13 – Notice of Intention to Leave. You can locate this form via the link to the Residential Tenancy Authority website (under the Cameo Tenants menu).