Perhaps you can advertise it also, or work with the PM on other alternatives. Whilst it is empty, you continue to be liable. Spending time arguing about it may mean that you are just up for more.
I hope it turns out well for you.
Cheers,
Please re-read my post in re what I submitted to the Small Claims Tribunal. I'm not going on about the duress and all that... I'm trying to say I'm not liable for any extra costs past May because I feel that the PM didn't do their job to mitigate loss as well as that the time the property was not re-let within was excessive.
BTW, I did advertise it! I actually "officially" broke lease two weeks after originally signing the lease contract even tho' I gave the PM the keys back to the property and informed them I wanted to break lease two days after I signed it. I did everything possible on my end to "mitigate loss" (get the place re-let).
I took it all very seriously. I even paid the $1096.92 that I owed (got a letter saying I owed in May - paid in June as I agreed with them).
Just a quick question, did you ask the agent to let you know when they had found a tenant for the break lease? Did you sign the lease at $230 a week or $250 per week? I, like Barracuda, am intresested to know what situation led to an eviction notice on the place you are currently in?
At all times I wanted to be kept informed .. I had sent emails, phoned them. It was them that was lack lustre in informing me. I also signed the lease for $250 per week for six months then an increase in rent after that period (I've forgotten the amount most likely $260 or something) as it was a 12 mth lease.
The eviction notice was served because the unit next door was being vindictive towards my landlord ultimately. My landlord was okay with me 110%. The owners of unit 1 & 2 (which was one unit) were okay with us. (BTW, there were only four units in the whole complex - I was in Unit 4 and the only permanent resident as all the other units were holiday homes until v. recently when the owner of unit 3 recently rented out his unit.) Just this unit owner that had a problem. We all realise now why he did what he did.. politics. It really had nothing to do with me honestly. I was just being used. After my landlord found out about the eviction notice, it was over-turned straight away as he agreed it was ridiculous.
GCG, it's hard for anybody here to give advice, as we're mostly all just on the other side of the fence. You are probably better to go to an authority who can give you fair and impartial advice from both sides of the fence. In Queensland, the body is the Residential Tenancies Authority. Contact them ASAP.
Please update yourself by reading this thread through. I've approached the Tenancy Advice Service, they helped me lodge docs with the Small Claims Tribunal. I am now just awaiting a hearing date.
Unfortunately, GoAnna, what has happened and is happening in regards to the Monaco St property has nothing to do with the original PM of my Watson Esp. property. Regardless, I honestly would not have chosen the Monaco St rental property if I wasn't desparate at the time to find a place.
This may be a real mess yet I am glad I never moved into that unit. It was ****.. the laundry was in the bathroom (the washing machine at least), it was small, cramped, had a carport... where I am now (Arundel) is so so so so much better.
In the end, if the Small Claims Tribunal rules in the PMs favour and I have to owe the money. I will. I won't argue that yet at least I am trying to get something done (instead of lying down and taking it like a good doormat) about this excessive amount of time that the property has been un-tenanted.
If I ever become a landlord, I wouldn't stand for my property to be un-tenanted for longer than two weeks let along two months and never for 20 weeks!!!!!