Create a simple issue log
For each issue, record the date noticed, room, item, short description, photos, message sent, response received, access arranged, and outcome. This can be a note, spreadsheet, folder, or RoomRecord report. The format matters less than consistency.
Do not wait for the routine inspection to report issues that may worsen. A leak, mould patch, broken lock, unsafe fitting, or appliance fault needs a clear written trail.
Use photos to show progression
If a stain spreads, mould returns, cracks widen, or a leak worsens, take photos from the same angle over time. Label each image with the date and location. Progression photos can explain why an issue became more serious.
A single photo shows condition. A sequence shows timeline.
Separate repairs from damage
An unresolved repair can look like damage by the end of a tenancy. For example, a slow leak can become swollen cabinetry, stained flooring, or mould. Your maintenance log helps show you reported the source rather than ignored the outcome.
This does not decide responsibility on its own, but it gives the conversation evidence rather than memory.
Close the loop after each visit
After a trade attends, record whether the issue is fixed. If it is not fixed, send a same-day message with photos. If it is fixed, keep a completion note. This prevents the record from ending at "someone came out".
At exit, the strongest line is often: reported on this date, access provided on these dates, repaired or not repaired on this date.
Sources checked
Reviewed 2026-06-26 against official Australian tenancy authority guidance. This article is general information, not legal advice.