To keep it brief:
Agent not performing for the last ~12months (been using them for 4 years, never had a rent increase, but it was good anyway).
In this time they have only been 'reactive' - I've had to contact them to find out why tenants have not resigned lease agreements, why they haven't paid rent, why inspection reports mention rubbish lying around, when they will pay next and to tell them to evict the tenants.
After they moved out (agent cannot confirm the actual date) there is no exit report, but 50 odd photos showing dog damage, junk left behind etc, etc - that was late November last year and property is still vacant.
Since they moved out, I've spent $15k on repairs and some tree removal plus nearly $5K in rent. The property has been ready for rent since Aust day weekend and they've only presented 2 tenants.
I sent an email asking to take over the property myself and they agreed straight away, then realised there were some unpaid invoices and emailed back saying 90 days notice.
I replied and said I would pay the outstanding into their trust account that day if they could terminate the agreement within 24 hours. No repsonse for 24 hours so I rang the owner of the business (That's Property).
When I suggested they were under-performing, she got angry and hung up on me, I rang back several times stating who I was and each time the phone just slammed down. This is poor customer service imho and totally unacceptable.
After some emails she seemed to calm down and said if I paid the bond money to them she would release me from the agreement. Which I will do tomorrow as long as she signs the bond monies back to me on the RTA form 5.
However, I went to the property yesterday to show new agents through and That's Property had taken their key box and my keys away, whilst we still have an agreement (although a rocky one).
My question is: Is this legal?
I have several other rentals and never come across this before, thank god!
I'll be glad to see the back of this agent and certainly would not recommend them to anyone.
Agent not performing for the last ~12months (been using them for 4 years, never had a rent increase, but it was good anyway).
In this time they have only been 'reactive' - I've had to contact them to find out why tenants have not resigned lease agreements, why they haven't paid rent, why inspection reports mention rubbish lying around, when they will pay next and to tell them to evict the tenants.
After they moved out (agent cannot confirm the actual date) there is no exit report, but 50 odd photos showing dog damage, junk left behind etc, etc - that was late November last year and property is still vacant.
Since they moved out, I've spent $15k on repairs and some tree removal plus nearly $5K in rent. The property has been ready for rent since Aust day weekend and they've only presented 2 tenants.
I sent an email asking to take over the property myself and they agreed straight away, then realised there were some unpaid invoices and emailed back saying 90 days notice.
I replied and said I would pay the outstanding into their trust account that day if they could terminate the agreement within 24 hours. No repsonse for 24 hours so I rang the owner of the business (That's Property).
When I suggested they were under-performing, she got angry and hung up on me, I rang back several times stating who I was and each time the phone just slammed down. This is poor customer service imho and totally unacceptable.
After some emails she seemed to calm down and said if I paid the bond money to them she would release me from the agreement. Which I will do tomorrow as long as she signs the bond monies back to me on the RTA form 5.
However, I went to the property yesterday to show new agents through and That's Property had taken their key box and my keys away, whilst we still have an agreement (although a rocky one).
My question is: Is this legal?
I have several other rentals and never come across this before, thank god!
I'll be glad to see the back of this agent and certainly would not recommend them to anyone.
