Rent Reduction - No Access to Laundry for 2 Weeks

desert eagle on 04/08/2017 - 12:30

TL;DR - Can't use laundry for 1/2 weeks. Asked for reduction. Landlord offered $10 off per week. Discuss if you have been in a similar situation and what have you been able to negotiate.

Background:

My partner and I reported a faulty floor to our rental agency for the house we're renting. The insurance claim was soon underway and we were recently contact by some contractors that work was to begin shortly and that we would not have access to our laundry for 1-2 weeks.

Having said this, I contacted the agency to see what the land lord would offer in terms of a rent reduction as we would need to drive at least 10 minutes to the nearest laundromat. On top of this, my partner needs to wash her clothing regularly because of their job.

The offer they came back with was a measily $10 reduction per week. I rebutted that based on the circumstances it would not be unreseasonable to expect at least a $50 reduction in rent per week.

Deagle.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • chumlee on 04/08/2017 - 12:48
    +4

    $10 is about fair.

  • Clivey In Space on 04/08/2017 - 12:51
    +5

    When you went back with a counter offer, did you explain as to how you came to the value of $50?

    If someone came to me with wanting a reduction without a clear and reasonable explanation, I would be inclined to just ignore it.

    • desert eagle on 04/08/2017 - 12:56
      +1

      I justified why it should be more - travel involved, amount of loads, frequency of loads etc.

  • eve on 04/08/2017 - 13:04
    +1

    Do you have receipts that prove that?

    • desert eagle on 04/08/2017 - 13:05

      Of course not, as work started today - but I will be sure to keep them! ;)

      • eve on 04/08/2017 - 13:11

        Oops of course lols…

  • JimmyF on 04/08/2017 - 13:06
    +1

    The offer they came back with was a measily $10 reduction per week. I rebutted that based on the circumstances it would not be unreseasonable to expect at least a $50 reduction in rent per week.

    How much rent are you paying? $50 reduction on a $500 week rent might be fair, but a $50 reduction on a $200 week rental, not so.

    At the end of the day, I see it like this.

    They are fixing the floor for you, lots of landlords wouldn't bother and you would have to end up living with a crappy floor until you move out.

    You're put out for 1-2 weeks. Not really the end of the world to have the floor fixed in a prompt timeframe.

    Is it really worth getting bent out of shape over $100?

    • desert eagle on 04/08/2017 - 13:09
      +1

      How much rent are you paying?

      We're paying over $500 per week rent.

      wouldn't bother and you would have to end up living with a crappy floor

      The floor is rotten and is being temporarily wedged in place by a piece of timber. It's a raised house - fairly to say both parties don't want the washing machine or any people falling through the floor.

      • JimmyF on 04/08/2017 - 13:14

        The floor is rotten and is being temporarily wedged in place by a piece of timber. It's a raised house - fairly to say both parties don't want the washing machine or any people falling through the floor.

        You'll be surprised!

        Maybe rather than asking a $ figure, ask for a % figure. Say 5 or 10%.

        • altomic on 04/08/2017 - 13:22
          +3

          So the house has a ground floor with vaulted ceilings and a mezzanine type laundry?

          Real estate talk.

        • desert eagle on 04/08/2017 - 13:26

          @altomic:

          Everything is on stumps. Laundry tap leaked onto tiled floor and wooden underlayer has rotten away.

  • TheBilly on 04/08/2017 - 13:31
    +2

    I would just say to the land lord; $10 reduction is not enough. I would at least like to cover the cost for my inconvenience. So the final value will be whatever my cost comes to and I will be providing you with receipts and log books for this. I think if you just say reduce my rent by a certain amount, you would look like your trying to capitalises on the situation. But if you provide a log book and receipts for the actual cost of this inconvenience then they can possibly even claim it on their insurance - They can't claim a rent reduction. Long story short, don't appear like you are trying to financially benefit. Their obligation to you is to just repair it and provide an alternative, not provide a profit making opportunity.

  • outlander on 04/08/2017 - 13:42
    +3

    Maybe instead of $10 ask for 10%
    Seems lower

    • desert eagle on 04/08/2017 - 13:59
      +1

      It seems lower and more reasonable when you put it like:

      • 10 Rooms in house
      • 10 rooms - access to laundry(1room) = 9 == 90% access to house?!
  • bobbified on 04/08/2017 - 13:58
    +5

    Take what you get - it's only 1 to 2 weeks, not 1 to 2 months. A good tenant/landlord relationship is worth more than $100.

    If you push too much, you run the risk of the landlord/agent getting real defensive next time something needs to be fixed.

