We are in a tenancy in QLD, and have lived in this house for 5 years now. It’s a freestanding modern house and we have always kept on good terms with the real estate and owner. Recently, the owner decided he needed to get his property (our home) repainted as it’s been a while. Eventually, a painter texted me, and we agreed on him starting at 9am each morning, from last Tuesday to this Monday. He initially wanted to start at 7am, however we told him that we find it kind of instrusive with such an early start time and therefore he agreed on 9am starts. He also told me he doesn’t work weekends.
He was here on Tuesday, spent a couple of hours painting but most of the time he was on his phone. Ever since then, Wednesday, Thursday, and today, he has been texting me saying he can’t make it, such as ‘there was a prang on the highway, can’t make it’ or ‘I have to take my wife to the doctors today’. It’s now Friday, and I haven’t seen him or heard from him.
I contacted the real estate re this matter and she told me that we all go through personal problems and that the completion date isn’t here yet (being this Monday). She also thought I was making this into a big deal.
This is a big house, and he has left a bright white undercoat on the front of the house and not been back since. He also has his painting gear out on the front lawn. I know I may be overthinking this as a big deal, but if I don’t say something, I believe he will continue to come and go as he pleases and be hanging around for weeks or more. What would you guys do in this situation when the painter guy is overly unreliable and continually not showing up?
Advice on a Unreliable Painter at a Tenancy?
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From what I know, the owner has no want or need to sell the property. I believe he is getting it re painted so that it is maintained.
painting the interior or exterior?
Surely it's the interior else it wouldn't be such a fuss. Edit: Oh it is the exterior.. I don't see the big deal from tenant.
It is the exterior. Yes thanks guys I am still learning :)
Yes indeed Closer, as quoted below, I have :)
If interior, for sure the owner is selling the house.
If exterior, then let the poor painter start anytime he wants.
Did he paint it black?
You dont have to be there while he repaints it. Its also the outside, he doesnt need internal access.
Yes that is true Davo1111. I suppose I am just noticing a pattern of unreliability and just want him to finish around the proposed completion date. I don't know the painter other than his initial appearance and value my privacy is all.
I'd just tell him to take all his tools with him as your garden isn't a store room. Make it slightly more inconvenient.
In the end, i'd rather he do it properly, slowly.
Good point, thanks
Also a good point! thanks
What would you guys do in this situation when the painter guy is overly unreliable and continually not showing up?
Tell the landlord - he's not doing the job that the landlord pays him for, so let him deal with it. It's not really your issue.
Hi p1 ama, that's a good idea, however I have not been given direct contact with the owner/landlord as it is all via the real estate. And I agree, and have contacted my property manager, but it seems she will not budge until the proposed completion date before she does anything to help me.
This is why it's always better to have direct access to the landlord. Usually I always think it's nice to have each other's phone number just to be able to keep in contact, especially if you've been living there for five years. Very often real estate agents sit on their hands and are very slow to resolve problems that can be very easily dealt with if the landlord and tenant spoke directly.
In this case, like you say, I wouldn't worry about it and won't push until the completion date, but either way, if I was the landlord, I would like to know that the guy I'm hiring isn't doing his job properly and to be honest, I would even appreciate it as a landlord if you gave me a heads up about it.
Thanks p1 ama for the feedback. I know its better to have this, however the owner has actually told me directly when he was here that he does not want to be contacted directly, so unfortunately I do not have a choice.
And yes I thought so too, that's why I have contacted the property manager to inform her of this.
So therefore I suppose it is a waiting game and just see what happens..
tbh i can see both sides of this, and I can understand why the REA is sitting on their hands. the completion date hasn't even passed (you probably should have said that at the start). For all we know, the painter might come in on the final day with 30 men and do the job on time.
It's not your job to chase this guy up to do work, and you dont need to be there. I wouldnt spend any time on this.
If it were me, once the completion date has passed, no tools, paint or equipment can be left on the property. Make it mildly inconvenient.
If it were the inside of the property, or you were inconvenienced, i'd feel a bit stricter.
Interesting, thanks Davo1111. I did happen to mention the completion date was this Monday in the thread. From what the painter told me, he is a sole trader who works by himself. I understand I don't need to be here, I have my own work/study to adhere to and I am certainly not sitting around waiting for him, that's for sure.
Ok, I will remember to tell him to take his equipment with him once the date has surpassed. And yes I agree.
the waiting game sucks, lets play hungry hungry hippos.
ok so you obviously realise how hot it is here lately yeah?
don't you think it would be nicer to let him start early to beat the heat of the day?
honestly i feel sorry for the painter in this case. i wouldnt like to be outside in the heat painting a house in the middle of the day.
he's probably doing another job somewhere where they let him start early and will come and do yours when it cools down.
think about the other persons situation not just yourself
Hi myusername, you do have a point, thank you for your insight.
Maybe I should just say to him that he's welcome to start earlier then. That way he might feel more inclined to continue the work. Thanks again.only saying this cause i live in brissy and made the stupid mistake of mowing the lawn yesterday around 10am. drank 3 litres of water in 2 hours.
i feel sorry for anyone that is doing hard labour outdoors in this weather
Yup you are absolutely right. Thanks to yourself and everyone else I have come to that realization and have now texted him with any absolute open time frame of whenever he wants to start. I thank everyone for your time and advice, you guys are the best.
if all his tools are there, then he isnt working somewhere else. like bad scheduling or anything. im a painter. and a hell of alot of painters are extremly lazy and just wont turn up, like seriously… most of them. its just something to do with painting i guess, its seen as easy, so the industry if filled with bottom of the barrel people. give it a week. its outside u dont need to be there.
Hey ego2spare thanks for your feedback. I am now understanding how it all works. I can also now understand why it can be lazy work. And it is hot. I have now texted him with a kind appeal for him to start whenever he likes so I'm hoping this entices him haha :D
Hi Ego, are you in Melbourne and work for yourself?
no gold coast
Bikies
owner probably negotiated and got the cheapest dodgiest painter and your dealing with it. believe me, they are very common (dodgy trades at the lower end of the market, especially residential)
I agree DiscoJango.. it's now Tuesday afternoon and still no contact or show (he only showed up once - being last Tuesday), even after I sent a nice text msg to him on Friday. He's either multitasking or extremely lazy.. the thing is the weather has been great this week, so that's no excuse. Maybe I should contact the real estate agent tomorrow and explain things, as otherwise it will never happen..
think of it in this way: someone needs their gardening done, its a whole front and back yards worth. they are desperate, and poor. they can only offer you the equivalent of $3 an hour to do it. how much effort would you put into doing this? do you need the $3 an hour? not really, so you basically keep blowing them off because its basically not worth your time.
that and you may fall into the lazy slob demographic who pretty much doesnt care.
also, if its the exterior of the house, why does it matter what time he can start and finish?
Interesting. So really I need to advise the agent to inform the owner so that he knows it’s basically not going to happen.
Re your question, I have already answered that in the comments a few times now. But thanks for the advice man.@tiger2000: no worries, dont take it personally, we all deal with dodgy trades, frustrating i know. Bottom line is they really dont give a stuff, and have a million excuses ready as to why they cant come today
OP has answer, closed thread.
Not much you can do about unreliable tradies.
The owner looking to sell the property?