What Happens After You Find a Tenant in the Northern Territory: Leases, Bonds, and Next Steps

Congratulations on finding a tenant! This guide assumes you’ve already screened your applicants and chosen your preferred tenant — ideally using PropertyNow’s Rental Management subscription, which helps you handle everything in one place.

Even if you’re not using our subscription yet, this guide will still help you understand what comes next.

Tip: Once you’ve accepted a tenant, remember to mark your listing as leased in your PropertyNow account.
We’ll automatically notify all other enquirers and applicants (except the successful tenant) that the property has been leased — saving you time and avoiding awkward follow-ups.

Step 1: Create and Send Your Lease Agreement

Once your tenant is approved, you can create your lease agreement directly through your PropertyNow account — it only takes a few clicks.

• We’ll pre-fill the tenant’s details automatically from their application to save you time and ensure accuracy.
• You’ll confirm key details such as rent amount, bond (security deposit) amount, and lease term.
• Both you and your tenant can sign digitally for convenience and compliance.

When you generate the agreement, your tenant will automatically receive an invitation to access their own PropertyNow tenant account.

From there, they can:

• View and sign the lease
• See payment details
• Set up their rent payments if you’re using our automated rent collection service

Once finalised, your lease agreement and tenant’s application will be stored automatically in your PropertyNow account for easy access anytime.

Step 2: Read the Official Guide to Renting in the NT

Make sure you’ve read and understood the Guide to Renting in the Northern Territory, published by NT Consumer Affairs.

It outlines key responsibilities for both landlords and tenants under the Residential Tenancies Act 1999.

You can view it online here:

Guide to Renting in the Northern Territory

Step 3: Check the Property’s Condition and Safety Standards

Before the tenant moves in, ensure the premises:

• Are habitable and meet all relevant health and safety requirements
• Are reasonably clean and in a reasonable state of repair
• Are secure, with sufficient and working locks on doors and windows

This ensures you’re meeting your obligations and helps create a smooth start to the tenancy.

Step 4: Complete a Condition Report

Before your tenant moves in, complete a simple condition report to record the state of the property.

There’s no fixed template in the NT, but it’s good practice to note the condition of each room, fixture, and appliance — and take a few photos for reference.

You’ll need to provide your tenant with a copy within three business days of them moving in. They’ll then have a few days to review and sign or add comments.

A clear condition report protects both you and your tenant by setting an agreed baseline for how the property should be returned at the end of the tenancy. You can read more at: https://nt.gov.au/property/private-renters/renters-your-rights-and-responsibilities/condition-report-at-the-start-of-a-tenancy

Step 5: Prepare for Security Deposit Collection

Read our detailed guide at How to lodge the bond in NT

Step 6: Keep Everything Organised

All of your key documents — including the lease agreement, tenant application, and any other uploaded files — are automatically stored in your PropertyNow account.

You can access them anytime for reference or record-keeping.

We recommend also storing your:

• Condition report
• Proof of bond (security deposit) deposit or receipt
• Compliance or inspection notes
• Maintenance records

Keeping everything in one place ensures transparency and makes managing your tenancy simple and compliant.

Summary Checklist

• [ ] Mark your listing as leased in your PropertyNow account
• [ ] Create and send your lease agreement
• [ ] Read the official Guide to Renting in the Northern Territory
• [ ] Complete and share the condition report
• [ ] Check the property’s condition, cleanliness, and security
• [ ] Establish a compliant account for the tenant’s security deposit
• [ ] Keep all records securely in your PropertyNow account

Need help?

Our support team is here to help with any step of the process.

Email support@propertynow.com.au or call 1300 664 773.

Updated on: 29/10/2025