I've seen some very strange behaviours from tenants (and some landlords) over the years but this one is too funny not to share.
A couple of years ago we were managing a tenant in the Southern areas of Adelaide. This lady reported a few different maintenance issues and we proceeded with the usual protocol of calling our maintenance people out to rectify all the reported issues.
To our surprise, she refused access to them. One of the days she said she was sick, another time she forgot the appointment and the time was not convenient for her...
After a few attempts I contacted the landlord and told him that I suspect that she is going to try to pull off a reduction in rent scheme - compensation for maintenance not being done.
she kept complaining that maintenance is not done and kept refusing access.
To reduce the risk of awarding tenant compensation, we sent a legal letter to FORCE access using our office keys. That meant that we were going to enter the premises on a specified day whether she likes it or not. Maintenance will be done that day and refusing access is a breach of lease - end of story!
She had no choice at that stage and our trades people had access for a day to rectify all maintenance issues - oven not working, leaking taps etc... all the things that SHE reported. She was very angry but was unable to do anything about it as then it would have been a breach of lease.
One of the trades people needed to use the toilet while he was there so he did. This was the only thing she had control of as we took control of everything else.
The next day, we got a 10 page email in our office complaining that our trades person used TOO MUCH of her toilet paper and how disappointed she was.
After quickly scanning through the email, I replied back with "I apologies on behalf of our trades person but the consequences of not using enough could have been worse "
When she was finally evicted, and she was, I was going to take a 6 pack of toilet paper to the tribunal hearing and give it to her but I was told by my staff that it was being too antagonistic.
This story was published in one of the property magazines, I can't remember which one but the journalist who interviewed me was laughing so hard she could not breath. LOL
A couple of years ago we were managing a tenant in the Southern areas of Adelaide. This lady reported a few different maintenance issues and we proceeded with the usual protocol of calling our maintenance people out to rectify all the reported issues.
To our surprise, she refused access to them. One of the days she said she was sick, another time she forgot the appointment and the time was not convenient for her...
After a few attempts I contacted the landlord and told him that I suspect that she is going to try to pull off a reduction in rent scheme - compensation for maintenance not being done.
she kept complaining that maintenance is not done and kept refusing access.
To reduce the risk of awarding tenant compensation, we sent a legal letter to FORCE access using our office keys. That meant that we were going to enter the premises on a specified day whether she likes it or not. Maintenance will be done that day and refusing access is a breach of lease - end of story!
She had no choice at that stage and our trades people had access for a day to rectify all maintenance issues - oven not working, leaking taps etc... all the things that SHE reported. She was very angry but was unable to do anything about it as then it would have been a breach of lease.
One of the trades people needed to use the toilet while he was there so he did. This was the only thing she had control of as we took control of everything else.
The next day, we got a 10 page email in our office complaining that our trades person used TOO MUCH of her toilet paper and how disappointed she was.
After quickly scanning through the email, I replied back with "I apologies on behalf of our trades person but the consequences of not using enough could have been worse "
When she was finally evicted, and she was, I was going to take a 6 pack of toilet paper to the tribunal hearing and give it to her but I was told by my staff that it was being too antagonistic.
This story was published in one of the property magazines, I can't remember which one but the journalist who interviewed me was laughing so hard she could not breath. LOL