We recently moved house after our previous owner decided to increase the rent. We found a terrific new joint, bigger and better and thirty bucks a week cheaper. Gave the appropriate notice, left the place spic and span and waited patiently for our ‘bond’ to be returned (app.$1200).
Next thing we get a notice in the mail claiming damages and an invitation to attend the Tenancy Tribunal: some bubbled paint on a windowsill, a broken window, a kick-arse, huge pile of garden refuse down the backyard and replacement of the Bouganvillia creeper from whence the garden crap originated. Damages bill: app $500. :rolleyes:
So I sent the Agent a letter acknowledging liability for the peeling paint (word of advice folks: don’t leave spray-on stain remover containers on windowsills. It sucks at getting stains out of clothes, but it’s a great paint-stripper ), but letting them know that the window did not crack due to any negligence or mishandling on our part, and that the pile of rubbish in the backyard was cuttings from the huge creeper that had to be removed after a violent windstorm hit. The creeper took down a fence and half-pulled off a gate, so The Bloke had to remove the fucker to apply his carpentry skills to fixing it all. I mentioned in the letter that I thought their claims were not only unfounded, but a bit bloody rude, considering.
Y’see, all this is normally the liability of the owner/Agent. We notified them the day after the storm (prior to us fixiing any damage) but the necessary person we needed to speak to was run off her feet attending to other more serious damage to other properties: she’d get back to us ASAP. A week later, The Bloke got sick of waiting and fixed the thing.
So today was Hearing Day at the Tribunal. I spoke with the Agent prior to the official hearing, and she said that while the owner had finally agreed that the cracked window was not our responsibility, we were still up for removal of the garden debris, about $290. When I said, ‘No fucken’ way’ (or words to that effect) she mentioned that underneath the pile of cuttings were some rotting cardboard boxes that also had to be removed. Fuck, I’d forgotten about those. :smack:
I offered the Agent $40 to cover that part of the cost, but she said, ‘No fucken’ way’ (or words to that effect) so we agreed to slug it out in front of the Tribunal.
Ten minutes later I walked out with a big grin and the Agent looked gobsmacked. Not only were all the claims dismissed, the Arbitrator sent a clear message that it’s damned lucky for the owner/Agent they don’t get a bill from me and The Bloke for all the bullshit and carry-on.
Firstly, you shouldn’t have upped the rent in the first place you greedy bitch: a month on (and we’d paid rent up until just over a week ago even though we moved out and handed back keys in April) and the place still hasn’t got any tenants. Secondly, ya should’ve taken the $40. As it stands, you got nought!