Rental Agent Hire Cleaner without Agreement

kekw on 09/05/2023 - 14:48

Hi ozb,

I just moved out of a rental property and handed back the key to agent. Rental ended on the 3rd of May. They came back with a few items to address on late Friday. Things like oily range hood, dusty water heater etc, which are small jobs that I can address by myself or the bond cleaner I hired in the beginning but I need to the key to access the property. I replied the agent on Saturday morning.

The agent replied today and say they have arranged their own contractor and will send me the quote and money will be pay using my bond. I said NO, I can get this done in less than few hours. I just need the permission and key to enter the property. Agent said this has been arranged and money will be deducted.

Like wtf? I like to get my bond back in full but right now it seem they just want me to pay for the cleaning I did not agree to. Is this normal?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • jv on 09/05/2023 - 14:53
    +11

    Agent said this has been arranged and money will be deducted.

    They can't access the bond without you agreeing. At least not in VIC they can't.

    Based on your profile pick though, you are based in Turkey, so the laws there might be different.

    • carlJack on 09/05/2023 - 16:58

      Based in Turkey and works for Apple.

      • kekw on 09/05/2023 - 17:13
        +1

        Based

      • Gnostikos on 09/05/2023 - 18:22
        +5

        Basted Turkey, worked with Apple sauce.

  • randomusername2017 on 09/05/2023 - 15:02
    +3

    Rental ended on the 3rd of May

    In theory property should have been handed back in acceptable condition.
    In practice there's usually a few days informal grace period to rectify. Fair to say that window has closed going on to 7 days now.

    They can file a notice to claim on the bond but you'll need to respond for them to be able to withhold.

    ~assuming bond is lodged correctly with the relevant authority in your state

    • kekw on 09/05/2023 - 15:06
      +1

      The agent only just replied us… Unless I break into the house I don't see how I can clean it in 7 days…

      They can file a notice to claim on the bond but you'll need to respond for them to be able to withhold.

      well still. If work has been performed it is too late innit? Can I then say I did not agree to this so give me back the bond?

      • randomusername2017 on 09/05/2023 - 15:18
        +2

        too late innit

        Not really .. just file to claim 100% bond back and see if they bother to make a claim. Assume you have an email trail with you offering to rectify the items

  • barge-in hunter on 09/05/2023 - 15:11
    +9

    Lodge the form to retrieve your bond ASAP. Once this is processed, they won't be able to claim against it

    • JMosk on 09/05/2023 - 15:15
      +2

      This is the best thing to do immediately.

    • kekw on 09/05/2023 - 15:22

      May I know how do I do that?

      • randomusername2017 on 09/05/2023 - 15:32
        +5

        NSW

        VIC

        Qld

        WA

        • kekw on 09/05/2023 - 15:45

          I went to NT site found no link to file for bond claim. It says had to go through agent. Is NT no longer part of Aus? GG

          • randomusername2017 on 09/05/2023 - 16:04

            @kekw:

            phone Consumer Affairs on 1800 019 319 for further advice.

            Wow… pretty casual procedure for handling bond over there ..
            Looks like the onus is on you to dispute any claims and the agent controls the bond.

            Once you give the landlord or real estate agent the bond, they must give you a receipt and deposit your money in a bank or other financial institution account in the Northern Territory.

          • JimmyF on 09/05/2023 - 16:58

            @kekw:

            Is NT no longer part of Aus?

            Has NT EVER been a part of Aus? They always do things differently…. bit like WA.

    • jv on 09/05/2023 - 17:09

      Once this is processed

      The rental provider will need to agree to it to, not just the renter.

  • deme on 09/05/2023 - 15:13
    +2

    Just file for your bond

  • lostgoat on 09/05/2023 - 15:13

    They normally do the job themselves and charge you the whole bond.
    It's life in the renting world.

    • jv on 09/05/2023 - 17:09

      They can't get the bond back without your agreement.

  • Ocker on 09/05/2023 - 15:36
    +2

    The agent's do everything to maximise there income and commissions from service providers is no.1

  • deveshwar0 on 09/05/2023 - 15:37
    +2

    Just went through the same issue in VIC.
    Vacated the property in Feb 2021 and got a vacate clean with bond back guarantee from the cleaners for $380, but the managing agent was an @ssh**e and said the property was not clean enough. I asked her to attend the property with the cleaners to explain what needed to be done further, but she refused. She sent her own cleaners and claimed $495 from the bond.
    Over 2 years later, had the hearing last week and the VCAT member awarded $100 from the bond to them and the rest back to me.
    My blood is still boiling to be honest, but unfortunately, no other recourse.

    • kekw on 09/05/2023 - 15:44
      +3

      that's a phuc up system. Is almost like agent are encouraged to scam renters with laws like this.

  • brendanm on 09/05/2023 - 16:21
    +2

    Was the rangehood oily when you moved in? Was the water heater dusty (lol) when you moved in?

    If yes, it's not your job to clean them. If they weren't, it is your job to clean the rangehood, but a dusty water heater is a joke.

  • carlJack on 09/05/2023 - 17:02
    +1

    If it was me I would fight with real estate agent. I would never ever accept their own cleaners. Last time when it happened I went back to the agency got the keys to house and cleaned it myself.

    • jv on 09/05/2023 - 17:11
      +1

      If it was me I would fight with real estate agent.

      You'll likely get charged for assault and end up in jail.

  • JuanLove on 09/05/2023 - 17:12
    +4

    Contractor is their mate. Classic bond claw back scam. Always do your own condition entry and exit reports with photos. Only solution is bikies

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