Handyman Broke The Glass Door, Owner Asking Me to Pay

Kumar1982 on 22/08/2019 - 09:37
Last edited 23/08/2019 - 09:04 by 1 other user

Hi Friends,

I am staying in a rented appartment. I stayed in this unit for 2 years. Last month one of the big wardrobe sliding door was not moving. So when I checked it, the roller at the bottom had come out. So I informed my agent to get this fixed and he arranged for a handyman.

When the handyman came, he checked the door and opened it fully outside and kept that in a slanted position half on the floor and half on the bed. Then he was doing some screw using tool. Later he told that he need to bring something from Bunnings to fix this. He left the place and came back after sometime. Now he was inside the room fixing the door, I was outside attending a guest. He called from inside and when I went there he asked to help him lifting the door from the floor. I held on one side and he on the other side.

When we just started to lift, the glass cracked almost entire place.

Then the handyman said how did this break and when he left it was good and now it has broken. He asked me did my kid jump on this.. I said no, the kid was in living room with me all the time. Then handyman went out and called agent and told something. And he left. Then I called the agent and told what had happened. He asked me did handyman break it, I said I am not sure as I have not seen him breaking. But the door is old may be because of that it might have cracked. Agent said he will get back to me on this.

After 1 week, now agent emailed me saying that handyman confirmed he has not broken it and I need to pay for fixing this. I replied to agent that I don't agree with this and I will not pay.

Has anyone come across such a situation? What are my options?

Also anyone know how much would be cost of that glass sliding door (there was mirror on the glass door)

Thank you.

Image of the door

Poll Options

• 4
  I need to pay
• 366
  Owner/handyman to pay
• 6
  Others

• 1
• 2

• • • 

      pulpfiction on 23/08/2019 - 23:58

      +1

      Brilliant! Been looking for a way to have the tenant pay for a renovation.

• 

  McMoots on 24/08/2019 - 11:09

  If the handyman gave a written quote to the owner / property manager, there's likely to be a note or clause stating something like "All care, no responsibility.." etc.

  If that isn't the case then he probably has to take responsibility and pay for it.

  Since you've been there 2 years already I'm presuming the handyman is an external contractor and not working for whomever originally supplied the doors, as the warranty would have expired by now anyway, plus things like rollers often aren't covered or come with a reduced warranty due to "wear and tear" reasons.

• 

  ireadtermsofuse on 24/08/2019 - 12:59

  +1

  Reminds me of Scary Movie 2.

  “Thanks handyman”

  • 

    Jugganautx on 24/08/2019 - 16:27

    +2

    Actually, i'm the care taker.

• 

  Blunglefortness on 24/08/2019 - 23:59

  I had a landlord try to get me to pay for damage that I didn’t cause (damage to guttering - they made up some story about having witnesses showing me reverse a truck into it). I stood firm, and told that their witnesses must be lying, as I never drove a truck in the driveway. They threatened to take me to VCAT. I said that was fine. So they did. The judge just said that without proof of me causing the damage, they’re wasting everyone’s time.

• 

  Splashtash on 07/09/2019 - 12:39

  Don’t need to pay. Stick with it. I once had my landlord of 5 years say at the end of the tenancy he was going to charge me $200 to fix furniture indentation marks on the carpet. We never had issues and always paid rent on time. So I followed it up and it states u can’t charge for indentation marks… I later went to see about the bond loan and realised he never submitted it the bastard. He then had the spite to accuse me and tell me how great he was and how I was a terrible person and thought we had a good relationship. He was also a landlord who told us where and what we could place inside the place… not that we cared but we followed the lease in terms of the law.

• 

  SnoozeAndLose on 07/09/2019 - 12:52

  Any update OP?

  • 

    Kumar1982 on 08/09/2019 - 09:39

    No clarity yet. Waiting for Agent to confirm.

• 

  Kumar1982 on 05/10/2019 - 07:26

  Hi Friends,
  Here is the updates so far

  It's been 2 months that I have been following up with my Agent. Last month, agent mentioned that I need to pay to fix the door, however when I refused and explained the points which some of you mentioned, he said he will talk to owner and handyman and he never came back to me.

  From last 2 weeks, I was trying to reach him, but he didn't answer my phone nor replied to my email.

  Yesterday I sent him a SMS, and then he replied saying he no longer looks after the property and I need to contact someone else .

  They are so slow in getting things done

• 1
• 2