Renting - Starting a tenancy
Easy English fact sheet
2025
You might need help to read
this fact sheet.
A friend, family member or support person can
help you.
What is a tenancy?
When you rent a home it is called a tenancy.
Rent is the money you have to pay to live
in the home.
A tenancy is the time you rent a home.
For example, 12 months.
What is a landlord or agent?
- A landlord owns the home you rent
- An agent
- looks after the home while you rent it
- works for a real estate company.
What is a lease?
A lease is a contract.
It is also called a tenancy agreement.
A lease says
- you have rented the home
- how long you will rent the home for
- other rules you must follow.
You must sign a lease before you can move in to
a home.
Only sign a lease when you understand it.
- Ask someone to help you understand the
lease before you sign. - Keep a copy of the lease you signed
in a safe place.
What is rent?
Rent is the money you have to pay to live
in the home.
What is a bond?
Bond is money you pay before you can move
in to a home.
When you pay a bond you say you will not
damage the home while you live there.
Examples of damage are
- a stain on the carpet
- a hole in the wall.
You may lose your bond money if you
- do not pay your rent
- damage the home.
You
give the bond money to the landlord
or agentand
- sign a form called a Bond Lodgement Form.
Do not sign the form if it is blank.
Blank means nothing on the form.
The bond goes to the landlord.
The landlord must send the money to the
Residential Tenancies Bond Authority.
The landlord has 10 working days to do this.
The Residential Tenancies Bond Authority
- keeps the bond safe in a special account.
- sends you a receipt in the mail.
Tell them if you do not receive the receipt.
Keep the receipt in a safe place.
What is a condition report?
A condition report shows the condition of
each room in the home. For example, the
- walls
- floors
- windows.
Condition tells us
- how something looks
- how something works.
For example,
- broken
- dirty
- not working, needs batteries.
The landlord or agent must give you 2 copies of
the condition report before you move in.
Check the report is right
The report must say if something is
broken or dirty. For example, the mirror in the
bathroom is cracked.
If the report is wrong, you can change it.
For example, the report says the mirror
condition is good but the mirror is cracked.
- Cross out - Mirror is in good condition.
- Write - Mirror is cracked.
- Make changes on the 2 copies of the report.
- Sign the 2 copies.
Give 1 copy to the landlord or agent.
You must give the copy to the landlord
within 3 days.
Keep your copy in a safe place.
Remember
- Only sign something when you understand it.
- Do not sign a blank bond form.
- Keep a copy of what you sign.
- Ask for a receipt when you pay
for something. - Keep receipts in a safe place.
- Get contact details for the landlord or agent.
More information or help
about renting
Consumer Protection WA
Phone 1300 30 40 54
Consumer Protection WA
More fact sheets
and information
List of fact sheets in Easy English
- Buying Furniture
- Contracts
- Lay-by
- Phone and door to door sales
- Renting - starting a tenancy
- Renting - during a tenancy
- Renting - ending a tenancy
- Refunds, replacements and repairs
- Scams
- Services
- Shopping tips
Phone 1300 30 40 54
Mail Locked Bag 100
East Perth WA 6892
Interpreter 131 450
National Relay Service 133 677
Email consumer@demirs.wa.gov.au
Website www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au
This information is written in Easy English.
You might need more information about the law.
You can ask Consumer Protection WA.
Updated February 2025.
Easy English fact sheet updated by
Consumer Protection WA.
Look at Clear Written Communications -
The Easy English Style Guide for
information about the format and writing
style of this document.
You can find more information at
www.scopevic.org.au or
phone 03 9843 2000.
© Scope (Aust) Ltd. You may use this document for your own
personal, non-commercial purposes only. You must not use the
document for any other purpose, and must not copy, reproduce,
digitise, communicate, adapt, modify the document or any part
of it (or authorise any other person to do so) without the prior
consent of Scope (Aust) Ltd.
Scope’s Communication and Inclusion Resource Centre
wrote the Easy English. August 2016 www.scopevic.org.au.
To see the original contact Consumer Affairs Victoria.
The Picture Communication Symbols ©1981–2010 by Mayer-
Johnson. LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Used with
permission. Boardmaker™ is a trademark of Mayer-Johnson LLC.
Valuing People ClipArt © Inspired Services, UK.
www.inspiredservices.org.uk.
Change pictures © 2011. www.changepeople.co.uk.