How to Rent Out Your House: from Home to Investment

How to Rent Out Your House

A guide to setting up a rental property.

Whether you’re a first-timer or just need a bit of a refresh, navigating the world of investment property can be tricky. We’ve explored some of the common questions you may have if you’re planning on setting up a rental property.

What additional costs should I consider?

Don’t forget to account for fees and other costs that may not be upfront when you’re considering an investment property. Other costs to consider include:

Council rates
Water rates
Land tax
Repairs and maintenance
Interest and bank fees on your mortgage
Renovations
Strata fees (if it’s an apartment)
Between tenant costs (if you can’t transition immediately between tenants)

Should I self-manage the property, or hire a professional?

You’ll need to consider how much time you can dedicate to managing the property.

Some of the tasks you’ll need to manage are:

Maintenance and repairs
Screening tenants
Routine property inspections
Tenant’s payments
Handling complaints
Evictions
End-of-lease condition reports
Tenancy agreements

If you live far away, or simply don’t have time for the ongoing management of the property and tenants, you could appoint a property manager instead. It’s up to you as to whether the convenience of a professional balances with their cost.

What type of tenants do I want?

Suburb demographics will play a major part in who is interested in renting out your property – download a free suburb report to look at who you should be targeting.

It’s important that you screen all applicants and perform reference checks to ensure that you’re getting a reliable tenant to look after your investment proper screening is a key step to finding the right tenants and it typically involves reference checks from previous property managers and employers.

Should I get landlord’s insurance?

It’s up to you - we've compiled the pros and cons of landlord's insurance. But you do need to consider what you would do in the event of an emergency – how would you pay for repairs, clean up, and lost rental income? What would you do if your property became uninhabitable?

Acts of nature, building repairs, contents and loss of rental income are all things to think about. You can read about insurance options through Gateway here.

Am I eligible for tax deductions?

Knowing your tax deductable expenses is crucial. Some of the things included are:

Real estate management fees
Council rates
Insurance
Advertising

See all the things you can claim for on the ATO website – remember to keep all the relevant receipts for when it comes time to do your tax return.

Do I have any legal obligations as a landlord?

Yes. Landlords have a legal duty to guarantee the safety of rented property and its contents. You must ensure that no injury or damage is caused to the tenants, neighbours or the public as a direct result of neglecting your responsibilities, including:

Maintaining the structure of the house
Ensuring all installations are working and safe, such as gas, electricity and heating
Treating potentially health-threatening issues such as dampness
Adhering to anything stipulated in the tenancy agreement

For further details, check in with your local government Residential Tenancy Act:

New South Wales

Victoria

Queensland

Western Australia

South Australia

Australian Capital Territory

Tasmania

Northern Territory

Please note: Information provided is accurate at the time of publication. For more information, contact your local government.

What are you looking for?

Quick links

How to Rent Out Your House