Top 10 things to know as a Queenstown tenant...

1. Essential services to the property

Organise for the telephone to be connected:
   - Telecom - dial 123
   - Telstra Clear - call Fast Connect on 0800 88 55 99

Arrange an electricity supplier for the property:  
   Trustpower:   0800 878787    
   Contact Energy:  0800 809 000      
   Meridian Energy: 0800 496 496

Queenstown's natural gas supplier is Rockgas: 
   - Telephone:  442 9979. 

2. Rent 
   - Rent must be paid in advance at all times.
   - Set your rent up as a regular automatic payment. 

3. Property Condition Report (PCR) 
   - You receive a copy of the PCR when you sign the rental agreement. 
   - Check the report, note any variances on it, then sign and return the PCR to us (here at QAC) within 10 working days.

4. Security Bond 
   - Bond = equivalent of four week's rent.
   - Lodged with Tenancy Services.
   - If tenants change during your tenancy, a change of tenant form needs to be completed. (The same signatures on the bond form need to be on the bond refund form.)

5. Insurance  
   - For your own protection, we strongly recommend you take out contents insurance.  Consider a personal liability policy also. We recommend Rothbury Insurance Brokers.

6. Lawn & garden maintenance 
   - Unless stated otherwise in your Tenancy Agreement, all lawns and gardens are your responsibility. 
   - We can recommend reliable contractors if you wish to engage a helping hand.

7. Rubbish (garbage) collection
   - Unless you have a green wheelie bin supplied to the property for general rubbish, use blue council bags (purchased from supermarket).
   - Recycling - use the blue-lidded wheelie bins; put out along with general refuse on rubbish day.

   Arrowtown/Lake Hayes - Monday
   Kelvin Heights/Frankton - Tuesday
   Queenstown Central - Wednesday
   Fernhill/Sunshine Bay/Arthurs Point - Thursday

8. Heating 
   - Fireplaces & woodburners - use a metal bucket for hot ashes (do NOT put/bury the hot ashes outside, it's a fire hazard!).
   - Heat pumps - clean and clear properly; regularly vacuum out heat pump's filter.

9. Winter tips 
   - Frozen pipes - keep the water flowin' and these unfrozen by following our Winter Essentials for Tenants (attached below)                                                                

- Condensation & mildew - ventilate the house as much as possible, wipe down window and door sills, and use a dehumidifier if needed.

10. Tenancy agreements
There are two types of residential tenancy agreements:
   - Periodic tenancy - an agreement for an indefinite period until it is lawfully terminated by either party or by the Tenancies Tribunal. 
   - Fixed term tenancy - a specific time agreed upon at the beginning of the tenancy.