Fairly predictable really given the time of year and the circumstances of my life right now.
Last night I got a call from the owner of the house we are renting. It was pretty much the last of the final straws for me, I am NOT coping at all right now. This morning I got some tenancy advice and spoke to the property manager and here is the letter I wrote her.
Dear Liz,
Further to our conversation of this morning I am putting in writing the complaint regarding the behaviour of the owner of the above property on which we hold a lease.
Last night, at 7.15pm she phoned me to ask about the damage to the paint in the second bedroom of the house, as advised by you in the letter about the inspection which you carried out on June 28th. I confirmed the damage and assured her that it would be repaired and indeed the whole wall would be repainted as there was other damage (not all done by us). She then went on to ask if there was other damage to the house, in spite of your inspection report. I told her no there wasn’t (obviously). Then she asked about a damaged fly wire screen on the window of the second bedroom. I admitted that yes it was damaged and that when my husband got home from working away it would be fixed. I asked how she knew it was damaged as I knew you hadn’t looked at that side of the house and she replied “The whole street is talking about it”. (The whole street needs to get hobbies).
I have removed the screen until it can be fixed. We cannot open either window on that side of the house anyway due to the little tiny people next door who chain smoke on their porch, allowing the smoke to come into our children’s bedrooms.
She also made aspersions about our family asking “Has your family settled down yet?”. This is none of her business, if the neighbours have a problem they need to deal with it through us, or the proper authorities. She also commented on how the previous tenant was “perfect” implying that we are far from it. (We’ve had more perfect landlords too!)
We insist that she does not contact us directly, but only through your office, as was the original agreement. If she continues to harass us, or turn up unannounced we will make application to the Residential Tenancy Tribunal to stop her, and if she persists, we will apply for compensation as per the breach of Term 7 – 7.1 and 7.2 of the lease relating to “quiet enjoyment”. This also takes into account having neighbours “spy” on us.
We have always carried out minor repairs ourselves and only reported major problems, we pay our rent on time and take care of the property to the best of our ability.
Please find attached a list of repairs that require attention.
And I'm having fun finding things. Will post the list later.
Apart from that, my life is grey and empty and lonely right now. Kids back at school, they had to walk which won't hurt them, as I can barely put one foot in front of the other right now. My husband took all the money out of our account last night, what a guy! Thank goodness for my "Cunning Kit". A tip I learned long ago from a world weary friend.
3 comments:
Nosy neighbors should mind their own business. Give em hell.
I too am missing B since he is back at school now, and the weather here is plain crappy and depressing. I understand how you feel.
You don't have to communicate with the owner of your house. She has no right to ring you at all. Stick to your guns on that one, and start screening your calls with an answering machine if you can.
She would be paying that property agent to communicate with you, so she is a real dope.
I am glad you have a "cunning kit", but it makes me really sad that you need one.
I hope you can find some happy stuff to bring you out of this place. Us mums have such a big job caring about everyone one else, Try to do something for yourself.
So sorry Foxy...its awful when things like this are going on - you feel like your back is up against the wall and no one can help - hope it all gets sorted soon and you are allowed some peace in your home - and it is your home.
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