Brisbane Real Estate - Rental Properties

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Renting flats, apartments and houses in Brisbane

Most rentals in Brisbane are private properties let through estate agents or direct by the owner. Leases tend to be for 6 months. Most rental properties are unfurnished and include the stove (cooker) but not refrigerators, washing machines etc.  
  
If you are moving to Brisbane, it is difficult to arrange a rental property before you arrive here and, unless you have friends or family to stay with, you may need to arrange some temporary accommodation in hotels, B&B or backpackers hostels. 
  
Although there are some listings online (see right), we've found that finding a place to rent usually involves

1. trekking from estate agents' offices picking up photocopies of their latest listings.
2. reading through the classified section of Brisbane major daily, The Courier Mail.  Saturday is the best day.  The free local newspapers also have a few listings if you want a specific area.
3. selecting those that fit your budget and other requirements and driving (public transport is rarely adequate for this) to each of the likely listings. Some estate agents will give you the keys, but you will need to provide identification and a bond (typically $50). Many properties won't fit expectations and can be crossed off your list without an inspection.
4. Check likely places carefully for traffic/train noise, safety, condition of the fixtures and fittings, neighbours, etc
5. When you've finally found somewhere, references are usually required, which can make it difficult if you've just moved to Brisbane or haven't rented before.  
6. You will need money for your bond (often 4 weeks rent), rent in advance (usually 2 weeks), putting on electricity, phone, gas etc.
7. The Residential Tenancies Authority administers rental bonds.

Hints for finding a place to rent (from our experiences which always seemed to be on very hot days)

1. you need a car, street directory, notepad and pen
2. have a clear idea of how much you can afford and your requirements (no of bedrooms, close to public transport, security etc)
3. start early, take plenty of water to drink
4. stay calm, make an effort not to snap at each other
5. be prepared for disappointment - most properties will sound much better on paper than they really are, and you may not find something on your first day
6. drink plenty of water
7. stay calm, make an effort not to snap at each other
8. look carefully at the kitchen and bathroom - will they start to annoy you after a week?
9. drink plenty of water
10. eat a good lunch to keep your strength up and moods stable.
11. stay calm, make an effort not to snap at each other
12. keep going until you find somewhere that really suits you - even if that means spending another week or two hunting - or you could be repeating the experience again as soon as your lease expires.

Other links and Information

• Residential Tenancies Authority
• Real Estate Institute of Queensland
• Protecting your Home Against Bushfire Attack. (PDF). 
• Maps of Brisbane