This is a warning to all brits coming to Oz and renting properties. If you want to know more please send a personal email.

June & Bill

HI WE ARE DUE TO GO TO BRISBANE IN AUGUST AND WILL BE RENTING FOR AT LEAST 12 MNTHS ANY INFO WOULD BE NICE

THANKS TOBY AND JAN

Hi Toby,

If your renting for 12 months you should be ok. The only thing I will advise you to do is make sure that on your agreement there is no small print about rent increases. Ask the agent about rent increases and make sure you can clearly see that what they are saying is true to the contract. Unfortunately for us we didn't......6 weeks into our lease and the landlord increased our rent by 10% per week. When we contacted the RTA they advised that that seemed pretty steep especially as we had a long list of maintenance issues the landlord hadn't undertaken before or during our 6 weeks there. We were advised by the RTA that this is most unusual, but as our contract had had this clause put at the bottom "The landlord can increase the rent by a maximum of 10% in any one term lease" we didn't have a leg to stand on. We also challenged the court with this but to no avail. So it seems that the agents can say the property is worth $400.00 per week then within days increase the rent by 10%!!!!!!!!!
It does seem that as a UK person we are looked upon as though we have a bottomless pitt of money....JUST BE WARNED AND READ ALL SMALL PRINT AND ASK QUESTIONS.......Best Of Luck!!!! This was in Caloundra with one of the big agents in Bulcock St. I know Alan doesn't like us to name names on this website but send me a personal email and i'll let you know who!!!!!!

Dear June and Bill,
We have recently had our PR visa's granted and would be interested in any info regarding estate agents and problems to avoid when renting.
Cheers,
H

Hi H,

If you've read the last thread that covers most, however if there's something specific you would like to know just ask