Landlords of Ozb How Would You Feel if Tenant Reached out Directly?

Cheaplikethebird on 16/03/2023 - 09:30
Last edited 16/03/2023 - 10:59 by 1 other user

Firstly I just want to say that I'm asking this as a general question not necessarily in relation to my own situation but recently I received a notice of rent increase and am going to try and negotiate a fairer rate. After reading this thread (tl;dr landlord wants to leave rent the same but agency is pressuring to up it so they can increase their commissions) I'm thinking that I would be more successful if I were able to reach out to the landlord and negotiate the rent increase directly rather than through a middleman who has their own interests that oppose mine.

Lets assume for the exercise that you have a good tenant, pays rent on time and maintains the house to a high standard. How would you feel if your tenant reached out to you directly?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Settero on 16/03/2023 - 09:36
    +2

    Yeah , guy is accepting half of market rent , that's like lotto winning luck for the Tennant. I agree with real estate agent that they should not be managing the property while getting half what they should.

    • Cheaplikethebird on 16/03/2023 - 09:39
      +2

      Yeah I agree but that's not the point of this post.

      • Settero on 16/03/2023 - 09:49
        +6

        I understand, I am just pointing out the extream example you have provided as it is very relative to the discussion. If someone bypassed the agent over a 5% increase is very different to a 50% increase.

        • Cheaplikethebird on 16/03/2023 - 10:46
          +1

          Yeah fair, mine's close to 20%

          • rave75 on 17/03/2023 - 08:06
            -3

            @Cheaplikethebird: So agent's comission will be up by like 1%.

            • Cheaplikethebird on 17/03/2023 - 10:52
              -3

              @rave75: Look at my comments below. Works out to roughly $5/week commission. If average roll size per PM is 90 Properties that's $450/week per PM. That's not a small amount.

        • FairDeal on 17/03/2023 - 09:37
          +15

          No your doing the classic "Using an EXCEPTION to PROVE the rule" which is a useless and time wasting thing to do for someone who is asking for genuine advice e.g
          Q: Should I start smoking?
          A: My grandmother smoked 2 packs a day and lived to 110.
          [Insert any other EXCEPTION here] all are equally useless advice to someone asking for a sensible answer.

          BTW I am a landlord with 3 rental properties and if a good tenant reached out to me directly to negotiate rent in a genuine way I would absolutely welcome it. However after trying many different managing agents and finding them all equally incompetent that's the reason I manage them all by myself.

          However there maybe landlords out there that are either so deeply plugged into the matrix OR very busy that may find a direct reach out too unconditional but if they lose a good tenant because of this then they've only got themself to blame 👍

    • JimmyF on 16/03/2023 - 12:06
      +39

      LOL 'managing'…. Most REA do SFA for what they are paid.

      • Triceratops on 17/03/2023 - 08:19
        +1

        I'm a landlord and while things are going smoothly that's definitely how I feel. However, my property is not local to me and every now and again they have to put in a heap of time for the money. Over the 15 years or so I've owned the property it has evened out.

  • Hellfire on 16/03/2023 - 09:42
    +76

    Tell you to talk to the agent. I pay them good money to deal with tenants so that I don't have to.

    • Almost Banned on 16/03/2023 - 11:52
      +4

      ^^^ This for most landlords I would think, but some might be open to a direct approach.

    • tallkid123 on 16/03/2023 - 11:56
      +13

      The only reason I use agents is to keep myself arm's distance from my tenants.

    • DingoBilly on 17/03/2023 - 08:18
      -2

      Yeah I would be very annoyed if my tenant contacted me or my real estate agent let that through somehow.

      I pay the RE agent to maximise the rent. I don't really care about the tenant at end of day.

      • Jolakot on 17/03/2023 - 08:24
        +47

        I don't really care about the tenant at end of day.

        The only honest landlord in this entire thread 😂

      • jfletch2 on 17/03/2023 - 08:28
        +9

        Most compassionate australian landlord

        • Extreme on 17/03/2023 - 08:43
          +3

          The reality of it is, it’s either money in the landlords pocket, or money in the tenants pocket.

          It’s an “investment”. So naturally a smart investor is seeking to maximise their return.

          • CodeExplode on 18/03/2023 - 05:31
            +6

            @Extreme: Some of us don't define our existence as a game to extract every possible cent from others without considering what kind of world that makes. Charity gives no 'return', but many of us do it regularly to try to improve the world we live in and make it one that we both enjoy and don't feel so sick about.

