Hello,
I moved into a a house in Melbourne in September 20 during lockdown, listed for $480 a week, negotiated it down to $460 a week and 6 months lease as I wasn't able to inspect and wanted to be able to leave in case something was wrong with it. Real estate agent took weeks to get back to me and suddenly agreed, blaming the owner being an old lady and not answering to emails, with the lease starting the following week and finishing on the 29/03 (end of the COVID moratorium).
I moved in and am really happy with the place and want to stay for the long run.
I got a call before Christmas asking what I wanted to do at the end of the lease, I said I wanted to stay and the agent said that the owner's niece, who's their financial dependant wanted to move in, so I needed to move out at the end of the lease, and if I left earlier than that, they wouldn't charge me for breaking the lease early, they'd help me find another similar place, and possibly negotiate moving fees.
Now that agent was fired, and the Real estate agency's director called me to tell me the agent left, and the owner's daughter wanted to move in to start uni in Melbourne (previous story was with the niece, and the owner being an old lady) so I needed to move out, same promises, no early exit fees and they'd help me finding something. Now he rings me every week asking when I'll leave and never suggested any other place, despite having some listed on their website.
I don't believe their story and I think they just want me out so they can list the property again (and charge the owner for it) and rent it out for more.
I rang the tenant's union and they said they can't legally issue a notice to vacate until the end of March, which will then give me a 60 days notice issued by VCAT.
Today the Real Estate agency director emailed me again asking when I'd leave, and if I could agree to have left the premises at the end of April.
Can I just ignore him until I actually get an official notice to vacate issued by VCAT (which they won't get if their story is bogus as I think it is)?
If I effectively leave and see the place advertised again, can I do anything against them for "unfair dismissal" ?
If I ask for the landlord's details, do they have to provide them?
Cheers
I'm a landlord so I know a bit about tenant law.
You can find most information in this link, https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing/renting/ending-a-lea…
Basically, since the lease is 6 months, if the landlord want you to vacate by the end of the lease, they has to notify in writing 90 days in advance.
The notice must be a written letter delivered to your address or an email.
If all the agent did was to call and give you a verbal notice, then it didn't count.