Question 1

How do I reserve a room at on Cobden?

Accepted Answer

Complete the online application.
	Once we have received your application, we will contact you within 72 hours by email to confirm the details of the lease agreement.
	If you agree with the terms of the lease agreement you will be required to pay a fee which includes first month&rsquo;s rental and Bond.

Question 2

What kind of contracts does on Cobden offer?

Accepted Answer

12 months lease. Short term leases may also be available.

Question 3

What does my rent include?

Accepted Answer

Water and electricity usage and connection is an additional charge to your rent.

Question 4

Why is the rent not 4 times the weekly rental amount?

Accepted Answer

Rental is per calendar month. The weekly rate is multiplied by 52 weeks as there are 52 weeks in a year, and it is then divided by 12 months to get the monthly rate.

Question 5

When do I pay my rent?

Accepted Answer

Your rent is due on the 1st day every month.

Question 6

Do you have car parking facilities?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, there is no car park available at the property.

Question 7

How does my mail get to me?

Accepted Answer

You will need to direct your mail to:
Your Name
Room # / 2 Cobden Street
North Melbourne VIC 3051 Australia

Question 8

What do I need to buy before I can move in?

Accepted Answer

Your apartment is furnished with a bed, desk, cupboard, study chair, TV, fridge, and convection microwave oven. You will need to supply all of your own linen & kitchen equipment &ndash; available online via our convenient shop, Your Shop.

Question 9

How close is the nearest supermarket?

Accepted Answer

The nearest major supermarket is Coles and it is located 1km away at Melbourne Central. Queen Victoria Market is located across the road and a wide array of fresh and cheap produce is available.

Question 10

What do I do if I have a visitor?

Accepted Answer

As this is a secure building, all residents are required to meet their guests at the entrance door as this door is only accessible by a resident swipe card.

Question 11

If I really want to move rooms after I move in – is that possible?

Accepted Answer

Once you have signed a lease for your room, you cannot change rooms until your lease expires or you break your lease.

Question 12

Can I move out at any time?

Accepted Answer

When you move into your apartment, you sign a lease. This is a legally binding document that means you have committed to paying rent from the start date on your contract until the end date of your contract. If you move out, you still have to pay rent until your contract expires. However, if you have no choice but to move out, you can break your lease. This means that you need to pay a lease break fee and the rent until someone else takes over your contract. The lease break fee is outlined in the Residential Tenancy Agreement.

Question 13

Is there extra storage outside my apartment?

Accepted Answer

There are no extra storage facilities at the property.

Question 14

How do I connect the internet/phone?

Accepted Answer

Upon arrival you will be provided with internet information. If you choose to use Spirit Telecom, you can plug your computer into the data port located in your room and connect to their website instantly. Select your package and payment option. Now you should be able to browse and use the internet as you would normally. You are able to connect the phone at the same time.

Question 15

Is wireless internet available?

Accepted Answer

You can order a wireless router from Spirit Telecom to access wireless internet.

Question 16

How do I disconnect the internet/phone?

Accepted Answer

Please contact Spirit Telecom before your move out and inform them that you wish to terminate their services.

Question 17

What is a Bond?

Accepted Answer

A Bond is an amount of money that you need to pay that can be used by the apartment owner if you do not meet the terms and conditions of your tenancy agreement. Examples of this include: If you fail to keep the property clean, cause damage or are in rent arrears, the owner of the property may claim some or the entire Bond only when the tenancy ends.  .

Question 18

How much is the Bond?

Accepted Answer

Bond is payable, equivalent to 4 weeks&rsquo; rent, except where rent is &#36;350 per week or more, the bond will be equivalent to 6 weeks&rsquo; rent, and is payable to the State Government Authority. In Melbourne the authority is the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority.

Question 19

Paying the Bond?

Accepted Answer

You have to pay the bond along with your first month&rsquo;s rent before your move into the apartment.

Question 20

What is a Condition Report?

Accepted Answer

When you pay a Bond, we must prepare a &lsquo;Condition Report&rsquo;, which records the property&rsquo;s general condition, including fittings and fixtures, and present you with 2 paper copies of this Report when you come to collect your keys.

Review and, if necessary, add your comments to the &lsquo;Condition Report&rsquo;. You must return the report to UniLodge within three business days of moving in and you should keep a copy of the &lsquo;Condition Report&rsquo; until the end of the tenancy.

The &lsquo;Condition Report&rsquo; is a very important document, as it can be used as evidence if there is a dispute about who should pay for cleaning, damage, or replacement of missing items, particularly at the end of a tenancy.

You may want to take photos of your apartment at the start of your tenancy to further show the condition.

The owner may claim some or all of the Bond for cleaning, damage, or replacement of missing items at the end of your tenancy. If the &lsquo;Condition Report&rsquo; stated that the work was required at the start of the tenancy, or the items were not listed, it can help you prove the bond should be returned to you.

Question 21

I am vacating, can I use the Bond for my last month’s rent?

Accepted Answer

No, your Bond and rent are separate payments.

Question 22

What happens when I vacate?

Accepted Answer

You need to leave your apartment clean and tidy, and ensure all personal items have been removed, report any damage that may have been caused during your tenancy. This allows for a speedy Bond resolution.

Question 23

How do I receive my Bond back?

Accepted Answer

A23: At the end of the tenancy we will provide you a Bond Claim Form for completion. Please ensure you sign the form with the same signature as you used on the &ldquo;Bond Lodgement&rdquo; form at the start of your tenancy. The RTBA will match signatures and will only process your claim if they match. We will lodge the bond claim form once we have the owner and your signed agreement, it then takes another 2-3 business days for the RTBA to process, it repays the bond directly into the nominated bank account on the form, If you have not provided valid bank account details, but have provided a forwarding address, the RTBA will send a cheque. If the RTBA is unable to do either of the above they will retain your money, you will need to contact them via phone on 1300 137 164 to organize for your refund to be released to you.

Question 24

Why are you claiming my Bond?

Accepted Answer

The Owner is entitled to compensation if you have failed any terms or conditions in your tenancy agreement or breached the Residential Tenancies Act (Victorian State Government Law covering rental issues).  Please note that the owner cannot claim for wear and tear of items or fittings in the apartment. At UniLodge the vast majority of these sorts of issues are resolved by agreement between the owner and the tenant. If there is no agreement then the Owner may decide to ask the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to hold a hearing to finally decide on the issue. Please note if the matter goes to VCAT than the resolution of the bond will exceed the time frame mentioned above as we must wait for a hearing date from VCAT.