Have you ever had to deal with a bad landlord? The situation can be a frustrating one if you don’t know what to do. Today we take a look at the rights of a tenant and landlord and share information on what to do should your landlord not abide by these rights. So you think you’ve found your dream apartment? It’s got the hard wood floors, plenty of counter space in the kitchen, exposed brick and ample storage in the bedroom. How did anyone ever let go of this apartment in the first place?
Well, you might get your answer soon after signing the lease and moving in … your landlord is a nightmare. Here’s what you can do when faced with this living situation.
1. Know your rights as a renter
First thing’s first, make sure you understand your rights as a renter in Australia. As a tenant, you’re essentially obligated to pay rent, be respectful and keep the place clean and damage free. Should the property need a repair, notify the landlord immediately.
Dually, the landlord must ensure the property is safe, secure and in good condition for tenants. A landlord is not allowed to drop by and enter your property without notice before hand, although routine inspections are permitted.
With these rights in mind, and before you sign your lease, it’s worthwhile to skim it over to ensure there aren’t any unreasonable terms within the contract. To note, a typical lease should include:
- Location of the property,
- Rent total,
- Bond due,
- Beginning and end date of tenancy,
- Landlord’s name.
2. Escalating wrong doings
Unfortunately for those who are thinking about withholding rent when an inattentive landlord won’t do his or her job, that only gives them grounds for eviction. Instead, tenants need to take their documented evidence of their landlord breaching their contract to the state’s tribunal.
Common issues that are taken to tribunal include landlords ignoring tenant requests for damage or broken property, repeated offences of coming over unannounced, trying to increase rent before the first year of tenancy is over and bond money.
If you don’t want to have to deal with the mess of a bad landlord, try to avoid them entirely!
3. Prevent getting a bad landlord
Of course, if you don’t want to have to deal with the mess of a bad landlord, try to avoid them entirely! Before moving in, do some digging – a lot of the time if a landlord is really bad, you’ll be able to find something on them just by doing a quick search of his or her name online. If their name comes up clean, make sure you meet them in person so you can get a feel for their personality.
If you want to avoid this situation entirely, give our team here at First National a call. We’ll help you find the right place, with the right landlord, so you can live comfortably ever after.
