I've had a Defence Housing property for just over 12 years now.
It was handed back last week.
There had been a possibility that DHA would extend the lease, but they pulled the plug on that a few months ago.
For some months (perhaps a year or more, I don't know) the property was let out to private tenants- and DHA subsidised the rent to bring it up to the agreed rent.
I must say, after not having seen inside the property for 12 years, I was very surprised. Even stunned.
It was immaculate.
OK, there was fair wear and tear to paintwork around a few corners. There was some cracking- to be expected with all our dry conditions.
There was no way the carpet which was in the property was the original carpet. It was excellent.
I remember tiles in the family room which were cracked. They were all perfect last week.
The outside paintwork had deteriorated heaps. As expected. But DHA guarantee to replace carpet and interior paint after 9 years, plus exterior paint after 12 years.
They got quotes for the painting and carpeting, and paid me out according to their best quotes.
The carpeting did not need doing. And I have a mate who is a professional painter, who provided me with a much better quote than the others. Probably because most of the paintwork was already so good- he did not need to provide undercoats for most walls.
It's probably meant that payments will be treated differently for tax. If they had rejuvenated the property for me, I don't think that would have been regarded as income for me. The painting would have been regarded as a repair- but if I had to replace the carpets I'm not sure if that would have been a repair or an improvement.
For me, this new financial year, it won't be a problem. But it could have been under different circumstances.
And I am very happy that the high standard of Property Management for this property (and possibly the high standard of tenants- some very high ranking personnel) has enabled the property to be kept in such great condition.
Thank you DHA.
It was handed back last week.
There had been a possibility that DHA would extend the lease, but they pulled the plug on that a few months ago.
For some months (perhaps a year or more, I don't know) the property was let out to private tenants- and DHA subsidised the rent to bring it up to the agreed rent.
I must say, after not having seen inside the property for 12 years, I was very surprised. Even stunned.
It was immaculate.
OK, there was fair wear and tear to paintwork around a few corners. There was some cracking- to be expected with all our dry conditions.
There was no way the carpet which was in the property was the original carpet. It was excellent.
I remember tiles in the family room which were cracked. They were all perfect last week.
The outside paintwork had deteriorated heaps. As expected. But DHA guarantee to replace carpet and interior paint after 9 years, plus exterior paint after 12 years.
They got quotes for the painting and carpeting, and paid me out according to their best quotes.
The carpeting did not need doing. And I have a mate who is a professional painter, who provided me with a much better quote than the others. Probably because most of the paintwork was already so good- he did not need to provide undercoats for most walls.
It's probably meant that payments will be treated differently for tax. If they had rejuvenated the property for me, I don't think that would have been regarded as income for me. The painting would have been regarded as a repair- but if I had to replace the carpets I'm not sure if that would have been a repair or an improvement.
For me, this new financial year, it won't be a problem. But it could have been under different circumstances.
And I am very happy that the high standard of Property Management for this property (and possibly the high standard of tenants- some very high ranking personnel) has enabled the property to be kept in such great condition.
Thank you DHA.
