New Queensland Pool Safety Laws start 1st December 2010 - Today

The Queensland Government has introduced new pool safety laws aimed at reducing the numbers of children drowning in Queensland swimming pools. These laws affect new and existing pools.

Stage 2 of the new laws commence on 1 December 2010.

There is a vast range of information and resources available on the Queensland Governments Department of Infrastructure and Planning Website.

From 1 December 2010, pool safety certificates are required when selling or leasing a property with a pool. Pool safety certificates must be obtained from a licensed pool safety inspector. Information for pool owners, pool safety inspectors and pool safety inspector course providers is available on the Department of Infrastructure and Planning website: http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/poolsafety.

Find a Licenced Inspector here:
https://www.smarteda.qld.gov.au/pools/inspectors/inspectorSearch.action%3bjsessionid=3D199030FF5A5A8BCE9907E0F40C5FD3

Pool Safety Fact Sheets: If you are Selling or Leasing a property these facts sheets contain some very valuable information:
http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/fact-sheets/pool-safety.html

New Pool safety Flyer
http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/resources/poolfencing/pool-safety-brochure.pdf

New Pool Safety Guidleines
http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/guidelines/pool-fencing-guidelines.html

New Pool Safety Forms
http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/forms-templates/pool-safety-forms.html

All properties with regulated pools need to be included in the state-based pool safety register by May 2011. Initially Local Governments are including details of pools on the register. Pool owners will need to check the register to ensure their pool is registered.

Free public information sessions have been held across the state and there are two more of these sessions left. These information sessions are an opportunity for you to hear more about the new pool safety laws and what they mean for industry, business and pool owners.

Tuesday, 7 December 2010 2.30 pm - 6 pm Brisbane North Arana Leagues Club, 274 Dawson Parade, Keperra.

Monday, 13 December 2010 2.30 pm - 6 pm Ipswich Ipswich Golf Club, 1A Samford Road, Leichhardt.

For more imformation about these sessions contact:

Building Codes Queensland
Telephone: +61 7 3239 6369
Fax: +61 7 3237 1248
Email: buildingcodes@dip.qld.gov.au
Location: Level 5, 63 George Street, Brisbane, Queensland
Postal address: PO Box 15009 City East, Queensland 4002


If you have any questions contact Morpheus Property on 1300 911 576 or send us an email - enquiries@morpheusproperty.com.au. We can direct you to a licenced expert in your area.

Yours in property
Morpheus Property

An Investment Property "One Stop Shop"

We all know investing in property is a great way to increase your wealth and achieve financial freedom. However, we also know buying property takes plenty of time and effort.

So, you've decided to take the plunge and buy your first investment property? Well done for making a first step in the right direction, but there's plenty to do!!

To begin with, you face hours of research on the internet, trawling through an lists of properties and visiting real estate agencies to try and find the best properties on the market. Then you'll spend weekends attending open for inspections (OFIs) and dealing with real estate agents. It's amazing how many investors cringe whenever they think of facing real estate agents and their hard-sell tactics.

After inspecting your short-list of properties, you're ready to place an offer and hopefully buy the #1 property on your list. The contract is exchanged about five times and all parties finally agree on price and conditions.

Once these negotiations are finalised, you have a contract going to settlement, but the work isn't over yet. You'll spend time finding the right professionals to help you turn this transaction into something that will earn you money.

These people will typically help you with finance, inspections, conveyancing, quantity surveying and property management. They all have their role to play and should be used to your greatest advantage. However, co-ordinating these people takes time and effort.

Wouldn't it be good to have one person, who could arrange all these services and do all the legwork for you?

We hear you!! In response, Morpheus Property have developed a One Stop Shop approach to buying property!

You'll have access to a high calibre team of experienced property specialists, co-ordinated by your Buyer's Agent. These people will make buying property a safe and smooth process, that won't demand late nights on your PC or weekends driving between inspections. In short, the Morpheus Property Team will ensure you get the right property for the right price and the whole process is kept nice and simple!!

You simply tell us that you'd like to buy an investment property, give us your budget and location and we'll do the rest!!

If you know of anyone short on time and needing to add that next investment property to their portfolio, get them to call us on 1300 911 576.

Hot water system phase-out

From 1 January 2010, existing Queensland houses and townhouses (class 1 buildings) located in a reticulated natural gas area must install a greenhouse efficient hot water system (gas, solar or heat pump) when the existing electric resistance system needs replacing. Householders will not need to replace their existing hot water systems that are in good working order.

This requirement does not apply to homeowners in existing units (class 2 buildings).

