Questions to Ask Before Renting a Home

Before signing a NSW residential lease, use these seven questions to understand the home and the tenancy. Keep important answers in writing and compare them with the agreement.

1. What term and rent arrangements apply?

Check the start date, term, rent, payment method and any proposed special terms. Ask how future rent changes will be handled under the applicable rules rather than assuming a landlord can revise the rent whenever they wish.

2. What is included in the premises?

Confirm parking, storage and any shared facilities. Check which areas are exclusively yours, which are shared and whether separate building rules apply.

3. What condition is recorded?

Review the condition report and record existing marks, faulty fittings and items that do not work. Photographs and brief written notes can help resolve later uncertainty.

4. How do I report repairs?

Ask for ordinary and urgent repair contacts. The landlord’s statutory repair obligations cannot be reassigned simply by negotiating a lower rent. Do not assume you must pay for pre-existing defects.

5. What information must be disclosed?

Ask for required property information and relevant disclosures before signing. Query anything unclear in the lease or advertising, including whether the property is already planned for sale.

6. How are pets and changes handled?

Check the current pet-request process and the rules for alterations. Get any necessary approvals documented; avoid relying on a verbal promise that differs from the agreement.

7. How can the tenancy end?

Ask about applicable notice and termination processes. Keep a copy of the agreement and get independent advice if a term is unclear or a proposed exit arrangement appears inconsistent with NSW law.