‘Jimmy, I like ur column SMH, but do u have 2 continually bag out landlords, most of us r fair otherwise we wouldn’t have tenants.’ So Tweeted @schtang a few weeks ago.
I didn’t realise I was bagging out landlords, but he has a point. And, based on zero scientific evidence, I want to say the vast majority of landlords and tenants are decent people who just want to do the right thing.
But not all tenants and landlords are like that and, anyway, somewhere in the middle are Rental Agents. Having been both tenant and landlord, I know agents range from heroic to horrific, with the worst causing problems for landlords and tenants alike.
Some consistently put the wrong tenants in the wrong buildings for a quick buck, then blame ‘StrataFascists’ when the renters are driven out for breaching by-laws.
Others can’t be bothered to pass on legitimate complaints from tenants then tell them it’s the landlords who are dragging their feet.
Ask any building manager or EC secretary and they’ll tell you bad agents are among the biggest blights on their lives. Maybe there should be a blacklist for bad agents, like there is for tenants.
Have your say on the Flat Chat Forum.
