Aussie landlord accused of 'low act' before tenant moved in
The tenant was left questioning her options despite standards not being met.
A new tenant grateful to secure a property during the ongoing rental crisis has questioned whether she should complain due to the "appalling" condition of the rental property when it was handed over to her.
"There's just a few things that need attention," the Victorian resident wrote online, before listing a string of issues. "Like the blinds are a little broken, [as well as the] curtain rods, wonky cupboard doors, cracked tiles."
She continued by explaining she was "totally happy" to pay for the maintenance of the lawn in her backyard ,but didn't expect it to be so overgrown on her arrival, questioning whether she should contact her landlord to express her disappointment.
Internet agrees on a resounding 'no'
Users online were unanimous in their views on the situation.
"With the way renting is at the moment, I'd just mow it myself," one wrote, with another agreeing. "I'd rather not draw attention to myself where the landlord is concerned. I go into it hoping that if I leave them alone, they'll leave me alone."
The response highlights what tenants are deciding to tolerate during the rental crisis — compromising on what they are entitled to rather than risk getting offside with the real estate agent.
Even in instances where a tenant has communicated their concerns about the condition of a newly leased rental, which is within a tenant's rights, some are being met with indifference, like one NSW resident last week being told by his real estate agent to "meet me in tribunal" in response to his query.
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The Tenants' Union of NSW CEO Leo Patterson said a certain standard is expected under law when new tenants move into a rental.
"The property needs to be in a reasonable state of cleanliness and fit for habitation by the tenant," he told Yahoo News Australia last week, while acknowledging the current climate makes for an "imbalanced" rental system right now.
With many areas across the country having low rates of vacant rental properties and the demand far outweighing the supply, this situation is sadly another example in a long list of instances where tenants copping the brunt of the issue.
"In between tenancies it's up to the landlord to maintain lawns. Pretty low act of landlord if this was the case," another woman shared online.
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