There shouldn't be an issue with the insurer.

As for how you do it, pretty much up to you: you receive full week's rent & purchase gift voucher (you have both income & offsetting expense, no tax payable), rent rebate (no income, no expense, no tax payable)

If you live anywhere near the property (or feel like posting it) go the gift card option – make it clear to the tenant that it is coming from you (not the PM). As for tax implications – call it gifts/rent rebate (in kind) etc.

A rent rebate is always hard to administer and the agent still gets the full commission even if it rent free!!  

Firstly, are you the owner of the property? If not, then you will need to seek consent to sublease from the owner. Generally a solicitor will prepare a sublease (a slightly more technical document than a lease as the sub-leasehold must be for a period less than the leasehold). You will need to get lessor consent to install a lock on the door (if it is their fitout), the lessor may install the lock but it would still be at your cost (there is no landlord/sub-tenant relationship).

If you are the owner you can get a form document from the REI in your state or from legal stationers (possibly). A real estate agent can prepare a lease for a period of less than 3 years (which does not require registration but may vary depending on which state you are located).

Oh and remember, "past performance is no indication of future performance", or so they say.

Check out the CBus super website (industry fund). The amount you pay for insurance will vary depending upon the amount of coverage (number of units) you get.

It will make little difference in the end. The selling price is not adjusted because you paid gst, purchaser doesn’t care. Whether you claim the gst inputs will affect your gross profit or cgt payable.

Don’t discount the TAFE system either but it all depends on what you need to learn

Getting back to the original question. The agent is generally entitled to their commission once the contract goes unconditional however they only get paid when the property settles – two different events.
If the purchaser pulled out during the cooling off period the vendor is entitled to 0.25% of the purchase price (in NSW). The secondary event, settlement hasn’t occurred so payment cannot be made (yet).

If the purchaser pulled out whilst unconditional, the agent IS entitled to their commission but is only entitled to one commission for the sale under the agency agreement (need to check this out).

If they pass away from food poisoning they cease to be your problem

as they say: oops