VCAT Question

[littlelee]

My brother has an investment property where the tenant has damaged a skirting board and some of the architrave in the property along with what looks like a burn mark on one of the doors. If he has to go to VCAT is it ok to go with quotes or do you have to have had the work done and take the invoices as he only has 10 days to lodge the claim it would be hard to get the work done first.

Also if you want to make a claim above the bond amount for rent and compensation because a tenant has moved out and the place needed cleaning and there was still rent owing and some damage but you don't know where the tenant has gone - is it worth bothering or should you just try and claim the bond.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Lil Skater]

Invoices are best, so you can prove you're out if pocket - as you can get a quote and not undertake the work.

Does your brother have LL insurance which covers lost rent? If the rent exceeds the bond (or even if the rent and work does), why not make a claim through the insurance and have the excess paid out of the bond, just make sure you get all invoices. It's 10 days until you lodge, not 10 days until the hearing, so potentially it could be another 2 weeks to go to VCAT.

That way your brother shouldn't be out of pocket at all, depending on the cost of repairs. Although, what you have stated doesn't seem like a great deal of damage, also remember that you will only be awarded the cost of the REPAIR to the items, this is because the tenant only has to pay what they damaged rather than improvements - ie. If you replaced the whole architrave rather than just the damaged part.

Also take lots of photos, print them off in COLOUR and give this to the member along with all the invoices and what rent they owe, condition report and final inspection and any other proof for damages.

This is all assuming your brother is self managing, if not the PM should know all of this already.