Hi, When renting an apartment or a house, is it always a 6 months contact, or longer? Is it possible to give notice and move during the contract period, or are you really stuck with it? Are there any common rules/law regulating this?

Thanks for any info!

Not sure about all of this but lots of people have mentioned on this forum that they've been renting for a couple of weeks, let alone months. (maybe these are holiday homes?)

Check out:

www.realestate.com.au

this is a great site for finding a new home.

Check out this website: www.rta.qld.gov.au
It is for Qld but it is very similar nationwide. Leases can be from 1 month to normally 12 months. You can break the lease but you must inform, notice usually 2 - 4 weeks, the rta, the landlord/agent and usually have to wait until there is another tennant found.

Also, depending on your contract you may be required to pay for any 'out of pocket' expenses, advertising etc to gain a new tenant. It would also be common for you to pay rent until a new tenant is found, and again depending on the agent, because you are paying rent they may be in no hurry.

Best to ask for a six month rental if you are unsure, however some may not be prepared for this. I would think that the other posters mentioning two or three week rentals are holiday or serviced apartment rentals (at a guess).

This link is for Victorian rights and responsiblities http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/CA256...d+Obligations~ as the other poster said, this is all state based.

Regards
Abby

On our third rental so far and each one has been a disaster!

Our present landlord is under writ at the supreme court for failure to pay interest - so we may have to move out at short notice even though we have a year's contract. But we have a year's contract so can't sign up for another place........

Catch 22 is alive and well and living in NSW!

We've rented for 6 months no problem. If we break the lease then we are liable for rent right up until they get someone else in or the 6 months is up, we also have to pay for advertising fees and agent admin fees, the professional carpet cleaner, window cleaner etc etc.

We've been here two weeks and are looking to break the contract as, now we're in, no one wants to know. The tv aerial isn't connected up, dishwasher doesn't work, no instructions have been left for the retic or air con and no phone calls are being returned. There's nothing in the contract wording about any of this though, eh ?!!

Have you seen anyone legal about this? If you've signed up under false pretences (essentially) doesn't that therefore make your contract null and void?

Take a quick read through of this site http://www.taswa.org/ to see if there is anything that might help you.
Hope this helps
Dorothy

Thanks Dorothy - again !! Will see what happens tomorrow and will then pen them a swift letter !

Gets even funnier (!): we learnt today that the capital lending company wasn't even aware the villas were being rented!

Sadly not unusual... None of this is your fault... I would have thought there's some legal protection for you. Hope it works out.

I'm beginning to understand why people are so keen on buying their own place. :scared: Even before the come to Oz!