Goods left behind in a rental property are a problem for the landlord, who can’t rent it out until the previous tenant’s things have been removed. It can also prove costly to tenants. Between July and September 2011, Consumer Affairs Victoria dealt with over 900 cases of goods left behind in rental properties.

The thought of increasing a tenant’s rent is not something most Landlords look forward to. Most landlords actually dread the situation, worried it may damage relations, lead to confrontation or result in a good tenant deciding to vacate the property.

With Christmas and the holidays fast approaching, now is a good time to remind everyone to plan ahead and ensure their home is safe and secure, so that you, hopefully, don’t become a victim of opportunistic crime.

The ongoing eurozone crisis may force the Reserve Bank to introduce further interest rate cuts before Christmas. So if this year the RBA decides to dress up as Santa instead of the Grinch, a leading property investment group says investors need to reconsider their financial position to make sure they capitalise on the move.

Many Australians spend more time on budgeting for their next holiday, or analysing the health of their internet plan than giving their biggest debt a regular check up. But with the current sluggish property market, and the lowest uptake of new home loans in recent years, there is no time like the present for borrowers [...]

As households prepare their budgets for festive season shopping splurges, now is an ideal time to unwrap the financial strategies that help borrowers gain greater control over their home loan situation, according to Australia’s largest independently-owned mortgage broker, Mortgage Choice.

SMSF, or a self managed super fund, is a small superannuation fund created for 1 to 4 members designed to create wealth. They are suitable for individuals who want to take control of their retirement planning by investing directly and making their own decisions about what and where to invest. Your Investment Property reports on [...]

Ten years ago I sanded an internal fibro wall on a lean-to built, probably, in the 1970s. Was it asbestos? I’m not sure. But ever since it has played on my mind. It certainly was a dumb thing to do, that’s for sure, when you consider the risks that sanding, cutting or otherwise disturbing building [...]

1. Don’t renovate without first fixing faults. If the house needs re-stumping, re-wiring or re-roofing do this first. Putting time and money into cosmetic improvements without first making sure the building is sound is like putting lipstick on a gorilla.

About to sell? Who do you target your property to – and how? Costa Charalambous and Your Investment Property reveal how. When you bought your first property, you had a purpose, the property met your needs, and certainly there was a special connection. Now as the vendor, you are on the other side of the [...]