            • Extreme on 18/03/2023 - 10:08
              -7

              @CodeExplode: You clearly have NFI of the costs involved with owning and maintaining an investment property.

              The market dictates what a landlord can charge, not the landlord. If a rent increase is excessive, a tenant has the right to appeal through xCAT.

              In the last 12 months, the costs of one of my properties has increase by >40% of the rental income received, yet the market determined I could only increase the rent by 15%. This is for a property I’ve owned for over 15 years.

              You need to get your head out of the sand. The reality is, property investment yields are low. There’s a reason the country is currently undergoing a nation wide rental shortage.

              But keep thinking it’s the mum & dad landlords that are the problem.

              • callum9999 on 18/03/2023 - 11:19
                +3

                @Extreme: Someone's got a chip on their shoulder…

                All they said is not everyone spends their life trying to extract every cent they can from others. If you identify as someone who does then I can't say I have a lot of sympathy…

              • Diji on 18/03/2023 - 21:47

                @Extreme: That's the risk you take with an investment. You win some and lose some.
                If mum & dad were that hard up for some extra dosh maybe they should've put it in a term deposit or something lmao

                • Extreme on 18/03/2023 - 22:47
                  -3

                  @Diji: I’m not after your sympathy and you’re not telling me anything I don’t already know.

                  The facts are simple. The market determines how much a landlord can charge.

                  If a landlord increases rents in line with market rates and you can’t afford it, then it’s time for you to move.

                  If you can’t afford to live somewhere, you move elsewhere. It’s fairly simple really.

                  Not everyone can afford a house in rose bay for example.

                  • Diji on 18/03/2023 - 22:58

                    @Extreme: So in your opinion, are the people living out of their cars doing so because they don't want to rent in the outer suburbs? Or how else does that tie into the whole simplistic view here?

                    • Extreme on 18/03/2023 - 23:09
                      -4

                      @Diji: Is it the mum & dad investors problem that someone who’s homeless can’t afford to rent their property, whilst others are lining up to pay for it?

                      Is it the mum & dad investors problem that you didn’t get a pay rise in line or above inflation to ensure you can keep paying your rent that’s inflating due to market demands & rising costs?

                      What you’re suggesting is a governance issue, not a landlord issue.

                      The reality is, the only way to put downward pressure on rental prices is to increase supply.

                      • Diji on 18/03/2023 - 23:13
                        -1

                        @Extreme: That's a lot of words to say it's not that simple. :P

                        • Extreme on 18/03/2023 - 23:20
                          -2

                          @Diji: Nope.

                          It’s a lot of words to say, it’s not my problem and as such, I couldn’t care less.

                          If it’s an issue that concerns you, my advice would be to reach out to your local member.

                          • Diji on 18/03/2023 - 23:21
                            -1

                            @Extreme: You're not my dad and you can't tell me what to do.

                            • Extreme on 18/03/2023 - 23:24
                              +2

                              @Diji: Offering someone advice on what to do, isn’t the same as telling someone what to do.

                              But you do you.

                              • Diji on 18/03/2023 - 23:26
                                -3

                                @Extreme: I couldn't care less about your advice. :)

    • Cheaplikethebird on 16/03/2023 - 10:12
      +6

      Well no I have the option to reply with my own offer (mine will match the increase in average rents in my area during the time of my lease), the owner can then decide if it's in their best interest to accept the offer, find a new tenant, or respond with a new offer, and so and so forth.

      • pharkurnell on 16/03/2023 - 15:19
        -3

        with 1000's looking for housing you'll email him and he will start the process of finding someone else…. which should take about a microsecond.

        • Cheaplikethebird on 16/03/2023 - 15:38

          Maybe. The guy definitely values long-term tenants from our chats and I've improved the house a lot since I moved in so we'll so how much that is worth. My return offer will also be at market rate.

          • pharkurnell on 16/03/2023 - 16:05
            -2

            @Cheaplikethebird: It will all depend how much his mortgage has gone up. chick at work her payments have gone 850/mth to fortnight.

            • ylukman on 17/03/2023 - 18:09

              @pharkurnell: 850/month become 850/forthnight? That's consider as cheap.

              Here I am surprise that yesterday a mate in office said she had to find another rental unit cause currently she's paying $620/week and the landlord wants to increase to $700/week.

