Agent silent on rent arrears

QUESTION: Our new tenant paid in full in December, two weeks in January and nothing last month.

After no response to two emails the managing agent finally advised us she has sent an eviction notice and that the tenant is trying to come up with the funds.

I’m frustrated the agent didn’t notify us earlier about the tenant’s financial situation. Am I being unreasonable in believing it is unacceptable to just send a statement with $0.00 rent received without a phone call to explain?

How can agents justify their management fees, if they can’t even keep track of our account? – Tilly, via Flat Chat Forum.

ANSWER: All sympathy for someone not being able to pay their rent aside, as Whale, one of our forum regulars points out, you need to act quickly as your tenancy bond soon won’t cover the rent owed.

“Under the terms of a ‘Non-Payment Termination Notice’, the tenant is required to vacate the premises in 14 days unless they either pay all rent owing or enter into a formal repayment plan with which you agree,” he says.

And as for slack agents justifying their fees, that’s one of  life’s great mysteries.

“Once the matter is resolved, I’d change property managers,” says Whale.

Read the whole correspondence on this issue HERE.