I've had a bad time recently with my tenants. Just wanted to let you know that it isn't all roses with property investing. Some people do try to take advantage.
Anyway, the story is that I had tenants who appeared to be caring for our 4 bed rental reasonably okay. They paid their rent , even though it was frequently late. The last inspection was reasonable but I suspect some damage was disguised.
Then the tenants stopped paying rent early in December and when they rang to request an extension of time to pay, I gave it. I should have breached them for non payment of rent right then as a precaution but I didn't.
Upshot was they did not pay rent, went off to Bali for a holiday, got another dog (thats 3 now) and then abandoned the house last week without giving notice. They refused to return our phone calls and we haven't been able to discuss the situation with them.
My husband and sons have spent three days cleaning and repairing. We had to take 2 trailer loads of abandoned goods to the tip and we are storing a shedful of their rubbish at our expense. Every item had to be photographed!! I had to apply for an "Indemnity Certificate" to allow me to remove this trash and protect me from being sued by them for dumping their abandoned gear. None of this stuff is worth anything, but I still have to "look after it".
We had to replace the bedroom door because it was kicked in , we repaired two other doors, replaced three light fittings and I'm scouring Perth trying to find a replacement panel for the glass sliding wardrobe doors. Sundry blinds are ruined. There are cigarette burn marks on the carpet. The bench tops in the kitchen are ruined. I can't get the tyre burn out marks off the brick paved driveway. This lovely home was only 6 months old when they took over the tenancy.
I have telephoned his father and her mother (details were on the original tenancy application) and left messages for the tenants to contact us but there has been no responses at all.
Now I have to apply to the Magistrates Court for the $1600 bond and then return to court a second time for an order to recover costs for the damages and unpaid rent. Once I get that I will put it in the hands of a collection agency (preferably one owned by bikies!!) and I hope to make them pay up.
Facebook has been helpful
This couple have individal facebook pages and they have talked about looking for a new place. They have commented about being "unlikely to get bond back"Now I can see they have a new rental, with a pool (according to a facebook status update). Thing is, until I get a court order, I can't add their names to the "black list" so the new landlord must have been told lies about where they have been living for the past year. Poor landlord is unaware.
So, to make myself feel better I have redirected all the letters in the mailbox back to the senders with a little blurb about the tenant "defaulting on lease agreement and abandoning the premises".
Anyone got any other suggestions about what I can do??
Anyway, the story is that I had tenants who appeared to be caring for our 4 bed rental reasonably okay. They paid their rent , even though it was frequently late. The last inspection was reasonable but I suspect some damage was disguised.
Then the tenants stopped paying rent early in December and when they rang to request an extension of time to pay, I gave it. I should have breached them for non payment of rent right then as a precaution but I didn't.
Upshot was they did not pay rent, went off to Bali for a holiday, got another dog (thats 3 now) and then abandoned the house last week without giving notice. They refused to return our phone calls and we haven't been able to discuss the situation with them.
My husband and sons have spent three days cleaning and repairing. We had to take 2 trailer loads of abandoned goods to the tip and we are storing a shedful of their rubbish at our expense. Every item had to be photographed!! I had to apply for an "Indemnity Certificate" to allow me to remove this trash and protect me from being sued by them for dumping their abandoned gear. None of this stuff is worth anything, but I still have to "look after it".
We had to replace the bedroom door because it was kicked in , we repaired two other doors, replaced three light fittings and I'm scouring Perth trying to find a replacement panel for the glass sliding wardrobe doors. Sundry blinds are ruined. There are cigarette burn marks on the carpet. The bench tops in the kitchen are ruined. I can't get the tyre burn out marks off the brick paved driveway. This lovely home was only 6 months old when they took over the tenancy.
I have telephoned his father and her mother (details were on the original tenancy application) and left messages for the tenants to contact us but there has been no responses at all.
Now I have to apply to the Magistrates Court for the $1600 bond and then return to court a second time for an order to recover costs for the damages and unpaid rent. Once I get that I will put it in the hands of a collection agency (preferably one owned by bikies!!) and I hope to make them pay up.
Facebook has been helpful
This couple have individal facebook pages and they have talked about looking for a new place. They have commented about being "unlikely to get bond back"Now I can see they have a new rental, with a pool (according to a facebook status update). Thing is, until I get a court order, I can't add their names to the "black list" so the new landlord must have been told lies about where they have been living for the past year. Poor landlord is unaware.
So, to make myself feel better I have redirected all the letters in the mailbox back to the senders with a little blurb about the tenant "defaulting on lease agreement and abandoning the premises".
Anyone got any other suggestions about what I can do??