              • pharkurnell on 17/03/2023 - 18:32

                @ylukman: just to clear it up, thats her 1/2 850/fortnight

                thats a shit load of money 'extra' to find

        • ssfps on 16/03/2023 - 20:16
          +3

          Have you ever rented a place out? It can be stressful, there are plenty of really shitty tenants around, if you find a good one and build a relationship with them it's worth it for everyone involved to keep the rent on the lower side of the market average rather than gouging.

          • pharkurnell on 16/03/2023 - 22:42
            -1

            @ssfps:

            Have you ever rented a place out?

            God no…. but dozens of mates who do/did it, many dont anymore

    • treekangagaroo on 16/03/2023 - 11:30
      +5

      As if some one is really forcing the landlords to hold on to the properties . Its high time we should change that phrase. He should just be the owner of the property not the renters lord :)

    • tallkid123 on 16/03/2023 - 12:25
      +4

      Us landlords are mostly doing fine.

      From my conversations with my agent, it's the renters that are struggling.

      • Cheaplikethebird on 16/03/2023 - 12:45
        +1

        Having worked in REA before there are owners and then there are 'owners' (the ones who can barely service their loans and never have money spare for maintenance)

    • surg3on on 17/03/2023 - 10:18

      Poor landlord. They have only had a decade of rent>mortgage repayment.

  • Motek Benzona on 16/03/2023 - 09:56
    +6

    Funny you should post this

    We had to approach our owners last year as the new real estate were the biggest bunch of scumbags since time began.
    We said we were sorry but after 6 years it was either us or them. They replied almost right away and the REA was sacked the same day.

    Fast forward to now and the house has been sold and the new owners and new new real estate have jacked the rent up by 38%. Im taking them to QCAT and in order to havbe it lowered, we had to sign the new lease but…. if the old owners owned the house i would certainly have reached out to them over this before going down the legal path.

    It all depends on your history with them.

    • jellykingdom on 16/03/2023 - 09:59
      +6

      What's the basis of taking them to QCAT? Aren't they allowed to do that? I'm legit asking, not trying to be snarky

      • burningrage on 16/03/2023 - 10:09
        +5

        Not sure with QCAT, but I was told with VCAT renters can take agents to VCAT for "excessive" rental increase but I am not sure how that stacks up in the high interest rates era other than the renters are hoping the landlords to buckle and avoid the VCAT fee.

      • Motek Benzona on 16/03/2023 - 10:13
        +6

        No they cannot do what they want.
        Too many people think this

        You can challenge unjust increases within 30 days of signing

        Average increase in my postcode was 18.1% for 4 bedroom 2 bathroom houses..not almost 39%

        My exact challenges condition, size of rise, research into other prices in this postcode, history and lack or repairs.

        legislation says

        "If you have an existing residential tenancy agreement and sign a new agreement for the same premises that includes a significant change from the old agreement (such as a rent increase or change in rent payment method), you can dispute the change"

        And
        :In deciding an application about a rent increase, the Tribunal must have regard to the following:

        The range of market rents for similar premises in the area.

        The proposed amount of rent increase.

        The state of repair of the premises.

        The term of the tenancy, and the period since the last increase."

        Im going to give it my best shot..I have addressed the legislation and the REA has not.

          • Motek Benzona on 16/03/2023 - 12:41
            +8

            @tsunamisurfer: You are EXACTLY ther type of person (using that word loosly) I LOVE to take on legally. Literally cannon fodder for victory.. I only hope others can do the same to you as well. :-)

            • tsunamisurfer on 16/03/2023 - 12:46

              @Motek Benzona: I hope this day doesn't come.

              But I will happily take this on.

              Let us know how your frivolous tribunal claim goes.

                • tsunamisurfer on 16/03/2023 - 13:02
                  +5

                  @Motek Benzona:

                  Even if i fail at QCAT at least i tried to stop morally bankrupt nothings like youself

                  Increasing rent is immoral?

                  Looks like you need to re-assess your compass.

                  I wish you nothing but harm for the future. ;-)

                  I wish you all the best in your renting future.

                  • Motek Benzona on 16/03/2023 - 13:23
                    -8

                    @tsunamisurfer: You align yourself with people who not only price gouge, they then refuse to adhere to repair rules , threaten retaliation, admit that the house is not up to the standard for the rent charged and quite simply lie to try to evict us….After almost 7 years here…and they have been around since august…righto…Your choice

                    But because of your alignment, and If it was legal, I would drag you off to a concentration camp then split your assets amongst the homeless families out there..and im Jewish

                    Good luck 🤩

                    • tsunamisurfer on 16/03/2023 - 16:31

                      @Motek Benzona:

                      You align yourself with people who not only price gouge

                      I aligned myself with the LL's right to ask his preferred price. Thats still a right last I checked.

