Pre-Letting Checklist for Landlords in Tasmania

The Pre-Letting Window

The gap between one tenancy ending and the next one starting is the compliance window that matters most. Every statutory standard under Part 3B of the Residential Tenancy Act 1997 must be met before the new tenant moves in — not during the first week, not "when the tradesperson is available," but before key handover.

Letting a tenant occupy a property that fails any standard is an offence punishable by up to 50 penalty units ($10,650 at the FY 2026–27 rate). There's no grace period.

The Physical Standards Check

Walk through every Part 3B standard systematically:

Structure and weatherproofing (s. 36I): Inspect the roof, gutters, downpipes, external walls, windows and doors for leaks, gaps or draught entry. Check floors, stairs, ceilings and internal walls for structural damage. A property that lets in rain or significant draughts fails.

Cleanliness (s. 36J): The property must be clean and free of vermin, rubbish, accumulated grime and offensive odours. End-of-tenancy cleaning by the departing tenant isn't always sufficient — verify it yourself.

Bathroom and toilet (s. 36K): Working flush toilet in a private room, bathroom with washbasin and shower or bath, continuous hot and cold potable water.

Cooking facilities (s. 36L): Functioning cooktop with at least 2 elements for 1–2 bedroom properties, or at least 3 for 3+ bedrooms. Working oven. Kitchen sink with hot and cold water.

Heating (s. 36M): Fixed heater in the main living area — wall-mounted, floor-fixed or built-in. Portable heaters don't count. Open fireplaces don't qualify.

Window coverings (s. 36N): Curtains or blinds in all bedrooms and living rooms. Social housing is exempt; private properties need an RTC exemption to skip this.

Ventilation (s. 36O): Openable windows providing at least 5% of floor area in habitable rooms, lockable in a 15 cm open position. Mechanical exhaust fans in windowless bathrooms, toilets and laundries, venting to external air.

Smoke Alarms (Part 3A)

Before the tenancy starts:

• All smoke alarms comply with AS 3786 — mains-powered or 10-year sealed lithium battery
• Every storey has at least one alarm in the hallway outside sleeping areas
• All alarms are tested and functional
• No alarm or battery expires within 30 days of the tenancy start date
• Alarms are clean and free of dust or debris

The Disclosure Pack

Before the tenant collects keys, you must provide:

1. Written tenancy agreement — with all terms, rent amount, and repair contact details
2. Ingoing condition report — two signed copies, provided on or before key collection day
3. Official CBOS Rental Guide — the current version of "The Rental Guide"
4. Emergency repair contacts — nominated tradespeople available 24/7 for essential service failures

The tenant has 2 business days to inspect the property, annotate any discrepancies on both copies of the condition report, sign one copy and return it.

Bond

Collect the security deposit (maximum 4 weeks' rent) and lodge it with the Rental Deposit Authority via MyBond within 3 business days. Keep the MyBond receipt in your compliance archive.

Evidence Assembly

Set up the compliance file for this tenancy before move-in:

• Dated photographs of every room, fixture, appliance and external wall (aim for 50+ photos minimum)
• Copies of any recent trade certificates — Certificates of Electrical Compliance (CECs) and Gas Fitting Notices (GFNs)
• Smoke alarm test log with dates
• Signed tenancy agreement
• Condition report copies (yours and the annotated return from the tenant)
• MyBond lodgement confirmation

These documents serve three purposes: defending bond claims before the RTC, proving compliance if a minimum standards complaint lands, and supporting insurance claims.

The Self-Manager's Risk

Property management agencies run this process on autopilot for every tenancy turnover. Self-managing landlords don't have that infrastructure unless they build it. Missing one step — forgetting the CBOS Rental Guide, lodging the bond a day late, skipping the condition report photos — creates exposure.

Our Rental Minimum Standards in Tasmania guide includes a printable pre-letting audit checklist, a condition report photography guide, and a document assembly timeline — the complete pre-tenancy workflow in one package.

See more Tasmania guides →