Tenants. What am I doing wrong?

[cowboyz]

I've been in this situation on the other side of the coin, and would never flat with a house owner again. I know a lot of people who say the same thing. Maybe that's putting off the "good" flatmates.

The reason: The balance of power is all wrong. As a flatmate you expect things to be equal, but the owner has a vision of how things should be done, because it is after all their house.

Just my 2c

I think this is a valid and one of the biggest hurdles. people dont want to live with owners.

On the flipside of that.. i really dont care what people get up to. i never moan about anything.. i really just take things as they come.. and get trodden on for my efforts (or lack of) which means the next one will get a harder time ...... its starting to sound like a catch 22

[JimO]

im not in your situation but if i was i would rather struggle a bit money wise to have a place that i dont have to share with the great unwashed

[mossy1200]

Grow some "vegetables" that you can sell by the ounce and then life will be a whole lot better.

Capsicum??????????

[placidfemme]

Well you see, asking for two things is the problem. Realistically you should only ask them to pay bills on time and YOU look after the house, or they look after the house and you pay the bills. See, simple really.

If they were the type to pay bills and look after the house then they would be landlord, not tenant.

Good points.

I've recently started renting my own place and am also looking for flatmates. But I am being super picky. I would rather pay double or triple rent then just take someone I'm not too happy with. Right now got one flatmate in, and going well so far, she pays rent on time, works a lot and is very social so I never see her and she is not home enough to make a mess. I'm anal about my cleaning and habits so I don't get too annoyed at having to do all the work, because at least it is done to my standard.

By the sounds of it you need someone who has previously owned/rented their own place, because these types generally understand and have a certain sense of pride (you would hope anyway). It also sounds like you need to be a bit harder, letting the dude stay when he is so behind on the rent? Kind of just asking for it then. If he is home, kick him out. It is illegal to hold someones property in lieu of payment, technically it is theft. Kick him out and cut your loss. Next time get rent in advance and at least 2 weeks bond. And if you want to be extra cautious make a little tenancy agreement and you both sign it, to include rent amount, expenses if relevant, bond terms and notice when leaving etc and both sign it, that at least gives you the option of small claims court if you get dicked again.

[dogsnbikes]

Capsicum??????????

surely he means saffron

[mashman]

If I'd have had your experiences, I wouldn't be letting anyone across the threshold that couldn't pay all of the bills up front. Yes I realise that sounds impossible, but setting a sensible limit for household expenses, sort of like a bond, and then refunding what's left at the end of the month. They may ask how much of a trustworthy cunt you are (judging by your whining you probably are), but that's the two way street though int it. That way you'll get what ya need to cover the bills, they get some cash back at the end of the month if they're "good" and you get people in that have money in their hand so can't blow it on drugs and lady boys. The onus is on you to make good on your promise then. Or some version of the above.

[cowboyz]

to be fair.. I do moan alot. because i feel like I am being taken for a ride (not in the good way) all too often. I beleive some things should just happen. rent being one of them. But I see how I make it really easy for people just not to pay. The other task at hand is the perception that Ashhurst is somehow in the middle of no where. Its 12km to palmerston north on a main road. it takes like 7 mins to get to town and I usually spend $40pw on fuel to go to work everyday. People in town drive 30 mins across town through traffic and lights and seem to think thats better. Its just crazy.
I have very little faith in finding a suitable flatmate really. Just ranting now.

[Bender]

Friend of mine has a block of flats. They have a very carefully worded tenancy agreement. Regarding payment of rent they get a bond and month's rent in advance. If the rent gets one week in arrears they are goneburgers - it says so in the tenancy agreement and when they sign it they are agreeing to be kicked out if they get behind. End of.

So far in three years they haven't had to kick anyone out. There are other clauses about drugs, operating a business (to stop anyone operating a brothel) etc.

You have to set the ground rules and then enforce them - bottling it up and stewing about it gets you nowhere.

[flyingcrocodile46]

dogsnbikes, Jantar and Usarka are on the money.

Get 3 or 4 weeks payment up front. Ask for and check references. Don't volunteer that you own the property and don't expect them to care about the house.

It's easier to adjust your expectations than to find someone who will measure up to them. You want the money you have to make the adjustments.

Oh yeah! Confiscate the drugs and use/sell them.

[huff3r]

Set up a house-sharing agreement, lay down the law, make them stick to it. Don't be a pushover, and don't be afraid to use your house-sharing agreement as evidence in the disputes tribunal if they muck you around.

In your position you have the power, so use it. It shouldn't be too impossible to find good flatmates, you just need to be firm.

Flat/House Sharing Agreement

[mossy1200]

Friend of mine has a block of flats. They have a very carefully worded tenancy agreement. Regarding payment of rent they get a bond and month's rent in advance. If the rent gets one week in arrears they are goneburgers - it says so in the tenancy agreement and when they sign it they are agreeing to be kicked out if they get behind. End of.

So far in three years they haven't had to kick anyone out. There are other clauses about drugs, operating a business (to stop anyone operating a brothel) etc.

You have to set the ground rules and then enforce them - bottling it up and stewing about it gets you nowhere.

And if they send you a letter explaining they can not afford X rent at the moment but can afford Y rent due to financial hardship and pay it every week its 6months to rid yourself of them.

[mossy1200]

dogsnbikes, Jantar and Usarka are on the money.

Get 3 or 4 weeks payment up front. Ask for and check references. Don't volunteer that you own the property and don't expect them to care about the house.

It's easier to adjust your expectations than to find someone who will measure up to them. You want the money you have to make the adjustments.

Oh yeah! Confiscate the drugs and use/sell them.

2 weeks bond and 2 weeks rent in advance is the max.Its not legal to take peoples drugs in leiu of rent.

[steve_t]

2 weeks bond and 2 weeks rent in advance is the max.

Just be careful about spreading misinformation. I know this is a forum but....

http://www.dbh.govt.nz/tips-for-flatting

Max bond is 4 weeks rent

[mossy1200]

Just be careful about spreading misinformation. I know this is a forum but....

http://www.dbh.govt.nz/tips-for-flatting

Max bond is 4 weeks rent

Corrected but with 4 weeks bond 2 weeks rent advance does the rent need stay advanced or do you need pay rent again on or before the completion of the advance rent?

I was just being a smart arse to stir some stuff I dont know anything really lol.
I do know if you drop your rent and keep paying its hard to get evicted for a while.A guy I know did this (not friend of mine OK) every flat he moved into.

[ducatilover]

I think:
Flatties are generally younger people, so they like to be social, living in Palmy (for the silly, less thinking ones) and paying more for rent = closer to mates/pubs/clubs/cheap sex/whatever.


I was thinking about talking to you about moving in, but my income situation has been all wobbly, plus I've decided to bugger off up north. (and I need a garage) so mainly with the income situation, I decided best not to mess with a fellow Kwaka owner, we're mad buggers.

It's a shame that mate of mine didn't move in, she's a great lass and your house would be bloody clean!

I really do think it's a young people thing, I can't see anything wrong with what you're offering and it's bloody cheap!

If I get a go on one of your bikes I'll do evictions, I can persuade people