                      Making the initial offer is not price gouging, its called negotiation. Just because you don't have said skills doesn't mean the game is crap.

                      they then refuse to adhere to repair rules , threaten retaliation, admit that the house is not up to the standard for the rent charged and quite simply lie to try to evict us

                      I read your opening post which said nothing of this stuff. Please stop making shit up to back your claim.

                      im Jewish

                      Not really. Those of the faith would treat people with dignity and respect, not wish others Concentration Camps. I can't see why a LL would want to evict people of this calibre.

                • pharkurnell on 16/03/2023 - 15:22
                  +2

                  @Motek Benzona: So hes gone from CANON FODDER….

                  to

                  Even if i fail at QCAT at least i tried to stop morally bankrupt nothings like youself

                  LOLOL!

            • bobwokeup on 16/03/2023 - 12:52

              @Motek Benzona: Initially I thought your attitude is all wrong but after reading the comment by tsunamisurfer I can sort of see why, but it was how you said you’d love to go to court which I don’t agree with.

              • Motek Benzona on 16/03/2023 - 12:54

                @bobwokeup: Someone has to at least stand up to the madness..if its me..so be it. If i fail..

                So be it..its better than being a scared asslicker

                • I think i said love to take on legally.. could be wrong, but its TRUE, i do enjoy these challenges. I am not well and TBH it keep me a bit busy whilst i cannot do much.
                • bobwokeup on 16/03/2023 - 13:42

                  @Motek Benzona: Yeah fair call there. Better to stand up and say something rather than sitting there silently.

                  I do enjoy the challenge too but would rather avoid it if possible. I’m getting the sense so would you but if they try anything like that you’d be up for it.

                  • Motek Benzona on 16/03/2023 - 14:04
                    -1

                    @bobwokeup: Thats it..play the game by the rules and ill be nice and quiet. Not many property have the cranial capacity to do that though….or they would not be property managers.

                    • bobwokeup on 16/03/2023 - 16:19
                      +1

                      @Motek Benzona: Yep exactly…I’m a private landlord and don’t have many issues but only have 2 properties. Have had some horror tenants though. Well not as bad as the ones you hear about but compared to the common person and my usual tenants.

                • tsunamisurfer on 16/03/2023 - 16:32

                  @Motek Benzona:

                  I am not well

                  This much we have already established without you telling us but cheers anyway.

          • burningrage on 16/03/2023 - 14:00

            @tsunamisurfer: @tsunamisurfer Not sure why the LL bash but you are correct. It is your house and if your rate is uncompetitive, the market will decide if your house is going to stay empty.

            If the tenant goes to tribunal, I believe it is the tenant that end up destroying the goodwill as a Landlord, they have the right to feel uncomfortable about who is staying in their house.

            EDIT: Having said that, 38% sounds very high UNLESS it has never been raised before OR it started from very low base (that is, the cheapest in the area for a while). It happened in my scenario where I simply wanted to help the tenant by not raising rates but if the tenant leaves, it will go to the "real" market rate which is easily 20% more than what the current tenant is paying.

          • ssfps on 16/03/2023 - 20:21
            -3

            @tsunamisurfer: If you want to talk about "the market decides", how about you stop buying houses with mortgages printed by banks out of thin air, robbing others of their savings and the value of their wages.
            Wake up, we don't live in an ideal free market, and landlords - despite being under a bigger boot - are getting a bigger piece of the pie than tenants in the rigged game.

      • ThithLord on 16/03/2023 - 10:18
        +8

        Rent increase of 38% sounds pretty unreasonable to me

        • Motek Benzona on 16/03/2023 - 10:23
          +4

          I think my evidence will convince QCAT of that too..

