Lifestyle
Do these 5 things before you leave on your next holiday – land lease edition
27th October 2026
There’s always plenty to organise before a holiday. Packing your luggage, sorting through your itinerary, it can be exciting and overwhelming all at once. Before you hit the road on your next lap of Australia or head to the airport, it’s worth giving your home a quick once-over before you leave. Our wonderful homeowners talk about their trips with us all the time and we’ve gathered the top 5 tips we think can help our customers the most.
In case you’re in a hurry to make your boarding call, here is the list below:
Before you go:
If you take regular medication, check how much you have left and whether you'll have enough for the entire time you're away. Even if you are travelling domestically, go prepared.
If you need more, check your prescription and visit the pharmacy before your trip.
It sounds obvious, but it’s frustratingly easy to forget and if you’re travelling overseas your regular medication may not be easily available.
Consider letting park management and a trusted neighbour know your home will be unattended.
You don't need to tell everyone. Just the people you trust and who may be able to keep an eye on things while you're gone. Make sure they have a way to contact you, or someone you nominate, if something doesn't look right.
If your trip is an extended one, now would be a good time to ask a neighbour or family member to put your bins out, collect your mail, feed the pets and water the garden.
Switch off or unplug non-essential devices that don't need to be running while you’re away. This can include televisions, computers, chargers and small appliances.
Don't get carried away though. Your fridge, freezer, security system and other equipment that needs continuous power should stay on.
The point isn't to shut down the entire house. It's just to make sure you're not leaving things running unnecessarily.
If you're leaving your home for an extended period of time, consider whether your mains water needs to remain on while you're away. If a leak does occur, turning it off may help limit the amount of water released.
Remember, not all land lease communities are the same. Your water meters and valves may be part of shared community infrastructure. If you’re in doubt, check with park management where to location your home’s isolation valve can be found.
It might be tempting to switch off your hot water but do a little bit of research beforehand. Not all hot water systems are the same and each brand and type operates differently. If in doubt, speak to a licensed plumber to ensure you aren’t creating any headaches for yourself once you return home.
Check your doors, windows, garage and shed. If you have an alarm or security system, make sure it's working and activated. Then think about your keys.
Avoid leaving a spare somewhere obvious or easily accessible outside the home. If somebody needs access while you're away, consider giving the key directly to someone you trust rather than leaving it around your property. Close family or a good neighbour can be trusted key holders.
If you do use a key safe or lock box, check that it's secure before you leave.
Before leaving your home unattended for an extended period, it may be worth checking your MHIA Product Disclosure Statement and Certificate of Insurance.
Your policy documents set out the terms, conditions and exclusions that apply to your cover, including any requirements relevant to safeguarding your property.
Then you're done. Grabs your bads, Lock the door and head off to enjoy your holiday.
