Quality tenant selection in the first instance and a professional property management approach will do much to avoid the need to even consider how to remove a tenant from your property. However, it is still possible that at some stage in your property investment journey you will be faced with the challenge of how to remove a difficult tenant. 

In this article we cover how a termination notice must be issued to a tenant, the amount of notice required to terminate the tenancy, and what happens if the tenant doesn't leave as ordered. 

​When an applicant is interested in securing a rental property and moving ahead with tenancy, the real estate agent will often request payment of a holding deposit. 

The holding deposit removes the ability for the landlord or agent to enter into a lease agreement for that property with any other person within 7 days of the holding deposit being paid (or for a further period as may be agreed with the tenant). 

However, there are some circumstances in which an applicant may have paid a holding deposit but after paying the deposit, finds that they are no longer able to or willing to proceed with tenancy. The applicant may have had a relationship breakdown with a potential co-tenant, an alternative property may have become available which is more preferable to them, etc. 

In these cases the question arises - is the rental holding deposit refundable?

Are you considering buying an investment property in Fern Bay, NSW? In this suburb profile we provide an overview of median sale price trends, trend in weekly rental income, and an overview of rental demand.

Are you considering investing in Warners Bay NSW? In this suburb profile we provide an overview of median sale price trends, trend in weekly rental income, and an overview of rental demand.

Wondering if you should invest in Charlestown NSW? In this suburb profile we provide an overview of median sale price trends, trend in weekly rental income, and an overview of rental demand.

We often hear stories from tenants who have had experiences in the past of unannounced or frequent visits from their agent or landlord. Unfortunately, especially when a landlord lives nearby to their investment property, the landlord can feel too comfortable simply "dropping past" the property to check on something, complete a minor repair, and so on. 

There are very clear notice periods required in order for a landlord, real estate agent or any other party acting on their behalf to enter a rental property.

Investors of course want to minimise vacancy in their rental properties. However many investors tend to wish to hold out for a higher rental return rather than fill their property (and start receiving income!) more quickly. 

In this post we'll run through a real example of the outcome of holding out for higher rent, based on a property in the Newcastle area which we had proposed to manage. Details of circumstances are contained in the text, but if you want to cut to the chase, you can scroll to the table at the end of the post.