Checking tenants information

On 1 November 2010 the Office of the Privacy Commissioner was integrated into the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and a new website established at www.oaic.gov.au.

Major changes to the Privacy Act 1988 will into effect in March 2014. Agencies, businesses and not for profits need to start preparing for these changes.

Many tenants ask the question - A real estate agent* has listed me on a residential tenancy database. Can I access the information the residential tenancy database holds about me?
The answer is yes, but there are conditions on it and some are only accessible by agents and or have a licence fee attached.

All residential tenancy database operators are covered by the Privacy Act. But, sometimes they do not have to give you access.
Giving access may mean allowing you to inspect your record or giving you a copy of it. You may also be charged a fee for access. A fee should not be excessive and you should not be charged simply for making a request for access.

Some of the major residential tenancy database operators in Australia are:
TICA (Tenancy Industry database) http://www.tica.com.au/
National Tenancy Database http://www.ntd.net.au/
EAC Multilist http://www.eac.com.au/
Trading Reference Australia https://tradingreference.com/
RP Data http://www.rpdata.com/

Other sources such as Google, Face Book, Linked in will depend on whether there are privacy settings on their website but you would be in dangerous territory publishing anything defamatory.

The golden rule is to check and check again.

Townhouse - cosmopolitan lifestyle

Live the cosmopolitan lifestyle with this surprisingly well sized secret nestled off of King William Road. Walk to local shops, restaurants and cafes and come back to your sanctuary so quiet that you'd have no idea the bustling road is just 100m away.

With a spacious living area downstairs that leads out to a generous court yard, imagine eating breakfast in the patio on a Sunday morning, basking in the morning sun. Kitchen is roomy, looking out to the courtyard, with lots of laminated bench top space. Behind the kitchen is a hidden laundry, well spaced again, with a convenient downstairs toilet.

Head upstairs and find three comfortably sized bedrooms. Main bedroom features a walk in robe, ensuite and balcony. The other two bedrooms feature built in wardrobes and the upstairs bathroom is well designed to even fit a bath, ideal to soak in after a day of shopping along King William Road.

Perfect for the investor, first home buyer or those that want to live a low maintenance lifestyle, this townhouse is perfect living in a perfect location.

Features:

• Intercom security to gate
• Under stair storage/cellar
• Secure parking
• Ducted r/c air-conditioning
• RLA 2048

Checking tenants' information

On 1 November 2010, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner was integrated into the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and a new website established at www.oaic.gov.au.

Major changes to the Privacy Act 1988 will into effect in March 2014. Agencies, businesses and not-for-profits need to start preparing for these changes.

Many tenants ask the question - "A real estate agent has listed me on a residential tenancy database. Can I access the information the residential tenancy database holds about me?"

The answer is yes, but there are conditions on it and some are only accessible by agents and/or have a licence fee attached.

All residential tenancy database operators are covered by the Privacy Act. But, sometimes they do not have to give you access.

Giving access may mean allowing you to inspect your record or giving you a copy of it. You may also be charged a fee for access. A fee should not be excessive and you should not be charged simply for making a request for access. 

Some of the major residential tenancy database operators in Australia are:

• TICA (Tenancy Industry database) http://www.tica.com.au/
• National Tenancy Database http://www.ntd.net.au/
• EAC Multilist http://www.eac.com.au/
• Trading Reference Australia https://tradingreference.com/
• RP Data http://www.rpdata.com/

Other sources such as Google, Facebook, LinkedIn will depend on whether there are privacy settings on their website but you would be in dangerous territory publishing anything defamatory.

The golden rule is to check, and then check again.

Looking for that perfect investment property? Take a look at these two beauties!

Neat Investment for only $240,000!

7/61 Milner Road, Richmond
Recently updated and renovated, this fabulous upstairs unit serves perfectly for an active yet easy lifestyle. Featuring floating timber floors through the living zones and a brand new kitchen. Earthy tones throughout including feature walls in the bedrooms and living. The large master bedroom boasts a full wall of built in robes.

Two balconies and a new RC AC keep those summer days cool and the winter nights warm. Dedicated off street car park.

Great location near the CBD and easy access to Hilton Plaza.

Price: $240,000

Contact: Tim Thredgold - 0418 817 407
Webpage: www.7-61milner.toop.com.au 


First home owners - take note!

3/429 Glynburn Road, Leabrook

A solid cream brick home in the popular Eastern suburbs, this two bedroom home is the perfect first home or investment.

