Asking for a Rent Reduction - Am I Being Unreasonable?

Lldawg on 09/04/2020 - 09:38
Last edited 09/04/2020 - 13:03

UPDATE: Thanks everyone for the advice, I'll leave this one alone! Appreciate the advice on how to handle this kind of thing in the future too

Hi everyone, hoping for some advice here, not sure if I'm being insane.

The oven in our rental started acting strange a couple of months back. The thermostat wasn't working, so it continued heating up to insane temperatures (so hot that the handle of the oven door couldn't be handled for more than a second without it being very uncomfortable), and then it started producing a horrible plasticy burning smell and some smoke. Our property manager organised an electrician came out to replace the thermostat, however the horrible smell continued. After 8 weeks of back and forth (sometimes requiring us to follow up multiple times to get a response or an update), I finally got sick of it and asked for a rent reduction of 5% from the date we requested the repair, until it was fixed. Low and behold, the oven was replaced 3 days later. In my opinion, 8 weeks is an unreasonable amount of time for this to take to be fixed - I would not have asked for a rent reduction if it was a more reasonable time, or even if they had kept me more updated during the process, rather than me having to send 2 emails and call them to get them to give me any kind of update.

They are now saying that my request for a rental reduction has confused them, as they are saying the oven was functional the whole time, and it was our decision not to use it - which I feel is a bit of a stretch, as someone from the real estate agent and the electrician both came out and both confirmed that it was producing a horrible smell, and that it was heating up to an unsafe level. I went back and claimed that I disagreed, that I didn't feel comfortable preparing food in it, etc. It's now been a week since I sent that email and they haven't responded, and I'm wondering whether I should chase it up, or let sleeping dogs lie. At this point it is mostly about the principle of it, I feel a bit defeated just letting them get away with it by just ignoring my emails again.

What do you think, should I chase the rent reduction up? Or am I being too hard on a business that is probably heavily affected by the current climate?

Poll Options

  • 13
    Chase it up
  • 57
    Leave it alone
Home & Garden

Comments

  • iampoor on 09/04/2020 - 09:43
    +7

    I probably wouldn't have waited for 8 weeks to threaten them but since they have replaced it probably just leave it alone?

    • ldawg on 09/04/2020 - 09:45

      Yeah, lesson learned for next time I guess. When would you say is the appropriate time to ask for a reduction? I've never been in this situation before - the last property I was living in had fantastic real estate agents, every time maintenance was required it was fixed within a week or so.

      • iampoor on 09/04/2020 - 09:47
        +2

        Depends on the landlord as well since approval is generally needed before a non-urgent repair/replacement can take place.

        I would give it a maximum of two weeks. Give them the first week to sort it out, start hassling through the second week and ask for a reduction at the end of the second week if still no response.

  • EightImmortals on 09/04/2020 - 09:43
    +4

    Hey you got a free lesson, next time you have a real problem just push for a rent reduction immediately and the problem will get fixed quicker. :)

  • wordplay on 09/04/2020 - 09:47
    +2

    Typical real-estate stuff. you are going to have a hard time getting anything out of them (including the truth).
    I would just take this opportunity to make sure any other required repairs are bought to their attention and rectified now (hopefully there are none)

  • jimbobaus on 09/04/2020 - 09:48
    +4

    Not sure what state you are in
    but in vic process goes like this:

    1) You contact them and request formally the repair
    … wait 14 days
    2) Send agent 'Breach of Duty Notice"
    …wait 14 days
    3) List matter with VCAT, it is considered an urgent matter as you have sent B.O.D notice so will be heard within 3 Biz days.
    Vcat makes an order requiring repairs be completed within 5 biz days (if they decide in your favour)

    Now.. if after this its still not fixed, you contact VCAT again and they will have another emergency hearing within 1 day
    And if they again find in your favour, rent will be paid into a VCAT account and held until works are completed.

    Now.. in the current climate things are a bit different but VCAT is still working however its mostly via remote means (online or by email )

    Now if you are not in VIC, i am sure your state has a similar system.

    • ldawg on 09/04/2020 - 09:49

      Hey thanks for this, I am in VIC, so very helpful for the future!

      • jimbobaus on 09/04/2020 - 09:51
        +2

        sending the B.O.D notice (u can find on the VCAT website) almost always gets them to act.
        Agents know a notice means your are being serious about things and are willing to take it further.

  • chumlee on 09/04/2020 - 09:49
    +1

    Ask for cooking lesson voucher

    • ldawg on 09/04/2020 - 09:53

      I generally bake quite a bit, hard to do that without an oven

      • chumlee on 09/04/2020 - 10:25

        Use a dutch oven - breakfast in bed

        • AJW on 09/04/2020 - 10:52
          +1

          Username checks out

  • elgrande on 09/04/2020 - 10:00
    -6

    Why are you still paying rent?

    Didn't you hear, its a free six months for everyone..

    • JimmyF on 09/04/2020 - 10:17
      +3

      Didn't you hear, its a free six months for everyone..

      hahaha sure sure if you think its 'free' rent, then you have a rude shock coming.

  • JimmyF on 09/04/2020 - 10:19
    +3

    What do you think, should I chase the rent reduction up?

    Lets say you're paying $600/wk rent, so you want a $30/wk reduction for 8 weeks, so $240? Only paying $300/wk, then you're after $120?

    The oven is fixed, move on.

    • bobbified on 09/04/2020 - 10:48
      +3

      A few months later, new thread:

      Landlord refuses to renew lease for "no reason"!

      • JimmyF on 09/04/2020 - 11:39
        +2

        Landlord refuses to renew lease for "no reason"!

        Yep or landlord has raised the rent $20/wk for 'no reason'.

      • ldawg on 09/04/2020 - 13:02

        It's not like I came to give a sob story here, I came for advice on what the appropriate thing to do in the situation is. Advice has been to let it go, so that's what I'm going to do.

        • JimmyF on 09/04/2020 - 13:54

          It's not like I came to give a sob story here

          ok……

          Advice has been to let it go, so that's what I'm going to do.

          Great to hear, my example was to show you how much you would be getting back if you pushed it. 5% for 8 weeks is generally nothing as shown and not worth the fight and pissing the landlord off, otherwise you might find a sharp rent increase next renewal :)

  • CyberMurning on 09/04/2020 - 10:43
    +1

    bikies!

    • JimmyF on 09/04/2020 - 11:41
      -1

      Sorry, but the OZbargain bikies are no longer available for hire under current social distancing and stay at home laws. Please deal with the problem yourself.

      • ssquid on 09/04/2020 - 13:17

        Jokes aside they are actually getting hammered by the police, using the "no gatherings" laws as an excuse to raid their clubhouses.

        • JimmyF on 09/04/2020 - 13:54

          using the "no gatherings" laws as an excuse to raid their clubhouses.

          and the problem is?

          Gun clubs can't gather, football clubs can't gather. gym junkies can't gather.

          So why should bikies?

          • ssquid on 09/04/2020 - 15:58

            @JimmyF: The problem is most of the time there's no gathering there. The police are effectively breaking into empty properties and trashing the place.

            • JimmyF on 09/04/2020 - 16:01

              @ssquid: Sounds like a today tonight story to me. Got any links to any real articles?

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/04/2020 - 12:01

    Leave it alone. They paid for an electrician to inspect, and subsequently replaced the oven. You got the end result you desired.

    With these sort of things you have to pick your battles. Whether your time and effort is worth it. Keep in mind you have no chance of getting it heard at VCAT for a very long time under the current climate.

    A different Landlord may have refused to inspect or replace unless it was completely dead, and would have made the process inherently harder for you.

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