To find out whether your property is within a reticulated natural gas area, either call 1800 007 427 or go to https://www.smartservice.qld.gov.au/services/property/natural-gas-reticulation/search/postcode

If you own an investment property, check to ensure your Property Manager is aware of this new legislation.

Want more info? Fact Sheet

Proposed changes to Queensland pool fencing laws:

Pool fencing laws
Under the current Queensland pool fencing laws:
1. owners must ensure that a compliant fence is in place and maintained
2. owners must display a warning sign advising that a new pool is under construction
3. owners must ensure pools with building approval applications lodged on or after 1 October 2003 display a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) sign

Councils can only grant exemptions in circumstances where an occupant of the building has a disability that will not enable them to gain access to the pool area if a complying pool fence was constructed new pools that are constructed on a building, such as on a deck or roof, need to be fenced.

Penalties of up to $12,375 and on-the-spot fines of up to $525 can be imposed on pool owners if their pool fence does not comply with the law.

Responsibilities

Owners of in-ground pools
1. The pool owner is generally the owner of the land. The owner of the property is responsible for ensuring their pool fence is compliant.
2. Tenant renting property with a swimming pool
3. Tenants are responsible for ensuring that the gate is not kept open and that there are no objects that would allow children access to the pool.
4. If a person renting a property buys a portable pool that requires pool fencing around it, the owner of the portable pool must ensure the pool has a fence around it.

Interesting links:
1. http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/resources/temp/22205_PoolSafetyGuidesVF_lo.pdf
2. New regulations aren't costly? - http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=697149
3. The State Opposition says it supports an overhaul of Queensland's pool safety laws, but believes it is long overdue. - http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/local/5213799/qld-oppn-supports-tardy-pool-safety-overhaul/

If you would like expert advice on your personal situation contact us and we will refer you to a suitably qualified Pool Inspector.

Yours in property
1300 727 586
enquiries@morpheusproperty.com.au

Migrating to Australia. Prepare before you arrive!

Migrating to Australia?

When you arrive, you'll either need to rent or buy. This advice applies to both.

Before you leave, make sure you use the checklist below and tick off each item. Make sure they're packed in your hand luggage when you're traveling:

• Original birth certificate
• Recent financial statements (business and personal)P
• Professional testimonials and personal feferences, esp. from those located in Queensland
• International driver’s licence
• Reciprocal club membership card
• Letter of Appointment from new employer
• Council rates and/or copy of title deed of overseas property

NB: Don’t pack them in your shipping container. They can take months to arrive and make life quite difficult without them! However, this is a good place to store copies, just in case.
Our thanks to Pia Rousseau for her input. Pia provides a quality alternative to 'property management', offering big $$$$ savings to landlords. If you're interested, contact Pia on 0414 620 605, or take a look at http://www.letonly.com/

Of course, if you're buying property, contact Morpheus Property on 1300 727 586 or visit us at http://www.morpheusproperty.com.au/

Yours in property!

Property Management

Successfully managing an investment property doesn’t just happen by chance. You must have a structured framework to manage your investment property so that you minimise the risk of having a property damaged by a tenant.

Damage to a property can range from an accident leading to a hole in the wall through to a tenant trashing a property. How do you prevent this from happening to you? You should do the following things as a minimum strategy to protect the property and yourself:

• Obtain the services of an excellent property manager with a good reputation
• Treat the selection of tenants as if you were employing them to work for you, with interviews, references checks and have in place a lease agreement that helps maintain yours and their rights.
• Ensure you and/or the property manager performs regular Property Inspections
• If a tenant does not pay rent on time and/or causes a nuisance in your street then move them on at the first possible opportunity
• Become friends with the neighbours so that you have an extra pair of eyes looking out for your interests
• Have a good insurance policy so that if all other strategies fail you can at least minimise the impact of a bad tenant on your property and cash flow.

Want to know the whereabouts of a good property manager contact Morpheus Property.

Yours in property

Rental appraisal - Don't miss out!

So, you're an investor with residential or commercial property?

This means you either use a property manager or you're braving it yourself. Either way, the property market has moved significantly over the last 12 months, demand is strong and the future is promising. However, if you fail to adjust your tenancy agreement, money can easily slip through your fingers.

When you manage your own property, negotiating with tenants can be an awkward conversation, especially with good tenants. As busy professionals, this can also be time-consuming and easily put off.

When using an property manager, you're often no better off.... depending on who manages your property. This is particularly the case where the property manager spends more time with the tenant than yourself (the owner) and forgets who they're representing, or who's paying the commission - Sound familiar?

If you need an appraisal on your property, contact us on 1300 727 586. We can help with impartial advice and more...

The savings could fund your next investment property!!!

Yours in property.