    • desert eagle on 04/08/2017 - 14:05
      -5

      It's not about me vs. them. Are you a landlord by any chance?

      If I am paying for something, I want to be sure I am getting access to it(toilet/shower/laundry - doesn't matter). On top of that it is the landlords decision to address the floor issue based on my notification and subsequently the builders decision to recommend the repairs due to the condition/safety of the floor.

      • bobbified on 04/08/2017 - 14:13
        +3

        You sound like a landlord.

        I'm actually a tenant and have been so for the last six years straight with three different landlords. I've been very reasonable with them and their agents and all have been reasonable and respectful back to me.

        Meanwhile, I listen to my mates whinge about their agents/landlords because at any given opportunity, they lay their "rights" out onto the table.

        Not sure about everyone else, but every time I hear someone pull out the "my rights" card in a discussion, I feel like slapping them.

      • samfisher5986 on 04/08/2017 - 14:14
        +6

        Think of it this way.

        If the Landlord thinks you are asking too much, but gives in.

        He's just going go increase your rent at the new renewal to compensate.

        • Looking4Bargians on 04/08/2017 - 15:45

          He has full "rights"

        • desert eagle on 04/08/2017 - 16:04

          Fair call.

        • SnoozeAndLose on 04/08/2017 - 16:20
          +1

          @desert eagle:

          Just dont forget they can just kick you out without an explanation with 90 days notice if it is in NSW.

          Also whatever you take from the landlord may end you lose more when it come to other repairs demand or time to discuss rate raise.

          I am a renter and landlord, i never turn down a reasonable claim and compensate if necessary, but if tenant just come back and tell me how much they want conpensate then the right card may need to be used and end up a lose-lose result.

          Dont forget the landlord also havw excess fee to pay even they go through insurance.

        • Some Human on 05/08/2017 - 10:47
          +1

          @desert eagle
          samfisher5986 and bobbified are absolutely correct in saying that causing trouble will damage the tennant landlord relationship and likely cause a rent increase to compensate, because complaining makes you look like a difficult tennant.

          E.g. Hubby and I never complain to our landlord about anything and our rent has only gone up by $45 in the 6 years we've been here.

          My friend used to complain about every little imperfection her microscopic eyes could pick up on at the house they were living in and their rent was raised by about $40 In just over a year.
          (Our houses were both in the same area)

          So just hold your tongue, or you will be paying a greater price for your inconvenience when it comes time for them to review your rent. Seriously, it's only 1/2 weeks.

  • Aussie Smurfette on 05/08/2017 - 11:07

    It will cost you $50 a week for hopefully only 2 weeks of lack of laundry, I say hopefully as it wouldn't be the first time an estimated repair has snow balled to a bigger issue. Put in writing to the landlord why you feel it will cost you $50 a week as well as inconvenient and ask for $25. No you are not entitled to full costs and yes sharing the costs is fair

  • [Deactivated] on 05/08/2017 - 12:20
    -1

    I broke my landlords washing machine , then fixed it a few days later.
    Should I give them extra rent or would a foot massage do?
    Also my toaster broke , can I eat normal bread or should I start a fire in the backyard?
    Who can I complain to about this?
    Or should I start my own thread?

    Also my feet hurt , can I get my landlord to give me a footrub, if I threaten to break the washing machine?
    mmm
    Quite the Quandry

    • theguyrules on 07/08/2017 - 13:33

      Quite the (profanity)

  • PVA on 05/08/2017 - 12:28

    Accept the $10 but say two weeks max then you need $50 after that, in case it's longer because of travel, % of house you can't use, daily need to wash etc.

    And hope rent doesn't increase a crazy amount next lease.

  • peteru on 06/08/2017 - 03:19
    +1

    You'll find that most tenants and most landlords are reasonable people. It's the agents that get in the way and try to screw both parties. In your case, the landlord will be up for a major expense (even insurance claims have a hefty excess, but chances are that the insurance will only pay for a small portion (if any) of the repair cost) and you will have a minor temporary inconvenience, which at the end will result in an improved property. Possibly improved to a state that is better than at the commencement of your lease.

    If you are looking at 7-14 days of a minor inconvenience while your property is being repaired (and given the performance of most useless real estate agents, you are lucky it is being repaired), I don't really understand your attitude. Surely, if you were stuck without a laundry for a few months, I would understand you seeking some compensation due to the repairs taking an unreasonable amount of time, but that's not the case here.

    If it helps, take another point of view. If this was your own property and you had this issue, would your insurance company pay only for the repair cost, or would they also reimburse you for your inconvenience at a rate you determine? If the later, could you please let me know who your insurer is, because I might be interested in their policies.

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