          I actually have an email from them after I filed the dispute, And before they knew about it, where they say the house is not up to standard and the new owners want to renovate and fix it. Simply because I asked For some minor repairs

          If I am not mistaken they have made some really tragic errors as well as my evidence

          • ThithLord on 16/03/2023 - 10:24
            +3

            @Motek Benzona: Some LLs can be real pieces of work

            • Motek Benzona on 16/03/2023 - 10:27

              @ThithLord: Its ok… They might think they are having the last laugh but Who knows what they are going to replace us with..I live in mullet rodeo central

              But If that's the gamble they want to take.
              So be it.. I actually offered them a
              way above the 19% and they flat our refused

              If you have been in a house a long time I don't see how it can be bad to try and reach out to the owner in a polite way

          • jellykingdom on 16/03/2023 - 10:26

            @Motek Benzona: I would think that if other comparable properties in the area are renting for $X (even if that means a 38% increase to you) then you don't have much of a chance. I dunno. I've never looked into it before. I would have thought the local market rental price sets the weekly rent, not the local market's rate of increase in rent

            • Motek Benzona on 16/03/2023 - 10:32
              -3

              @jellykingdom: I agree

              My CMA research over 4 weeks ahows about 50% of the properties in this postcode on realestate.com.au are under what this rent is overall.

              This varies from 62% to 43% over the 4 weeks

              Thats a large percentage on the market TBH i was a bit surprised but happy nevertheless

              It is also Higher than the median price for 4 bed 2 bathrooms in this postcode by $40 pw

              If the legislation is adhered to this has to be considered

      • MakkhiChoos on 16/03/2023 - 20:48

        Goonerash is the reason it is now easier to terminate tenancy after the first fixed term agreement ends. Much harder afterwards

    • Cheaplikethebird on 16/03/2023 - 10:15
      +6

      Yeah REAs are scumbags. FWIW I am in the rare position where I have a good relationship with both the owner and the REA. Owner has dropped in a couple times to do things around the house and I've always let him and stopped work to have a little chat, never exchanged numbers though.

      • Motek Benzona on 16/03/2023 - 10:19
        +1

        Old owners were great..so was the original 2 agents..for like 5 years it was perfect

        I am really sick at the moment and I was not in a position to look for a new house over Christmas and new year. It would have killed me

        I know what this house is worth and hopefully
        QCAT will agree

        • Hirolol on 16/03/2023 - 22:41
          +3

          You should create a dedicated forum post about your experience with taking to qcat.
          Win or lose would be interesting.
          Even an AMA style thing

      • andresampras on 16/03/2023 - 12:55
        +2

        If you have a good relationship with both owner and REA, why not try negotiating with the REA first, instead of going straight to the owner? The owner has already agreed to the proposed rent increase, for whatever set of reasons.

        At the end of the day it's the owner's decision, and whatever you tell the REA will be passed on to the owner anyway.

        Sidestepping the REA as the FIRST response may simply serve to annoy both owner and REA, I don't see the benefit. But then you're the best judge of how you think the owner will react, so…..let us know what happens ;)

        • Cheaplikethebird on 16/03/2023 - 13:09

          Yeah I tend to agree with you. I think I'm just traumatised by the absolute f***wits I've had to deal with in the past as a tenant.

          • ssfps on 16/03/2023 - 20:25

            @Cheaplikethebird: Ive worked for an REA that never once put a bad tenant on the register for trashing a place. Having access to the register was a requirement and cost money, but us and the other REAs in the area would just cycle around bad tenants without registering them. (profanity) scummy toward the landlords, so imagine how the renters were treated.

      • mattmel96 on 17/03/2023 - 08:36
        +2

        Not sure what state you are in, but in NSW, the tenant has to be provided with the owner's contact details on any new tenancy contracts. Even a renewal. Likewise the owner is provided the tenants details, even if the property is managed by an agent.
        My REA is always on me to raise the rent, but our tenants treat the property with respect, so we temper the REA most times.
        As a landlord, I would expect that you go via the agent in the first instance but if you do not get a decent response, I would have no issue with a query directly to me.

    • echelon6 on 16/03/2023 - 20:44

      that's why to always keep in line with market, otherwise tenants get upset at the large % increase.

      • TooSerious2 on 17/03/2023 - 20:22
        +1

        Gouge early, gouge often and gouge in little steps?

        • echelon6 on 19/03/2023 - 06:59

          yes that's right, never neglect to keep in line with market, otherwise when you eventually get around to it and it's a large % increase, they get upset, even though they're ahead.

  • jellykingdom on 16/03/2023 - 10:03

    I call BS on the real estate pressuring the landlord. The REA makes two-fifths of f**k all from property managing individual places honestly (they make 5% or something, I honestly can't quite remember from my place), which is only $50/wk on a $1000 rental. It's hardly surprising that we all get shite service, from either side of the fence. The REA stands to make an extra teeny tiny bit of money, and they already have the property on their books so there's no commission to be had that i can think of…?

