Guide to renting

We suggest that you familiarise yourself with our application process before you even begin your house-hunting. That way you can prepare copies of all relevant documents to ensure your application is submitted as soon as you find that property.

You will be required to submit:

• Basic personal details
• Details of your current and past addresses
• Next of kin contact details
• Details of rental history including rental references
• Personal and professional references
• 100 points of identification:
  • Drivers license, passport, birth certificate (50pt each)
  • Bank/credit card, phone/electricity account statement (25pt each)
• Employment details or proof of income
• Last two pay slips
• Employment contract / contact
• Letter of parental support

This is absolutely the most important step in the rental process. Finding the ‘right’ property is a decision that will affect you for the entirety of your lease. So it’s important that you carefully consider exactly what you want.

All you need to do is go to 'Find a Rental Property' .

Once you’ve found one, or a handful of properties, that you’re interested in, it is a requirement that you inspect the property before you can apply. You may also have someone view the property on your behalf.

The next step is to contact us to arrange an viewing.

Making a time to view a property with Charah couldn’t be easier!

• If you’ve used the Charah property search simply click ‘Book Inspection’, select an available date and fill out your details (so we can contact you if anything changes).

• If you’ve found a Charah property on another website simply click to go to our 'Find a Rental Property' page, then locate the property you wish to view and click ‘Book Inspection’.

In both cases you will receive a confirmation email, providing the time and date of the viewing with an application form attached.

Alternatively, you can call the number listed on the property advertisement to book via phone or use the email address provided, and email us.

Once you’ve found and viewed a property that you are satisfied with, the next step is to submit a tenancy application. The application form is available on our rental forms page.

In order to complete your application you will need to provide us with the following:

• Basic personal details
• Details of your current and past addresses
• Next of kin contact details
• Details of rental history including rental references
• Personal and professional references
• 100 points of identification:
  • Drivers license, passport, birth certificate (50pt each)
  • Bank/credit card, phone/electricity account statement (25pt each)
• Employment details or proof of income
• Last two pay slips
• Employment contract
• Letter of parental support

There are a number of ways to submit your application. You may hand it in at the property inspection, you may hand it in at one of our offices or you can fax or email it to us. View ways you can contact us.

Most real estates will have you believe that the application processing period is some great mystery. In actual fact, what we do is really quite simple...

1. Firstly we check that we’ve received all application forms from everyone wishing to apply with you.
2. We then make sure that you’ve filled out absolutely everything we need on our end, and that we’ve received all your documentation.
3. We’ll then cross reference your identification to make sure that all the details provided line-up correctly.
4. We then do a basic affordability test for all people applying on your lease.
5. We’ll then contact your employer and ensure that your employment and income details are correct.
6. We then screen candidates through a rental database to ensure that we’re fully aware of any discrepancies from the past.
7. We'll contact the previous landlord to inquire about the applicant
8. We will then contact the successful applicant and organise a time to sign the lease.
9. Once the lease has been signed, we will notify unsuccessful applicants.

As your application is a high priority, our office will endeavour to have an answer to you within 48 hours. If your application is approved, you will be required to pay the last month's rental deposit to secure the property. Once paid, this amount is non-refundable.

Once you have been accepted for a property we will make an initial phone call to advise that your application has been successful and to arrange a time for you to come and sign the lease. In order to secure the property we require all individuals who will be on the lease to visit us at one of our offices with 24-48 hours of being approved so that we can stop advertising the property.

When you meet with us we will carefully explain the details of the lease including our expectations and obligations. As we need to explain all your tenancy details thoroughly, please allocate up to 30 minutes for your tenancy induction. We will also explain our zero tolerance policy for late rent payment, action for emergency repairs, and help to arrange payment methods.  At this point you will be required to sign the lease, pay the last month's deposit.

Please make all Bank Cheques/Money Orders out to Charah.ca Inc.

It is a tenants responsibility to ensure that the utilities they are responsible for (e.g. water, power, gas, phone and internet) has been connected into your name.

Be sure to update your address where necessary. This might include; Department of Transport, banks, superannuation funds, schools, work and so forth.

Please also ensure you advise us of your new home phone number and PO Box if applicable. 

Please ensure that you return your signed/amended copy of your property condition report to us within 3 days of the tenancy start date. If this is not returned, please be aware that the original inspection will be used for end of tenancy comparison, regardless of whether you agree to the original report or not.

It is important to note that should your goods be damaged or destroyed by circumstances affecting the owner’s property (i.e. fire, storm damage, power outages, etc), then your goods and possessions are not insured by the owner.

Example One: An electrical fault in the building starts a fire and the property is destroyed. Your possessions will not be covered by the owner’s insurance.

Example Two: You are away on holidays and the power cuts out due to an electrical fault in the building. Your return home to find your fridge/freezer goods spoilt. The owner’s insurance will not cover your fridge/freezer goods.

Example Three: A storm blows a tree onto the house and in the process, your belongings are damaged. The owner's insurance will not cover your possessions.

A quality tenants contents insurance should cover these examples. Please contact your insurer for further information. You need to ensure that all your goods are adequately insured as neither Charah nor the property owner will be liable for damaged or destroyed tenant possessions.