Tenant: How to word my email to get feedback from a non-cooperative real estate agent?

[Deactivated] on 03/11/2014 - 18:40

Hi everyone,

I am a tenant renting an apartment in Melbourne. The other day the real estate agent did his first routine inspection in order to report to the property owner. However, I - as the tenant - did not receive any kind of feedback after his inspection. Back when I used to rent in Sydney, the real estate agent(s) used to leave me some sort of feedback after every inspection, all of which very positive because I tend to take very good care of where I live and keep it very clean etc. I put the mentioned feedback in my next tenancy applications and they worked like a charm.

Based on my previous experiences with the current real estate agent, he has shown to be a very non-cooperative non-responsive type of person when it came to the tenant's questions requests etc.

I am considering sending him a brief email requesting for the inspection feedback, but not sure how to word my email in a way not giving him the impression that he has a right to refuse my request I have weak social skills that's why I am asking.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions

Home & Garden

Comments

  • PVA on 03/11/2014 - 18:50

    I would word it just like the first paragraph, politely and it explains why you want it.
    Start with that and don't get too hooked up on writing correctly/forcefully.

  • eatwell365 on 03/11/2014 - 19:34
    +4

    This is just me - No news is good news. Time is money.

  • PJC on 03/11/2014 - 19:50
    +1

    Mailed, not emailed:-

    Re: 105 Something Street, Somewhere NSW 2000

    Dear Mr ___,

    You may recall your routine inspection on 20th October at my address above. I request a brief summary of your findings, and I enclose a stamped addressed envelope for your convenience. I appreciate your time is limited - just a few words and the date would suffice.

    Thanking you in advance for your consideration,

    P.J. SOMEBODY.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/11/2014 - 21:58
    +1

    Isn't email essentially considered to be "in writing" when it comes to legal validity?

    • PJC on 03/11/2014 - 22:11

      Yes but the stamped addressed envelope leaves the ball in the estate agent's court.

  • sagrules on 04/11/2014 - 10:00

    It could get lost in the mail or be thrown directly in the bin.

  • QW3RTY on 06/11/2014 - 12:25

    If they really want to be painful (and it sounds like they are) they might not actually intend to give you a copy of the inspections. The Management Agreement signed between the Lessor and the Managing Agent will have a perscribed expectation for the production and distribution of the inspection reports. You may find that the Agent has no intention of providing you with a copy, simply because they're not obligated to.

    A good workaround for this is to contact the Lessor directly. If this is not possible, a letter hand delivered to the agency (or delivered by registered mail) will ensure that you have signed confirmation that the letter has been received by the agents. But, again, they may choose not to act on your request — as they might not actually have any duty of care to yourself in a reporting propensity.

    And if that's the case, and the Lessor doesn't want to play ball — you're out of luck in a way.

  • alikazi on 22/12/2016 - 09:23

    I am renting and my agent is the same. Send the email anyway. Doesn't matter if he replies. If he's already uncooperative, adding any kind of legal threat or the fact that he's not cooperative is just gonna make him more defensive. This is how uncooperative people behave. Send multiple emails if you want, but be nice so that if there is a problem later you can clearly show to the tribunal or the landlord that you made a "reasonable" effort to communicate and he never got back to you.

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