Damaged Letterbox Lock

edy4eva on 15/04/2021 - 08:07
Last edited 15/04/2021 - 11:47

Who should be responsible to replace the letterbox lock if found damaged?

The letterbox is for a unit in a complex, is directly on the street- not inside a room.

My agents reckons I as tenant should responsible, even though I explained I had no involvement in this, one day found the lock jammed (cannot insert a key inside to turn it either way) with the flap left open (with mail stolen as well).

UPDATE: I spoke with the agent as was handing the keys of the property earlier this morning, she will lodge a request with body corporate. Turns out this is the third time the lock gets damaged!!! definitely not my responsibility.

Thank you all

Poll Options

  • 6
    Landlord
  • 1
    Tenant
  • 46
    Body Corporate
  • 1
    Shared landlord/tenant responsibility
Home & Garden

Comments

  • djkelly69 on 15/04/2021 - 08:12

    Is it a bunch of letterboxes in one area for everyone, or does each unit have their own letterbox near their entrance (or similar)?

    • edy4eva on 15/04/2021 - 08:16

      A whole bunch by the building main entrance

      • djkelly69 on 15/04/2021 - 08:17
        +4

        Sounds like it is on common property then, meaning it will be the BC's problem (barring any weird bylaws).

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 15/04/2021 - 08:13
    +3

    Get a PO Box and tell the REA, you didn't cause the problem, so you're not responsible.

    • JimmyF on 15/04/2021 - 09:52

      So pay more money each year for a PO box than the once of cost to repair the lock, just to 'show them'.

      Makes great sense indeed!

      Anyhow, if its a common block of mailbox, it should be BC fixing it, not the OPs issue anyhow.

      • tomsco on 15/04/2021 - 11:11

        To be fair, I think the PO box comment is more that they'd be considered safer in general. Not necessarily linking in to this:

        tell the REA, you didn't cause the problem, so you're not responsible

        Which is true. Not OPs problem.

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 15/04/2021 - 13:24

        PO box comment is more that they'd be considered safer in general.

        This, especially if the letterbox can't currently be secured.

  • ThithLord on 15/04/2021 - 09:00
    +3

    I would have thought it's the LL and REA problem, for them to take up with Body Corp

  • garetz on 15/04/2021 - 09:05
    +3

    To you the tenant the owner/agent is responsible, to the owner/agent the body corporate is responsible.

    In no way you as the tenant bear any responsibility. If the agent tells you this is the case they are lying to you.

  • jjjaar on 15/04/2021 - 09:09

    Is it a lock that’s built into the letterbox door, or is it just a padlock?

    It sounds like it’s the former, so I would say definitely not the tenant.

    If it were a padlock though, that’s when I’d probably say tenant.

    • edy4eva on 15/04/2021 - 10:09

      It’s a cam lock

      • jjjaar on 15/04/2021 - 12:29

        Definitely not you then.

  • thatonethere on 15/04/2021 - 10:27
    +1

    Definitely not your problem (if you didn't do it).

    The default locks are garbage anyway.

    You can send the REA a formal request for repair.

  • FloatingPoint on 15/04/2021 - 11:08
    +1

    Almost certain it's BC responsibility. For a small complex sometimes it's easier to just talk to the BC committee directly if you know who they are, otherwise it's the owner's responsibility to raise it for you.

    And your RE agent is an a-hole. Make sure you know your right when your tenancy ends.

  • avoidfullprice on 15/04/2021 - 11:28

    You are responsible if you damaged it. Wear and tear - OC is responsible. From your description I can't tell.

    Strata manager organises repair as it's a common property. If the committee approves the OC pays for it out if admin fund. If not, the landlord pays, and so you get charged.

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