Neatly tucked behind a high fence, the home has two bedooms, one under cover carpark, a seperate laundry, good sized kitchen and dining, a generous living room and a quaint rear garden.

Add this great home to your investment portfolio, or for the first home owner, move in and enjoy the great location close to shops, quality schools and minutes from the CBD.

Price: $319,000
Contact: Tim Thredgold - 0418 817 407
Webpage: www.3-429glynburn.toop.com.au  

ADELAIDE has to grow up - and its plan to grow it higher isn't actually that high, writes Terry Walsh.

Terry Walsh executive director of Urban Development Institute of Australia was the guest on Toop & Toop’s TV show this week discussing his recent article in Adelaide Now on the plan for Adelaide to go high rise.

He welcomes the plan, “Planning needs to be in place at least ten years prior in construction and this is a part of that process, it’s not happening tomorrow”.

Adelaide will in his opinion be left behind if we don’t raise the height of our buildings. When you look at the development in other parts of Australia especially in WA we are falling behind. Adelaide needs population growth and housing for workers.

The areas for development are inner city around the parklands and wouldn’t be over the top only 5% would be allowed up to the maximum level of 8 stories.

With the inner city development of smaller properties some of which will be high rise will come more facilities such as strip shopping and services like health centres.

Rundle Mall has often been touted as a ghost town and people cry for a reinvention of the inner city area – a denser community living close to the city will help achieve this.

Can the people have their say? Yes, the consultation process with community which is currently discussing the issue is an important part of the change process. No one likes change, but it’s inevitable. The consultation allows the community to feel they had had an input.

As Terry says, “when it's our state's outlook, job opportunities for our children and a sustainable future in question, when we're united on a commitment to foster economic growth, and quality of contemporary living, there's enough common ground to achieve sensible synergy”.

Terry is leading a team next week to the States to look at suitable housing development styles. This will be opportunity for the architects and construction professionals of our state to shine.

To read more of Terry’s article click here:

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/opinion/terry-walsh-adelaide-has-to-get-higher/story-e6freai3-1226594942978?sv=a0e480bf584f72e72490163be5b62ac2#.UT5sbi2Xm8c.twitter

Sir Richard Branson and Mark Bouris share their tips to success

The National Achievers Congress hit town this week with a line up of impressive speakers, all keen to let Adelaide investors know how to create the wealth they desire.

The big draw cards of the two-day seminar were Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin empire, and Mark Bouris of Celebrity Apprentice fame were the two speakers everyone was excited to see.

So how did these seemingly ordinary men achieve their success.

Sir Richard Branson

Sir Richard has turned conglomerates on their heads and aggressively taken market share in the music, airline, telecommunication industries - just to name a few - and will soon expand his empire into space.

He believes business is about keeping the others honest.

Sir Richard said “...school isn’t really necessary, it’s more to entertain kids; once you know how to spell and add up then it's not much use, unless you want to be a rocket scientist." 

Let’s hope his space team went to school and all have the right qualifications.

He believes it's about being prepared to take up the challenge, to go for your big ideas.

“It’s people who make the business and you need to be flexible to their needs,” is Sir Richard’s philosophy on employees.

He has developed a pride in his team that is evident in both their service standards and achievements.

Mark Bouris

Mark Bouris, having sold his Wizard home loan business to Kerry Packer, has gone from strength to strength and is now a household name.

Kerry Packer asked Mark three important questions when they were finalising the negotiations for his business.

1.     “What business are you in”? Mark after some enlightening straight talk from Kerry realised he wasn’t in the business of loaning money he was in the business of fulfilling peoples hopes and dreams by putting a roof over their head.

2.    He then asked Mark  “who are your customers?" That’s all about whom they are as a person and why they come to your business. From that you can design your marketing plans around the people who best suit your business.

3.    Finally Kerry asked him, “Have you ever failed in business before?" He wanted to know if Mark had been a good leader in the hard times, as that is what counts. Will your people follow you and be inspired when business gets tough? Understanding how to disassociate yourself from the problem is the key Mark told the audience.

Whether you have one property or 10, you’re in business and that is how you need to treat your portfolio in order to be successful. These tips by Sir Richard Branson and Mark Bouris are just as relevant for your business.

How can Toop&Toop help?
We run a Landlord Business Program that takes you through an analysis of your property business and how you can maximise your returns.

If you would like to hear more about how to turn your property investment into a healthy business return contact Kerrie Akkermans on 0488 034 871 for your one-on-one consultation.