Furnished Melbourne rentals: what to check at handover

1What should I request before signing for a furnished Melbourne rental?

For a furnished Melbourne rental, request an inventory tied to the exact address, unit and handover date, then confirm included items, quantities and condition.

Furnished means furniture is supplied, but the written inventory needs to identify the items. Ask which objects in photos are included and which belong to the current occupier or are for display. A reply referring only to photos needs an item-by-item follow-up.

Agree essential items before signing. If you need a desk or a damaged mattress replaced, record the item, required condition and completion date in an agreement attachment. Ask management to date the inventory, identify the unit and state whether it forms part of the agreement.

For a remote inspection, list the views, measurements and demonstrations you need. Mark areas not shown and appliances not demonstrated, then request the missing information. Check the actual items after handover and report discrepancies in writing.

2How do I check furniture and appliances for daily use?

For a furnished Melbourne rental, list frames, mattresses, appliances and smaller items separately, then check what is missing for sleeping, studying, cooking and laundry.

Ask separately about the bed frame and mattress. Obtain mattress length, width and depth before choosing fitted sheets; ask about pillows, quilts and linen too. Check the desk, chair, work surface and nearby sockets. Request measurements if you need space for a monitor.

List the fridge, microwave, cooking appliances and small appliances separately from pots, knives and tableware. Photograph seals, drawers and appliance interiors. Record missing parts, marks and operation against the relevant item.

Ask whether laundry facilities are inside the unit or shared. For shared equipment, obtain access arrangements, operating hours and charges. List hangers, a vacuum cleaner and a mop separately, then plan purchases around actual gaps.

New ordinary Victorian rental agreements also require the home to meet minimum standards, including working fixed heating in the main living area, kitchen facilities and applicable window-covering and privacy requirements. Allow inspection time for these checks as well as the furniture.

3What details should each inventory entry include?

Each furnished-rental inventory entry should record quantity, dimensions or model, inclusion and condition, with photo references, untested items and outstanding work.

Record bed and desk measurements and appliance makes and models. Identify missing pieces, damaged drawers and anything not demonstrated, with its location and condition. Mark photographed objects that will not be supplied as excluded and obtain management's written response.

Use the table to collect the actual details for this property. Add a microwave, dryer and smaller items in the same way. Keep missing quantities, measurements or charges on the follow-up list until management supplies them.

Put required work beside the relevant item, with the action, completion date and repair contact. When arranging a home through Yeeliving, an adviser can help organise missing information and questions for management.

Use one line for each frame, mattress, desk, chair, fridge and washing machine, with quantity, condition, photo and anything untested. Do not combine the frame and mattress. Check kitchenware item by item before buying missing items.

4What if supplied furniture or appliances are faulty before signing?

For faulty items in a furnished Melbourne rental, record the condition and obtain written repair, replacement or other arrangements before signing.

Photograph a loose bed frame, missing appliance parts or significant marks, and record whether the item can be used. Leave potentially unsafe equipment to qualified people. If work remains outstanding, ask management for a specific action and completion arrangement.

In Victoria, rental providers organise and pay for repairs that are not the renter's fault. Renters may have to pay for damage they cause. Report faults promptly to the rental provider or property manager in writing, retaining the request, date and response.

Dangerous electrical faults and failures of essential hot water, cooking or laundry services or appliances are urgent repairs. Contact the rental provider or agent straight away and retain a written record. Ordinary furniture defects need to be assessed against the actual problem.

5What should I check against the inventory at handover?

At a furnished Melbourne rental handover, compare each agreed item with what is supplied, record gaps and damage in the condition report, and return it on time.

The inventory records what should be supplied; the condition report records its actual state. Add missing items, marks, scratches and anything you could not check. If an agreed item is absent, retain the agreed inventory and photos, then ask management for a written supply or resolution arrangement.

Before moving in, you should receive two signed paper copies of the condition report or one electronic copy. Correct inaccuracies, add comments and return a signed copy within five business days of moving in. Keep your own copy; weekends and public holidays do not count as business days.

Take a room view that identifies the item, then close views of the problem. Date and label the photos, refer to them beside the relevant entry and attach them to the report. Keep the submission record and meet the deadline while awaiting management's response.

If you did not receive a report before moving in, complete your own using the Consumer Affairs Victoria template and give it to the rental provider or agent within five business days of moving in. Keep repair correspondence with the report for the end-of-agreement comparison.

6What can I buy before the furniture list is settled?

Before moving into a furnished Melbourne rental, buy confirmed missing essentials with known dimensions; wait for clear handover details before buying larger items.

Buy confirmed missing essentials for sleeping, washing and simple meals once their dimensions are clear. Wait for management's response or handover before buying large or non-essential items. Use current listing-page prices and list furniture and delivery purchases separately.

If you want the rental provider's wardrobe, mattress or other items removed, raise it before signing. Agree who moves and stores them and how they will be returned at the end. Obtain written arrangements before handling the items and retain the handover record.