I have received in the mail a letter from Centrelink regarding the tenants that recently abandoned one of my properties without paying rent and water excess. There is a questionnaire enclosed for my property manager to complete. They start the letter of with:
I will forward the questionaire to my property manager, but also plan to send them the following letter:
Does the above sound fair? Is there anything I should add or remove?
As I mentioned in the letter, I doubt anything will come of it, but for the 5 mins it took me to write - I figured it was worth a shot.
We need your help to enable us to make correct decisions about Centrelink payments and services to *****.
I will forward the questionaire to my property manager, but also plan to send them the following letter:
Dear ******,
RE: ** ****** ST. ELIZABETH NORTH
Further to the questionnaire you have asked my property management to complete regarding the above mentioned premises, I wish to give you a brief run down on the tenancy of **** **** **** at the premises.
Both rent and excess water usage were continually paid late. I received on average one Form 12 notice per month from my property managers. The tenants were brought before the Residential Tenancies Tribunal no fewer than four times during this 13 month period for failure to pay.
I had put up with it as I did feel somewhat sorry for them being on Centrelink and also gave them the benefit of the doubt since I have good experience with my other Centrelink tenants. For this reason I also refrained from increasing the rent which I was entitled to do under the periodic lease. During their tenure the market rate rose from the $170pw they were paying to $210pw upon their vacating.
After their 4th tribunal appearance and subsequent payment plan order, I decided I had been more than fair and ordered my property management to issue a 90 day eviction notice. The tenants made the first two payments ordered by the RTT but upon failure to make the third required payment, the RTT ordered immediate eviction.
Upon entering the premises with the baliff, my property manager found the premises abandoned and in poor condition. Apart from the interior floors, walls and amenities being filthy, garbage was strewn over the front yard, littered through the backyard and the entire garage was full with it. Some items included in the garbage that was removed from the premises included multiple mattresses, baby’s pram, numerous children’s toys, pillows, chairs and so on. A large skip bin was required to remove all rubbish from the site. Please contact me if you would care to see photos of the above mentioned conditions.
I believe that the garage to the rear of the property was being used as a living area/bedroom as the walls had sheets of giprock attached to them and there was carpet and multiple mattresses inside.
At the premises they also abandoned two kittens believed to be no older than 6 months and 1yo which appeared to not have been fed in more than a week.
Also found at the premises by professional cleaners were hooks in the ceiling which we were informed were to hang marijuana to dry. Whether or not the tenants used these we not cannot say, but in any case the hooks have now been removed.
What disturbs me the most is now this tenant is free to move to the next premises to continue the exact same behaviour without any consequences what so ever. Even the bond amount seized by the insurance company to cover costs and lost rent has been paid by Centrelink.
I own multiple properties, including others of which the tenants are or have been Centrelink recipients and can honestly say I have never experienced tenants as poor as this and find it quite disturbing. If the tenant does suffer any repercussions for her actions, I would sincerely like to be made aware of this, as if they are not as I suspect, I fail to see why I should take on the risk of letting any of my properties to Centrelink recipients in the future if this is the added risk I face.
Also, if you are able to provide the RSPCA with the tenants new address, they would like to contact them..
Thankyou for your time.
Regards,
Steve
Does the above sound fair? Is there anything I should add or remove?
As I mentioned in the letter, I doubt anything will come of it, but for the 5 mins it took me to write - I figured it was worth a shot.