Issues with Tenant

Lfunnybunny on 22/03/2016 - 11:41

Just wanted some advice regarding a tenant complaining about various things.
We have had a tenant move in for a 6month lease. Currently, they are about 4weeks into their lease.
They are now complaining about several issues:
1. pest control - apartment needs fumigating and because they've 'just' moved in, it is the landlord's responsibility
2. stains on dining chairs and computer chairs and therefore are unusable; they want to throw them out
3. corroded bath tap (they are worried their baby might cut herself on it) - fair enough I guess
4. air vents are dusty and need to be cleaned (i have already paid for a cleaning service before they moved in)
5. lounge has a few stains and therefore unusable

I thought most of these 'issues' would have been noticed at the initial inspection?
Last thing I want is for them to take this up with the tribunal (even though I can attend myself it would be a terrible inconvenience).

Home & Garden

Comments

  • miarn on 22/03/2016 - 11:48
    +1
    1. pest control - apartment needs fumigating and because they've 'just' moved in, it is the landlord's responsibility

    Correct, if the problem existed when they moved in, or is in the walls/roof.

    1. stains on dining chairs and computer chairs and therefore are unusable; they want to throw them out

    This probably depends on whether that was apparent in the inspection - if so, they need to deal with it. They certainly just can't chuck out your stuff.

    1. corroded bath tap (they are worried their baby might cut herself on it) - fair enough I guess

    You need to fix this. Also, if someone does get injured, you've been warned about the problem which won't go down well if there's a lawsuit.

    1. air vents are dusty and need to be cleaned (i have already paid for a cleaning service before they moved in)

    Depends how dusty they are, but if it's really bad then you probably have to fix it.

    1. lounge has a few stains and therefore unusable

    As above - depends on whether that was apparent in the inspection.

  • SuperC on 22/03/2016 - 11:52

    With Pest control, if its an apartment, it may be a strata issue.

    • Sheila Dealer on 22/03/2016 - 16:16

      Strata is only responsible for common property

  • Davo1111 on 22/03/2016 - 12:38

    The furniture can't be thrown out because (the renter) thinks they're crap. The stains/mark fall under the existing condition report.

    If the furniture fall apart, that's a different matter

  • Randxyz123 on 22/03/2016 - 13:41

    Are you renting this out yourself or through a agent?

    If it is through a agent tell them to deal with these issues…

    I'd go ahead and sort out the bath tap ASAP. Tell them you will "look into" getting a quote for pest control.

    As for your furniture - if they want to use their own then tell them they have to pay for (or at least contribute to) removal and storage of your stuff.

  • Cheeper on 22/03/2016 - 16:07

    Normally pest control on initial occupancy is a LL responsibility but sometimes tenants have bowls of pet food laying around or food scraps and heaps of washing up in the sink and that attracts cockroaches and mice in a very short time..
    Depending on the circumstances it could be a case of getting the tenant cleaning up their act before getting any pest treatment done. Who pays depends on the cause.

  • funnybunny on 22/03/2016 - 17:53

    Hi
    Thanks everyone for the replies. I am renting it through an agent. I suppose that they are meant to be filtering out the real issues from the not so real issues.

  • ilikeradiohead on 23/03/2016 - 15:17

    Was a property inspection report completed when they moved in? The stain stuff is nonsense.

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