Reforms rewrite rental rules: Changes to renters’ rights

Examples of modifi cations that can be made by a renter to a property they are renting (that is not listed under the Heritage Act 2017) without the consent of the rental provider include: • Picture hooks or screws for wall mounts, shelves or brackets on surfaces other than brick walls. • Wall anchoring devices on surfaces other than brick walls to secure items of furniture. • Low-fl ow shower heads if the original shower head is kept. • Blind or cord anchors. • Hardware-mounted child safety gates on walls other than brick walls. • Security lights, alarm systems or security cameras that do not impact on the privacy of neighbours, can easily be removed from the rented premises, and are not hard-wired to the rented premises. The following modifi cations can be made by renters without consent in all properties, including heritage properties: • Non-permanent window fi lm for insulation, reduced heat transfer or privacy. • A wireless doorbell. • Replacement curtains if the original curtains are retained by the renter. • Adhesive child safety locks on drawers and doors. • Pressure-mounted child safety gates. • A lock on a letterbox.

Approval from the rental provider must be sought for any other modifi cations to the property.

Consumer Aff airs Victoria says if a renter believes consent has been unreasonably refused, they can apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to review the decision and VCAT must hear the application within fi ve days.

The renter must reverse the modifi cations or pay the rental provider for the cost of reversing them unless both parties agree otherwise.

In the circumstances of a rooming house, caravan park or residential park, consent is required from the operator for any modifi cations.

Consent cannot be denied, however, if an occupational therapist has determined that reasonable disabilityrelated modifi cations are necessary.

The renting law reform changes also introduced: • New minimum notice periods. • Limits on the number of times a rental provider can show the property to prospective renters or buyers and how long the inspections can last. • Restrictions on open inspections when a resident is a protected person under family violence or personal safety legislation. • The possibility of renters to seek compensation for loss of property and damage while a rental provider or their agent is on the premises.

Consumer Aff airs Victoria says the changes span the life cycle of a rental agreement, from before the rental agreement is signed until after it ends.

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MAKE A SMART MOVE

A few years ago it would have seemed ridiculous to think you could pull out your phone from your pocket and turn on the lights and the television, put down the blinds and play your favourite music.

STORY: THOM MONAGHAN

Smart homes are no longer confined to science fiction. They have become our everyday fact.

You can unlock your door via your phone. You can check the security cameras or the front door camera no matter where you are. You can stay completely connected with your home and in control of it at all times.

So how do you make your home into a smart home?

There is a plethora of gadgets on the market that can be used to help sync all your devices in your home, all which vary at different price points.

Thankfully, most devices that are available on the market these days have smart home capabilities, with all the major tech brands — Samsung, Sony, Apple, LG, Fisher & Paykel, and more.

Smart devices like Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple’s HomePod all offer you an interactive speaker that can listen to commands, and act on them.

These speakers can be a great starting point for those interested in syncing up their home’s devices, as you can easily sync up a few gadgets such as your music streaming account and your phone to test and see whether you would enjoy having a smart home.

Kitchen appliances like your fridge, oven, microwave or even your coffee

machine are all getting ‘smart’, with the option to sync your phone up with them to turn them on, or be notified when your cooking is done, or even to see inside your fridge to check what you need to buy at the shops.

The house’s lighting can also be linked up via an app or smart assistant, allowing you to either turn off certain lights, change the light’s colour or dim them. The same can be done with your thermostat.

Joel Garner from Watters Electrical says more and more customers are wanting to sync up their blinds, thermostat, TV and sound systems.

“A lot more customers are wanting to automate their homes,” Joel said.

“They want to be able to have their blinds set on a timer, so they go up and down at certain times in the day, or have their heating turn on when it reaches a certain temperature outside.”

With more and more people wanting to set up their houses as a smart home, Watters has begun installing data wires at the building stage, so they are there for when the homeowner, or next occupant, wants to automate their house.

“We like to pre-wire a house, so in 12 months’ time, when they are wanting to add in a multi-room sound system, or they want to automate their lights or ‘smart up’ their kitchen, they are able to do that because the cabling is already in place,” Joel said.

“It’s much cheaper for us to do this on the install, than for us to come back and try to do it as a separate job.”

With so many options to choose from, it means there are so many different financial options for those looking to turn their home into a smart home.

If you want to sync up only a few devices, then a smart speaker can be purchased for less than $100. Smart switches are also available for around $50, allowing you to tap a button on your phone and turn on a couple of lamps at once.

For a few extra hundred dollars, devices that connect to your home wi-fi device can be bought that will allow you to control your thermostat, your lights, your speakers, etc.

And if you want to completely upgrade your home, this can be done from anywhere from a few thousand dollars, to upwards of $10,000. This would include purchasing new smart devices, such as a new fridge, new blinds, a new TV or new speakers.

Sadly, it’s quite difficult to retrofit your old devices, so if you are looking at changing to a smart home and syncing everything up, it will require an investment into the latest gadgets.

“My biggest piece of advice would be to do your research,” Joel said.

“Ask your friends what they have automated. Go online. Have a really great understanding of what you want done so when you are doing it, it’s as seamless as possible.”

Also, when you are investing such large amounts of money into this transition, it is worthwhile to work with an electrician who can ensure everything is done safely and correctly.

Watters Electrical has dedicated teams who are experts in automated technology, and who understand how best to equip a house so any part can be automated.

Watters Electrical is at 19-35 New Dookie Rd, Shepparton, phone 5821 3944.