Real estate agent reveals 'sad' rental inspection habit: '30 per cent do this'
Agent Rosalie Gordon said 99% renters do the right thing, but one sad reality is holding some back.
A prominent Australian real estate agent has lifted the lid on what it's really like going into the homes of renters to conduct rental inspections — highlighting exactly what red flags property managers are keeping an eye out for as well tenant habits that are 'no big deal'.
After 32 years in the industry, senior principal of Planet Properties, Rosalie Gordon admitted 99 per cent of the time the tenants she's worked with do a great job of keeping their homes in order.
“We have always dealt with far more great tenants than problem ones,” she told Yahoo News, but adds "You quickly learn we all live very differently."
In most Australian states, up to four inspections a year can be conducted of rental properties and can only be done after a date and time have been agreed upon in writing with the renter. But there have been inspections when Rosalie admits, she’s found more than she bargained for.
“There have been many times when I’ve opened the doors and wondered, ‘did they forget I was coming?’ she said. “Sometimes I’ve even called the tenants to double check, only to be met with the response, ‘Sure, go straight in!”
Real estate agent reveals 'sad' rental inspection habits
On one memorable rental inspection, Rosalie recalls having no choice but to climb through a window to access the property — because there was so much stuff stacked against the front door. Rosalie said that in her experience, "30 per cent" of tenants are hoarding "to some degree".
"When I knocked on the front door, [the tenant] popped his head through a window and told me I had to enter there as the door could not be opened because his stuff was stacked against it," she said.
"After I climbed in the window, there was stuff piled high everywhere and I could barely squeeze through the hallway. I had to turn around and climb back out as an inspection was impossible."
She said on this occasion, the tenant had to be given notice. "It was sad as he was a great guy, but the house was inaccessible and that raised so many issues."
Rosalie said on another occasion, she had arrived at a house with a tradie to replace a window when they found the bed covered in an extensive array of adult toys and stained sheets.
"There were items everywhere, of all shapes and sizes, and the young carpenter was a bit shocked!" she recalls. "Everyone is entitled to their intimate lives, but sex toys are a personal thing, and it would have been easy for the couple to pop them into the bedside table drawer."
After pulling the duvet cover over the items, Rosalie let the chippie fix the window before they made a fast exit.
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Tenant habits that are 'no big deal'
Despite a few surprising scenarios, she revealed several tenant habits that are seen as "no big deal" in the world of real estate agents — including dirty dishes, messy beds and rubbish piled high.
"The job of the estate agent is to make sure the property is in shape and to check if any repairs need doing.
"No one cares if it’s a little messy, you just need to make sure it’s all in order," she said, much to the relief of many Aussies who rent.
Tenant and property manager relationship a 'two-way street'
Leo Patterson-Ross, CEO of the NSW Tenants Union, believes it's a two-way street and both tenants and estate agents need to remember the basic rules that govern rental home inspections.
“Agents need to remember they are coming into another person’s home and to be respectful of that,” he says. “It is about being clear the purpose of the visit is to check on the condition of the home, not to judge the way the tenant lives.”
But he adds tenants need to ensure they are keeping their end of the lease deal, by keeping the house clean, in order and reporting maintenance issues, as well as allowing access at the arranged time.
“It’s about keeping an open dialogue with the agent and just being upfront and respectful in your dealings,” he says. “The advice I give to both tenants and agents is to keep a record of what happened and what was agreed upon at the time of the inspection so that everyone knows what is going on into the future.”
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