- This topic has 2 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 10 months ago by .
-
Topic
-
We came across this interesting titbit on the interweb – a couple had left their rented accommodation in May and their bond had been refunded (albeit after two months).
Now they are facing a tribunal and demands for damage that the agent claims were missed in the end of lease inspection.
The couple claim that they know other people have been through the property since they left. Will they have to pay?
Now, they don’t say if the damage was theirs – and I reckon they’d deny it – but the agent isn’t in a very strong position here and my guess is that it’s a try-on.
It could be that the agent is just covering their backside or it may be a fairly common scam where agents refuse all bond refunds in the hope that the tenant is too confused, busy or far away to challenge it.
Regardless, the condition report is a very powerful document and is the only evidence of the state of the unit when the couple left. So what do they do?
I’d put my “reliable citizen” disguise on, turn up at the tribunal and deny everything. You’ll find the whole story on reddit.com.
The opinions offered in these Forum posts and replies are not intended to be taken as legal advice. Readers with serious issues should consult experienced strata lawyers.
-
Replies
-
It is about time agents also started checking the condition of Common Property when tenants leave buildings. All too often they just dump all their unwanted rubbish (furniture, appliances, clothing, etc) anywhere convenient and it is left to the OC to pick up the tab for cleaning up.
Hi Boronia
I wouldn’t place any reliance on agents to check the condition of common property when tenants leave the building. Whilst agents are required to be rather meticulous in detailing the condition of leased property at the beginning of a tenancy I’ve never known them to be interested at all in the common property. The only way you can be assured that departing tenants don’t leave their junk on common property is vigilance by the other residents or management in the block. If no one bothers to complain then whole complex suffers.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.