Handling the deposit when moving into a flatshare

I'm moving into a shared place with two other Germans (3WG). I'm taking over the lease from the previous girl who was there. Everything has been dealt formally with the agent and to make things simple, I need to pay the previous girl the bond money.

The thing is the girl had put up shelves and a mirror and there are holes on the wall. The holes to me are quite big... a few approx 1cm in diameter. She said she's going to fill it in and paint the room etc. Normally in Australia, you're not supposed to do these sort of things to the apartment unless you get permission from the landlord.

Do I need to arrange with the agent to come to see the room to make sure that the room is in it's expected condition before I pay the bond? Or am I being too cautious?

Your advice is much appreciated!

Cheers

Better to be careful than sorry later on!

If the agent agrees that the room is in it's expected condition, can the landlord disagree with him later down the track when I want to move out? I've just been reading bits and pieces in some of the other related threads about people having issues getting their kaution back. It's unbelievable what some of these landlords do! I used to sublease an apartment back home and I would never have considered to treat my tenants in such a way unless of course they really behaved inappropriately.

Chantilly take photos before hand and get the agent to countersign them with the actual date.Keep them for further use.When you move back out then you have proof.

Don't pay the previous tenant the bond money. Pay the agent and let the previous girl get it back from them. This absolves you of any responsibilities. The agents will check condition of the room and withhold (from the previous tenant) any charges they think necessary. Unless you are absolutely meticulous about the handover you may find problems when you come to leave, having assumed any (possibly unseen at the time) damage to the room. Landlords can be pretty unscrupulous about this...