Hi Guys,
For the first time, I've got (slightly) bad tenants. They've broken their lease, the property has been vacant for five weeks, during this time, they have continued to pay the rent like they are supposed to.
Now, they want to be released from the lease and they want their bond back because (a) they are now claiming that the carpet has dust in it and smelt like dog (previous tenants did have dogs inside, but it was steam cleaned at the end of their lease) which affected one of their allergies causing asthma and (b) because I have knocked back a couple of people who have applied for the property since (they have been crap/unsuitable prospects).
They are also threatening to get their lawyer involved.
After about a month, the property hadn't been rented, so I went over for a look and discovered they had not been maintaining the garden (trees overgrown, lawn needed mowing, leaves and crap all over the verandah). I've spent the last few weekends cleaning all this up, even though (as I understand it) it is their job. Stupidly, I didn't take any before/after photo's, but my PM did see the property how it was (messy).
Questions:
Is there any way I could end up having to pay their legal fees? (for their lawyer). I'd imagine not, since this will be heading to the tenancy tribual, not court.
The carpet was steam cleaned when the last tenant left. They accepted the property the way it was when they signed up. Surely it is up to them to clean the carpet if after some time (months) they believe it to contain dust and "dog smell". They did email my PM about this, but I don't think they actually requested I clean it - and even if they did, I'm not obliged to, am I?
Can I bill them for my time spent cleaning up the outside of the house? I kept a diary of when and how long it took me to do.
Any thoughts on the above would be much appreciated, as well as any further suggestions.
Cheers,
Brad
For the first time, I've got (slightly) bad tenants. They've broken their lease, the property has been vacant for five weeks, during this time, they have continued to pay the rent like they are supposed to.
Now, they want to be released from the lease and they want their bond back because (a) they are now claiming that the carpet has dust in it and smelt like dog (previous tenants did have dogs inside, but it was steam cleaned at the end of their lease) which affected one of their allergies causing asthma and (b) because I have knocked back a couple of people who have applied for the property since (they have been crap/unsuitable prospects).
They are also threatening to get their lawyer involved.
After about a month, the property hadn't been rented, so I went over for a look and discovered they had not been maintaining the garden (trees overgrown, lawn needed mowing, leaves and crap all over the verandah). I've spent the last few weekends cleaning all this up, even though (as I understand it) it is their job. Stupidly, I didn't take any before/after photo's, but my PM did see the property how it was (messy).
Questions:
Is there any way I could end up having to pay their legal fees? (for their lawyer). I'd imagine not, since this will be heading to the tenancy tribual, not court.
The carpet was steam cleaned when the last tenant left. They accepted the property the way it was when they signed up. Surely it is up to them to clean the carpet if after some time (months) they believe it to contain dust and "dog smell". They did email my PM about this, but I don't think they actually requested I clean it - and even if they did, I'm not obliged to, am I?
Can I bill them for my time spent cleaning up the outside of the house? I kept a diary of when and how long it took me to do.
Any thoughts on the above would be much appreciated, as well as any further suggestions.
Cheers,
Brad