This is a common question we get and it often causes much confusion with both Landlords and Tenants alike – Please explain, 2 weeks in advance.

When a Tenant moves into a property the usual procedure is that the Tenant pays a bond equivalent to 4 x the weekly rent and also a payment of 2 x the weekly rent in advance (it should really be called the first 2 weeks rent upfront).

There are a couple of areas that cause confusion for the Landlord and the Tenant.

Does the Tenant then have to pay another 2 weeks rent upon occupying the premises to keep the rent 2 weeks in advance at all times? If the lease says so then yes however here is the catch. You cannot issue any notices for arrears of rent (late rent) unless the tenant falls more than 7 days behind in their rent. Link to Residential Tenancies Authority – Non Payment of Rent

So if you’re a Landlord and you’re wanting your Tenant to stay 2 weeks in advance at all times, you can ask however difficult to enforce.

So then at the end of the Tenancy, does this mean that the Tenant does not have to pay for the last 2 weeks rent of their occupancy?  No, if they keep their rent 2 weeks in advance throughout the tenancy.

As a best practice rule, we have found that if we refer to the 2 weeks rent in advance to being, the first two weeks rent upfront this removes a lot of the confusion.

We find that if we are always clear to our Landlords and Tenants at the beginning of the tenancy about how rent should be paid by the Tenants, “rent when due as per the lease”. and educate our Landlords about when to expect payments and how arrears procedures work this cuts out a lot of the confusion.

If you would like more information please get in touch with us Ph: 1800373262 or complete the form below.