    • CurlCurl on 16/03/2023 - 10:18
      +13

      I call BS on your BS. My daughter and son inlaw have two rental properties and are pressured by the agents to increase the rent. Both properties have great long term tenants they want to keep. They have refused the agents request.

      • trustnoone on 16/03/2023 - 15:12
        +2

        Agreed, I've talked to a few agents about this (as I'm looking at buying so they're always talking about how much you can make). The thing is the agent (at least this one) isn't looking at the very specific property instead they're looking overall.
        In this case they said they noticed they can up the rent of about 20% across the board, so they're pushing all the landlords/properties to do so. They also said the way things are going, they expect to be able to do another increase in 6 months time across the board again.

      • Pelicannn on 16/03/2023 - 18:55
        +4

        Not to mention, if the rent goes up and tennant leaves, the REA gets a week of free rent to sign on the new tennant in their letting fees.

        100% in the best interests for REA to be pushing rents up.

        • CowFrogHorse on 16/03/2023 - 21:08

          What did you expect from the parasite economy. Nobody actually does anything they just take a few percentage points to pretend they do something.

    • Cheaplikethebird on 16/03/2023 - 10:21
      +7

      Some agencies have insanely large rental rolls where two-fifths of f**k all actually adds up to quite a bit.

      • jellykingdom on 16/03/2023 - 10:26

        You need a lot of rentals for +$5/wk to make a difference…

        • Cheaplikethebird on 16/03/2023 - 10:33
          +2

          Not really… as per this site the sweet spot roll size per PM is 90 so that's $450/week per PM.

        • Donaldhump on 16/03/2023 - 11:21
          +1

          my cousin has 250+ places under her elders franchise as rentals, she makes quite a bit, but has a few staff too.

          where they make a lot more of their money is from kickbacks from maintenance companies.

          • tryagain on 17/03/2023 - 19:48

            @Donaldhump: It's got to be bordering on illegal the way the kickbacks work. As a service provider, you "advertise" in their documentation for an exorbitant rate, they then use you in their rentals.

            • Donaldhump on 18/03/2023 - 20:15

              @tryagain: Not illegal at all.

              A landlord doesn't have a gun to their head being told they must use the management agents services.

              A landlord can go find their own electrician , plumber etc and wait potentially many days/weeks all whilst a tenant is complaining

              You think if your electrician recommends a plumber for some big job that plumber doesn't buy him a carton

              Anyway not my setup so don't care

              • tryagain on 18/03/2023 - 22:26

                @Donaldhump: It's not, but they should at least have to disclose that we spend the landlords money for maintenance based on who pays them for advertising.

                • Donaldhump on 19/03/2023 - 12:41

                  @tryagain: Mate I dunno the laws but I don't see why
                  Someone agrees to a quoted price and says go ahead why do U csre where the money ends up.

                  You are agreeing to pay a quoted price why does the plumber need to disclose where that money goes, and the agent that they received some.

                  If you agent says I have a plumber I know of. You agree to get Plumber to go look.

                  Work is 800$, He/she then inflates prices 20% to 960 so can pay off "finder" fee of 20%.

                  You agree to over inflated price coz your too lazy or can't be assed and like the convenience of it being organised for you, and thus don't get you own plumber who would quote $800 in the first place.

                  This shit would happen day in day out.

                  The stump grinder man I just hired orob paid the excavator bloke who recommended him $50. Why do I give a shit the dude did the job.

  • Aussiebargainer on 16/03/2023 - 10:19
    +5

    As a landlord it's not about the agents making extra commissions on the rent. Agents charge between 5 - 8% of the rental income so if they raise the rent by $50 per week, they would only receive an extra $3 per week (hardly worth the effort). The more likely approach is that they hope you move out so they can charge the landlord 1 or 2 week's rent as commission which is paid upfront to the agency.

    My personal view is that I wouldn't recommend contacting the landlord directly, they use an agent to manage all financials. If they were happy to be contacted, they would choose not to use an agent.

    Just negotiate thorough the agent. The landlord doesn't want you to move out as the property will be vacant and they would have to pay 1 weeks rent commission to the agent. Call their bluff and say you are thinking of moving out.

    • FoxJump on 16/03/2023 - 10:31
      +1

      afaik they charge a lease-renewal fee if you agree for another year.
      If you just stay periodic, they can cry about it and not get the fee.

      i did this once, i refused to sign another year (as i was going to move out in a few months), and they said that it had to be under contract or their LL couldnt get insurance. I said BS, it's not my problem the landlord is with an insurance company that wont allow legal periodic leases and left it as that.

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