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Dear Aikido, Thought I would share a couple of little 'gotchas' I have come across re cable TV installations. One of my tenants asked permission to install cable TV (at their expense of course) and I said ok but told the agent that I insisted that Foxtel not disconnect nor remove the main...

Crest 133, If you were to install a power point in the roofspace, is it feasible to install the masthead amp power pack up in the roofspace instead? The only things that would be a negative I think would be cost of the extra powerpoint, plus the possibility of the plug pack failing and...

AceyDucey, Try John E Walker - don't know if he is still in the game, but he built my villa in Forest Lake in 1994, when he was the builder for Expo Homes (Expo now defunct but John Walker then started his own business around 1996 as John Walker Homes). Very good quality workmanship, very...

Reply: 2.1 From: Jenny F Hi, I have read elsewhere on this Forum that BMT & Associates are quite good. Although based outside the ACT, they attended the last Canberra Money Show and said they will do work in the ACT. I have not yet used them, but are planning to shortly for an ACT...

Reply: 1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 From: Jenny F Found the reference to this - it is now specifically mentioned in the ATO Tax Guide for Rental Properties 2002. Link http://www.ato.gov.au/download.asp?file=/content/individuals/downloads/RentalProperties2002.pdf&Title=Rental+properties+2002 First...

Reply: 1.2.1.1.1.1 From: Jenny F If you have a NAB Loan you can get NAB Landlord Insurance which is an all-in-one policy (building, contents (carpets etc not personal effects) with the landlord cover built in (underwriter is Allianz). Seemed to be similar level of landlord cover to CGU...

Reply: 1 From: Jenny F Whoops, should have read it more closely - the forum is about National Capitals in general not the ACT in particular! That will teach me to post in a hurry. Sorry J

From: Jenny F Not sure if this should go in here or in Meeting Point. Nevertheless, here is a notice re a Planning Issues Forum being held in Canberra which may interest those who invest in the ACT, or are considering doing so. It is a public forum but needs you to call to reserve a seat...

Reply: 2.1.3.1 From: Jenny F Hi Felicity, I am in Canberra but I used to live in Forest Lake in the mid 90s and my house that I built there is now an IP. I was also visiting Brisbane only a couple of days ago and had a bit of a look at how Forest Lake had developed since I left in late 1995...

From: Jenny F Can anyone recommend a roof or building inspector in Brisbane? I just did an owners inspection of an IP in Brisbane (I am in Canberra) and noted a little bit of a water stain on a cornice in one room and evidence of a small drip from between a cornice and wall in an adjacent...

Reply: 5.1 From: Jenny F David H, Re verticals vs curtains, my property manager in Canberra tells me her tenants seem to prefer curtains to verticals. In Canberra this is probably more practical as well as you keep more heat in at night. The other thing she told me was to not get the...

Reply: 1.1 From: Jenny F Andrew, there are some earlier posts on this forum about your first question, but in short, yes, you can claim depreciation if you rent the property furnished even if the furnishings came with the property sale. Suggest though you get a quantity survey done to...

Reply: 1.1 From: Jenny F Thanks Rick, I hadn't considered all of those options... Another aspect I did not consider in my last post, was that by having the sale listed at the lower price it would increase my future capital gains obligation should I sell - a much larger consideration than...

From: Jenny F Hello, first a congrats to the Somers on a very valuable site, software and books - I have been using PIA to review various properties for sale and it is excellent for highlighting the good prospects from the bad. The recent updates have been especially helpful. Also thanks to...

Reply: 2.1 From: Jenny F Thanks Glen and Dale, I'll just get the QS report afterwards then (as I did when I bought a new property). As it has turned out I decided not to proceed on the 7yr old property after all. So I'll just keep looking. JMF

From: Jenny F Hello, I was hoping to get some advice in respect of QS report for a 7 year old property. I believe that a QS is worthwhile (so I don't need convincing) but need some clarification of what to expect. First, I'll set the scene - potential property is a free-standing townhouse...

Reply: 1.1.1.1.1 From: Jenny F All, well there could be one minor "benefit" to the change - as land tax is tax deductible against rental income each financial year whereas Stamp duty is only deductible to offset any future capital gain. But of course you still have to pay it each year for...

Reply: 1 From: Jenny F Michael - thanks for that - I too thought it unlikely, that's what surprised me about the 'sound bite' I heard. As I said in my post, I didn't actually hear the follow-up news item so I didn't know if I mis-heard the advertisement. In any event, if it happens it is a...

From: Jenny F In the last couple of days I heard an item on one of the news bulletins that suggested the ACT Gov't was considering reducing Land Tax on IPs, the aim being to encourage investment and free up the very tight rental market here in the ACT. Unfortunately all I heard was the...

Reply: 1.1.1.1.1 From: Jenny F Thanks very much Paul, that helps a great deal - I might look up your agent here in Canberra and see if he can assist (mine is in Victoria so it is not surprising he is not aware of this). I was thinking of asking for one of those ATO rulings or decisions to...