Tenant vs. Landlord... who pays?

**The Stranger:Me** · 21st December 2006, 09:25

Originally Posted by Fish

That's a bad sign, not a good sign.

Good landlords maintain close relationships with tenants and try to protect their investment. If he doesn't GAF about inspections, he won't be likely to live up to his obligations when it comes to looking after the place properly.

I take issue with that statement. Way I see it is the tenant is paying me rent for quite enjoyment of a property. I am sure if they want me there they will invite me.

If and when they have a problem I take it seriously and get on to it promptly, but until then the place is theirs, not mine.

Far rather it this way, than the landlord we had many moons ago, who used to perform his inspection unannounced when we were not home.

Allways got on well with my tenants and and never had any disputes, or arguments over costs or repairs.

That said, now days some of the insurers require you to make regular inspections to protect their (the insurers) interests, so much as I would rather respect people's privacy and leave them in peace it is a bit of a necessity.

**jrandom** · 21st December 2006, 09:40

Originally Posted by placidfemme

In regards to getting the window fixed myself... My holiday pay only clears into my account on midnight Friday...

All right, so which of you gold-card types with a girl-on-girl fetish is going to offer to cover poor Tammy's glazier bill for 48 hours?

**placidfemme** · 21st December 2006, 09:41

Originally Posted by Fish

All right, so which of you gold-card types with a girl-on-girl fetish is going to offer to cover poor Tammy's glazier bill for 48 hours?

hehe those with a gold card may earn an extra "lesbian reward points" for buying me a new bike too

p/t

I'll be fine one way or another...

*is waiting for my landlord to start work*

**jrandom** · 21st December 2006, 09:47

Originally Posted by placidfemme

hehe those with a gold card may earn an extra "lesbian reward points" for buying me a new bike too

p/t

What, exactly, is a lesbian reward point?

That reminds me. Ever checked out Fatale Media's products? Before I became a regular customer, my curiosity had never been quite so well... satisfied.

Google them.

**Flyingpony** · 21st December 2006, 09:48

Originally Posted by placidfemme

Other than the above we have a good relationship with our landlord, he never bugs us, not once in 2 years has he even come to inspect the property or anything...

Think that's a bad sign. By right he should inspect the property every three months. Taking 6 weeks to repair a simple piece of wood is too long, should have been replaced in a matter of days.

**jrandom** · 21st December 2006, 09:49

Originally Posted by CaN

I take issue with that statement. Way I see it is the tenant is paying me rent for quite enjoyment of a property. I am sure if they want me there they will invite me.

If and when they have a problem I take it seriously and get on to it promptly, but until then the place is theirs, not mine.

Fair enough. Generally, though, in my experience, a landlord who never inspects doesn't GAF.

And it's illegal to inspect without notice; I believe the law stipulates a minimum of 24 hours advance warning, and the landlord can't insist upon it happening at a time inconvenient to the tenant.

**S&S** · 21st December 2006, 09:57

I had this situation pop up once with one of my tenants, I found that when they approached me with complete honesty about not knowing what happen we both decided to go 50% in the window. Tenants do have to take some responsibility of the house they are renting. Maybe that's a solution... if anything it could keep the landlord happy. Concerning the leaking chimney & deck... jump on him about that, you have more rights than him. Hope that helps

**S&S** · 21st December 2006, 09:59

If he slacks off to much with repairs & maintenance to the house, contact tenancy services for advise to speed things up

**The Stranger:Me** · 21st December 2006, 10:05

Originally Posted by S&S

I had this situation pop up once with one of my tenants, I found that when they approached me with complete honesty about not knowing what happen we both decided to go 50% in the window. Tenants do have to take some responsibility of the house they are renting. Maybe that's a solution... if anything it could keep the landlord happy. Concerning the leaking chimney & deck... jump on him about that, you have more rights than him. Hope that helps

Way I see it (as a landlord in general) is that as a landlord you can write off the cost of repairs. The tenant can't. So unless it is absolutely clearly the tenant's problem why worry, just get it sorted.

**Hitcher** · 21st December 2006, 10:13

A lot of people have oddly utopic views about rental properties and go all misty-eyed and clammy in odd places as they salivate at the prospect of owning residential property to rent. I, on the other hand, have worked for Housing New Zealand and have seen first-hand how the "other half" lives. I have consequently cauterised any desire I may have once had to be a landlord, believing that giving my bank account details to Mr Longo Nbongo (the nephew of the former King of Lesotho) to be an infinitely preferable form of investment.

I agree with Fish that any property owner who does not regularly visit and check what their tenants may be up to, is an idiot. Roof cavities make great places to propagate marijuana and, the ever-versatile garage (no pun intended) can be put to a range of innovative uses, such as the manufacture of P, the systematic decomponenting of motor vehicles, or housing several families of recently-arrived Somalis. While I am amongst the first to applaud entreprenuerial flair, I take a less-than-sanguine view when it may be my sorry arse that may not be collecting $200 and going directly to jail as a consequence.

**placidfemme** · 21st December 2006, 10:20

Just to add some more insight into the matter of the landlord not checking in on us...

We live in an old Villa type house, the front part of the house is a business (where the landlord works).

We see him nearly everyday, talk to him about once every two weeks... so he can walk around the back of the house anytime he pleases and look through the windows (we generally always keep the curtains open) and no doubt he has a spare key so when we're not home he could pop in and check things out (as illegal as that is), but in terms of an actual inspection... he'd never done that...

Fish: lol lesbian reward points... buy me a bike and you'll find out

**Hitcher** · 21st December 2006, 11:57

Originally Posted by placidfemme

Fish: lol lesbian reward points... buy me a bike and you'll find out

I think Mr Fish may be troubled by the prospect of redeeming the ones he has already got. Unless, like Frequent Flier Miles, they expire.

**merv** · 21st December 2006, 12:10

If it appears accidental the landlord should pay or basically if he's insured properly the insurance will pay and in many cases they have glass breakage extensions which don't cost an excess or loss of no claim bonus so no worries.