Important Information for Tenants Leaving Darwin for the Festive Season

UPDATED DEC 2019. As we approach the festive season, and everyone leaves Darwin, there are a few things that tenants need to be mindful of such as wet weather, storms, cyclones, leaving your home empty for a few weeks, smoke alarms going off, mould and your pool etc. We have provided some information below to help you prepare to enjoy your time off.

UPDATED DECEMBER 2019.

Firstly, our office will be taking some time off over the festive season; however, there will be a Property Manager on duty to attend to any emergency matters. If something does come up, call the office on: 08 8930 6600 and listen to the message we have left, please leave your own message as well.

Office closure dates:

Office closed: Tuesday December 24th at 12pm

Office re-open: Monday, January the 6th at 8:30am

Cyclone information

Coming into this time of year, there is the possibility of cyclones. We have emailed a cyclone preparation and information pack to everyone with information on how to ensure the property is prepared and secured, especially if they are going away.

You can download it here as well

Cyclone Information

Before you leave Darwin, we recommend bringing all of your outdoor furniture and items inside. This is for security reaons, but also to ensure that if there is a cyclone, they don't fly away.

Smoke alarms

If you are going away over the festive season – please replace the batteries in your smoke alarms.

There are many occurrences during this time of year smoke alarms going off continuously, echoing around the property, causing stress and discomfort to the people in surrounding units / houses. This has sometimes resulted in the fire brigade being called to these properties at a cost of $854 per callout.

Please note that if the callout is because of a faulty smoke detector in the unit, the owner will be billed for this callout – otherwise, however, the bill will go to you.

If our office is called out, or an electrician is called out, you will be billed for this callout. To avoid this, the batteries in each detector need to be replaced.

Repairs

Many contractors are away during the festive season and school holidays. This can impact attendance levels & supply of parts for 4-6 weeks during this time of year. Proactive maintenance is recommended to avoid a delay as there are minimal contractors available.

Mould

Unfortunately, at this time of year, mould is a major concern. It is a good idea to open up any cupboards or wardrobes and leave your fans running if you are going away over this break. Check out our article on mould for more information.

Pool Maintenance

Excessive rain will change the chemical levels in your pool and so these need to be maintained. If you are a tenant in a property with a pool, it is your responsibility to maintain it. If you're away and need some help, here is some information on how to do that and details of contractors.

There is lots to think about at this time of year before you leave, hopefully this helps.

Have a wonderful and safe holiday period.