Spa safety tips
Nothing quite beats a cool winter’s night and hopping into a warm spa, or a boiling hot day and a cool spa. Just like swimming pools, spas carry their own hazards, as proven by the number of fatalities and injuries linked to spas. This is particularly the case for children who get trapped in the suction outlet systems or get their hair caught in the jets and then drown.
If you have a spa at your rental property it would be prudent to leave safety instructions for the tenants and do a regular check of the spa to ensure it remains safe.
However, there are a number of steps you can follow to minimise any potential risk:
• If you own an old-style spa with a potty-style skimmer box ensure that it has a lid and is secured with either glue or screwed down in place.
• Ensure there are two outlets for each pump.
• Check that the covers of any spa suction outlets are secured firmly and not damaged in any way.
• Ensure the safety lid is on and locked at all times when not in use.
• Advise the tenants where the cut-off switch is in case of an emergency.
It is also a good idea to place a laminated sign near the spa (check with your local council re guidelines) advising the following safety measures:
• Never allow a child in the spa without adult supervision.
• Don’t allow anyone to put their heads under water as this increases the risk of entrapment.
The spa pool safety guide has been designed to help spa owners determine the safety of their spas and minimise any risk of injury. You can get further information from your local council.
A father’s nightmare...
A surprising decision handed down in a Queensland tribunal could have repercussions in other States with regard to a tenancy agreement between a father and a son.
This decision serves as a timely reminder that even if you are family you should set up a legal agreement outlining the terms of the tenancy.
Here, a father and son lived together in a unit owned by the father, who had tried unsuccessfully to get his son to vacate the unit. The son had been living in the unit rent free for over six years!
It was established that:
• the father owned the unit;
• his son had paid him rent for three years from 2002 to 2005 and he hasn’t paid any since;
• the father had served him with a notice to remedy the breach, which was ignored; and
• the father then served on him a notice to vacate the premises.
The tribunal agreed that a residential tenancy agreement does not have to be in writing but that they do need to be informed of the essential terms of the agreement. There was, however, in their opinion no evidence of the fact that the son was obligated to pay rent to his father. Therefore, the notice to remedy the breach was defective, as was the notice to vacate the premises.
The son remains in the unit, rent free! What a life!
Lock it in Eddie – or not?
According to figures released by the Australian Finance Group (AFG), fixed rate mortgages made up 16.6% of loans processed during the month of September, a rise of 7.2% on the previous month. The figures show that fixed rates are becoming more popular, pointing to April 2008 as the last time that fixed rates mortgages were this high (18.4%).
Once again, the jury is out on whether or not fixed home rate mortgages are a good thing, with some saying that it may be too early to lock into a fixed rate as interest rates are likely to fall even further.
Major banks cutting their interest rates on their three-year and five-year mortgages supports this argument. AFG also argue that the combination of lower property prices, competitive financing options and the lack of consumer confidence is a further catalyst for falling fixed rates. On the other side, there are still benefits to gain from locking it in: you have more control of your cash.
Whichever way you decide to go – it’s best to do your research!
One-stop property tax page
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has launched a new one-stop webpage for property-related information called Property.
"Our new webpage provides practical guidance and easy access to all the ATO's property-related tax information in the one location," Tax Commissioner, Mr Michael D'Ascenzo said.
The site consolidates all tax property related information together on one easy-to-use site and makes searching for property investment faster and easier. The aim is to guide people through the different tax implications of various scenarios of property investment, from buying to selling.
Topics on the site include:
• Income Tax.
• Capital Gains Tax (CGT).
• Goods and Services Tax (GST).
• Residential rental properties.
• Property used in running a business.
• Property development.
• Building and renovating.
For more information visit the ATO website at www.ato.gov.au/property or call them on 13 28 66.
Are you digital ready?
Households across Australia have either already been converted or are being advised to get ready for digital-only TV. Landlords need to keep on top of this and make sure that their tenanted property is digital-ready.
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, says, “For most households, conversion will be relatively straight- forward. Most analog TVs will be able to receive digital TV if connected to a set-top box or digital TV recorder.
” However, if you are having difficulty, try the following:
• Visit the Digital Ready website at www.digitalready.gov.au. This site offers information, instructional videos and the mySwitch tool. This tool enables householders to find information on how to access digital TV services. All you need to do is enter your street address and you will get information about what is happening in your local area and how to get the best digital TV reception at that address.
• Residents can also call the Digital Ready Information Line on 1800 20 10 13.
For those who find it difficult to make the switch, Digital Switchover Liaison Officers will be available to assist and subsidies will be available to eligible households in the form of the Household Assistance Scheme and Satellite Subsidy Scheme.
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