Hi,
On the 04/07/2008 my partner and I signed a lease on a rental property in Adelaide.
The property was detailed to us by the leasing agent as "its been totally renovated, everything is new." When we inspected the property we could see that the place has a totally new interior all cupboards were new; freshly painted throughout; new tiles in kitchen, bathroom and hallway; new bathroom; new carpets throughout.
Although I noticed that the windows and air-conditioning unit were not new, they seemed to be in working order; except for all window winder handles were missing. I motioned for the agent to have these fixed which he replied "they would be."
However, after the lease was signed the leasing agent refused to accept responsibility for other items that we discovered were in disrepair the day we moving in. We brought all these items to his attention. Unfortunately since that time (3 weeks have passed in our lease) both the leasing agent, the rental property manager and the Real Estate Agent Principle have been both rude, abusive and void of any professional or ethical conduct befitting their positions.
We have since submitted and given the rental agent and the real estate office 14 days formal written notice of repairs to be completed or the matter will be taken before the Adelaide Tenancy Tribunal for their judgement. The following is a list of repairs needing to be complete on this so called "totally renovated, everything is new" unit.
REQUIRED ITEM REPAIRS:
- Window winder handles missing – all windows (6x).
- Bathroom exhaust fan – no switch non operational; on closer inspection exhaust fan cover (new) but no fan or motor.
- Main bedroom door front side (bottom half – kick hole?) un-even filler, paint continuity un-even; non professional finish.
- Main bedroom door rear side (bottom half -continuation of above kick hole?) door heavily cracked, un-even filler, paint continuity un-even; non professional finish.
- 2'nd bedroom door front side (top half - punch hole?) un-even filler, paint continuity un-even; non professional finish.
- Hallway door rear side (top & bottom – punch & kick holes?) un-even filler, paint continuity un-even; non professional finish.
- Front door front side (bottom lower panel – kick hole?) un-even filler, paint continuity un-even; non professional finish.
- Linen cupboard left hand front door (bottom) 3cm x 1.5cm (approx) dent, un-even filler, paint continuity un-even; non professional finish.
REQUIRED ITEM REPAIRS –
PLUMBING:
- Laundry taps - no trough or washing machine drain hose outlet.
- Bath – no taps; hot or cold.
For completeness the Rental Agent used an approved REi (Real Estate
Institute of Australia) inspection report sheet. This is to be used for
the exclusive use of REiSA members.
When we challenged the contents of this report which had been
fudged, we were told it's not their (the real estates problem). If you
have a problem take the REiSA to the South Australian Residential
Tribunal and sort it out with them.
In addition to these repair issues. We received a phone call from the Rental Property Manager at 9:32pm Sunday night the 20/07/2008. She seemed to be intoxicated and throughout the 27imn phone call she used foul language. She was also argumentative and seemed intent on playing semantics.
I was advised to report this incident to the Principle of this Adelaide Real Estate Agent, which I did on the afternoon of the 22/07/2008. I repeated the exact words used by his rental property manager. I was then told "I am totally offended that you would use such words when speaking with me." I took it that this person did not approve of swearing and that maybe he would take action!
I was then told by him and was also given his word that he'd address these issue and investigate these matters.
Without going into the semantics that followed. Everything came to a head on the 23/07/2008 when the Principle Real Estate Agent in a monitored phone call from me to his mobile phone stated the following:
"Don't F... with me you F...... little C..." then he hung up on me.
After contacting the franchise Admin Dept to which this Real Estate Agent is a franchisee, I spoke with the state manager. Throughout the course of the this phone call I made it known that I was contacting my solicitor after the call.
I did contact my solicitor and received advice.
That afternoon the Real Estate Principle actually emailed me with the following:
"I have no problem
owning up to what I said to you. I will freely admit to it. You must be naive if
you did not think I knew Xxxxx was listening. And for your benefit, I have not
listened to her message. And I am not interested in listening to your garbage.
In nearly 10 years of running my own company, you are the first person to ever
get me this wild. Your attitude is disgusting. I will not apologies to you as
you do not deserve it. "
When is standing up for my rights; which are directly supported by the South Australian Tenancy Law Act, having a bad attitude?
Both my partner and I have maintained the high road with regard to etiquette and addressing these issues. Like most good people, we will only tolerate being pushed & bent so
far.
Hence as soon as we submitted the 14 days written notice of repairs, the Rental Property Division of this Adelaide Real Estate Agent began their stone walling, semantics and continuous Spin Dr quasi justifications. With this the contempt for both my partner and I followed.
I've met some dodgy people in my life and some very rude people too, but, no one holds a candle to the treatment we've received by the leasing agent, the rental property manager and at the hands of this Adelaide Real Estate Agent Principle. Using his words "disgusting".