Australian renters have demanded better conditions and more flexibility when renting a property, according to a new survey.
Rental property website www.rent.com.au has found that a significant proportion of tenants would like more freedom to make a rental property more homely - including the ability to personalise a property, have pets , and create or modify gardens.
Mark Woschnak, CEO of rent.com.au, said landlords should pay attention to what renters want when choosing potential properties, as it may prove beneficial for them in the long run.
“Having a good, long-term tenant will provide many benefits and ensure an investment with a sound, reliable return.”
With the ratio of renters to homeowners becoming greater each year, Woschnak argues that landlords need to shape up.
“Australia has about 28% of the population that rent, and with this long-term trend, there will be greater pressure on landlords to provide ‘homes” for singles, couples and families, rather than just bricks and mortar,” said Woschnak.
Also high on the agenda are perceived unfair rental increases – especially when basic maintenance is not being carried out. One respondent commented that a recent 25% rent increase was due to the hot water system and stove needing to be replaced – even though this needed to be done due to gas leaks.
The lack of convenient viewing times offered by real estate agents. Sixty per cent of participants had a low opinion of the open house system, with prospective tenants citing open times, number of people at viewings and time limits as prohibiting their ability to properly evaluate the potential of a property as their next ‘home’.* Responses to better the renting process indicated people wanted more respect as working, professional people finding a ‘home’, the ability to schedule personal inspections and a pre-approval process with agents.
