I'm at the end of my patience with the current mob. They took over, in Sept. 2016, from another agency who weren't too bad (at least tried) at getting items tended to at the current property I rent. This group have items outstanding now since (some) September, and the rest since the last inspection in Feb. I mentioned a bit of this in another post about power problems constantly blowing-out globes, amongst other things. I asked, specifically, if there were any power issues when I signed the lease— as I do computer work from home. I was told all was fine. Right. I should have put it in writing.
So, I'm now on the lookout for a new rental & good grief—- I'm just gob-smacked at the places I'm "viewing"! The last place had trash (literally) spread across the entire back lawn & panels missing from the garage "roof" (those wavy, plastic panels?). It also had a sort of out-building/studio— which we couldn't view because there was "a huge bees nest in it" —> WTF?! When I asked about these issues (there were LOTS more) the girl, who couldn't be less interested or apathetic just shrugged & said, "oh, it'll all be fixed if it gets a tenant! It's happened now in other places & I just cannot believe that they wouldn't tell the owner to clean it up to show? If they are this blasé about the initial condition, what hope do you have that they'll be there when you need them, as a tenant?
Next house I find on the realty website & though an older home, it looked reasonable for the price. I drive by & it is NOT ANY WHERE NEAR the condition as in the photos— I mean, lattice fencing is all broken, it's completely over-grown, & there's trash (furniture, garbage, etc) all across the front lawn area…and I received an email saying that it was "ready to schedule for a viewing"!!! How are they allowed to put up false photos?
I guess I'm here posting for feedback/out of curiosity. Is this like this everywhere in AU, or am just unlucky?
The law gives them way too much latitude to be lying (or if I'm being charitable, extremely misleading) d*cks to people.
I was house hunting in Sydney a while ago and noticed that the estimated sales prices the agents told me were a good $100-$200K lower than the final sale price. Every single time, guaranteed. So, at the next inspection I asked the agent for a more accurate estimate given these trends (in both his agency and others), and got a very defensive response about how agents weren't allowed to estimate prices under the law and that the prices they were telling me were actually what potential buyers from previous inspections had said they were willing to pay after receiving a follow up call from the agents.
Did they mention this pretty important caveat when they gave me price estimates in the first place? Did they mention this important caveat on their websites or Domain/realestate.com.au? Of course not - I had to drag it out of them, much to their apparent annoyance.
When it comes to agents as property managers, boy do I have a few stories about some of the lobotomised shysters that are apparently the real estate industry's best and brightest. Until the government actually decides to take seriously the many, many complaints that are lodged against the industry, all I can advise is to always put things in writing, always photograph every single part of a rental property before moving in, and if repairs are needed, to not even bother calling the agent and just send them a letter/email pointing out exactly what section of the Residential Tenancies Act they're breaching by not sorting the problem out.
With very few exceptions, f**k real estate agents.