A lease whose format has been approved by the government's Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) has been signed and you are legally bound to pay rent until the expiry of the agreement.

RTA guidelines do, however, provide an option for a tenant to apply for a release from a tenancy through him/her securing a replacement.

The onus is on the tenant to resolve the matter - not management.

If you require management assistance to source and negotiate a replacement lease we can do so - subject to workload. There will be a cost involved.

The following steps need to be followed:

• Advice must be given in writing.
• We will confirm receipt of this notice. Please see page 22 of your green 17A RTA book. As you know, all students have a break over the Christmas period and it is nearly impossible to find replacement students for this period.
• In the meantime, rent must continue to be paid, as normal, until the end of your lease, or until a replacement student is found.
• Subject to: (a) satisfactory Inspection Report RTA Form 14 and Inventory check (b) surrender of keys (c) clearance of internet, phone and misellaneous debts, a bond refund will be calculated and agreed.
  (Please note these funds are held in trust by the RTA.
  Refund is subject to RTA Form 4 action which can take up to 4 days to process.)

In normal circumstances, Bond refunds are separate from the cost of breaking a lease.
Such outgoings may include but are not limited to:

• normal cleaning and replacement costs as at the end of any tenancy.
• a minimum equivalant of one weeks rent plus GST break lease Administration Fee is payable.
• advertisement costs if deemed necessary to attact a suitable replacement.

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2. Reservation/Documentation:

To reserve an apartment:
a. Make your choice
Decide on the type of apartment that best suits to you.
You can be shown the apartment or you may view it from the website;
b. Send a Reservation Enquiry Form & an accompanying e-mail. You will receive a response within 2 days. If you do not hear back from us, we have not received your enquiry.
Before any money is paid, you MUST await a formal offer from us by e-mail to your Reservation Enquiry Form.
Our formal offer indicates the unit, proposed rent; period, & whether a kitchen pack is included.
c. Acceptance / Confirmation / Payment
Once you receive our formal offer, please respond immediately to let us know if you accept. You will then be required to deposit the equivalent of one months rent, which is 1/12 of the annual rent, plus the Bond (equivelant to 4 weeks rent, NOT one month) into our Trust Account. Once funds are received, your reservation is confirmed.
Documents
You need to be aware of our Privacy Statement
Subject to a formal offer, acceptance, and receipt of funds, we will prepare the following forms for signing upon your arrival.

o RTA Bond Lodgment - Form 18a
o RTA General Tenancy Agreement - Form 1a

Our account is as follows:
Altitude Realty Pty Ltd Trust Account
Westpac Bank BSB 034 072; account 232957
Swift Code WPA CAU 2S


It is emphasised that when signing the lease, you are also agreeing to the supplementary detail posted on the website.

3. Information to Prepare a Budget:

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• Electrical power and gas charges are additional to rent.

But for budget purposes: allow either (a) between $12 to $20 per week for electricity to a studio/ one bedroom unit, add $5 for a second person, and (b) up to $30 for a 2 bedroom unit and (c) up to $40 for a 3 bedroom unit. All our units have an air conditioner. These prices are only a guide.
• All cooking appliances are electrical (240v).
Air conditioners are Reverse Cycle - cools in summer; heats in winter.
If you are using your own heater, please note: 1000 Watt = 1 KW = $0.20/hr 1 small blow heater of 2500 Watts = 2.5KW = $0.50/hr. We suggest oil heatrs that are 1000W with 400W, 800W and 1000W settings. These are much cheaper to run!
• Hot water is supplied by gas. Allow maximum $1 per day per person
Potable water is free
• Communal garbage disposal is also free.
• Phones and phone line rentals are included in the rent.
The tenant pays for all calls.

Click here to for Telephone Services Application/Agreement form
Click here to view most recent rates to overseas countries. Per minute rates are as listed plus GST.

Internal calls including calls to reception/office are free.
The installation of an independent phone line is not an option.
• Modem Connections are banned.
We have (i) parallel phone lines and (ii) a robust internet facility servicing the telecommunications needs of the complex.
If a residents use a modem, our lines are tied up possibly for an unacceptable duration hence our capacity to service the needs of the community is compromised.
Our network is monitored.
Tenants using modems will be invoiced at the rate of $0.05 (five cents) per minute.
• Internet connection is included in the rent; with 200mb download per month.
This is called the Free Plan.
Optional plans are offered on a monthly "use it or loose it" basis.
charges for the optional plans. (Note: this is generally done on arrival)
International category 5 standard outlets are available in every bedroom.
Your computer will have a cat 5 socket.
We can supply the cable - prices vary depending on length requirements.
The system supports a 6 megabyte ASDL permanent connection to the internet. Access is through a network with secure server protocols as well a file sharing and community intranet features.
An ethernet network card will be required to allow you to log on.
At this stage, we do not support wireless wifi.

Click here for Internet Services Application/Agreement form with data limits
Click here for Information on How to Connect to our System

4. Consumables/Miscellaneous

When you sign a lease, you undertake to keep the premises in the same condition as you entered it. This may incur a cost.
Storage costs $5 per week per cubic meter - minimum fee $25.
If you choose to have your own bed, you need to store our frame/mattress at $25 per semester.
There is a charge for (a) miscellaneous prices for fax and photocopying services as well as (b) After Hours Call Out fees and (c) professional cleaning services - to return the unit to the same state as you entered it.

Click here for a full guide to prices.

• Kitchen Packs
These are included in the rent in all shared apartments- in great demand.
All kitchen packs are on 6 month leases.

Click here for a general description of contents.

• Linen Packs

These are included in all study abroad packages, and linen is also available to hire.

All linen packs are on 6 month leases.

5. Cancellation/Refund Policy

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Subject to adequate notice in writing, the unit/room will be put back on the market.
Only when funds for (a) one month's rent in advance and (b) bond (4 weeks rent) have been secured from a replacement tenant, will we:
• calculate (i) the Administration Fee (ii) any outgoings/loss of income and
• advise an amount of refund.
An Administration Fee of $50 is non refundable regardless of any circumstance or time duration.

6. Our By_Laws

Under government legislation, we are required to provide the tenant a copy of the complexes By _Laws.

Click here for a copy - please download it.

7. House Rules

As well as the By_laws, local House Rules have been developed to facilitate the peaceful enjoymentof the complex.
They also form an itergral part of the lease contract.

Click here for details - please download it.

8. Policy: Bond Refund

To receive an agreed amount of bond on completion of your lease, all responsibilities have to be met.
This includes us being satisfied that the unit (not room) is in the same condition/state when it was originally signed over to you.
Please note bonds will only be paid into a bank account (not cash).

9. Cleaning of Apartment

Click here to view our Cleaning Requirements and bond refund protocols.

All final moving, cleaning and replacement costs are available from the office

Updated :June 28, 2005