Received a Request from The REA That The Tenants Wanted a Loose Oyster Light Fixed

GachaGamer on 10/07/2025 - 16:11
Last edited 10/07/2025 - 19:13 by 1 other user

I received request that the tenants wanted an oyster light that has come loose fixed/repaired.

The light itself is fine and working and just the nails/screws attaching the light to the ceiling has come loose. What do you think the go to is OzBargain? From the images it just looks like they need to remove the cover and put in new nails/screws which wouldn't need an electrician to come over to do the job. But not too sure myself about whether that's allowed - though to my understanding since the process does not involve direct contact with an electrical wiring it can still fall under a DIY job but knowing the REA they'll prob want to hire a professional (should really change at this point).

Unfortunately, can't make the round myself if it were possible since the time it'd take me to go there would be same as the cost to call out the electrician lol. Though what's the expected ballpark for call out costs to get it fixed (regional Vic)?

Please enlighten me OzBargain.

Didn't expect the amount of backlash, so I should clarify, I had already fixed the kitchen for the tenants roughly 4 months ago (essentially had to replace the lights, the oven (lights broke, but the model was a few years old so I just replaced it with a new for them), the rangehood (the tenants made some installations that made it in contravention of regulations - ), that already set me back $3200. Now those lights (well 1 of them) that got replaced/fixed has come loose from poor installation. I'm not trying to skip on my obligations, I've gone over and beyond, since I also updated the central heating last year without requirement which set me back another $2k+.

The question was whether this is a job that can be DIY, if not how much does installing a few nails cost.

As for the backlash, why are you taking it out on me? lol, some of the comments make it out as if I ran their dog over or something.

Home & Garden Investment

Comments

Chewy2221 on 11/07/2025 - 12:09

Sounds like it may just need some slightly longer screws. Should be a quick DIY fix. I'm sure that the re agent has a handyman on speed dial for just this type of thing. I doubt that an electrician is needed.
Empharand on 11/07/2025 - 12:35

+2

Troll post?

I received request that the tenants wanted an oyster light that has come loose fixed/repaired.
The light itself is fine and working and just the nails/screws attaching the light to the ceiling has come loose. What do you think the go to is OzBargain?

Then fix it?

Unfortunately, can't make the round myself if it were possible since the time it'd take me to go there would be same as the cost to call out the electrician lol. Though what's the expected ballpark for call out costs to get it fixed (regional Vic)?

This isn't HiPages/Airtasker champion, and you're asking for a ball-park estimate on the call-out fee and only providing 'Regional VIC' as the location…..

As for the backlash, why are you taking it out on me? lol, some of the comments make it out as if I ran their dog over or something.

Did you actually read the comments? The answer is clearly there!
- Protractor on 13/07/2025 - 10:48
  
  +2
  
  I think it's a droll post.
Oztx on 11/07/2025 - 12:51

+6

If roles were reversed (Tenant is moving out and landlord doing final inspection) they would probably charge the Tenant half the deposit just to fix this "DIY" little project because they didnt notify the landlord before. Maybe not you OP, but most. This is why you are getting roasted.

Most landlords just want to the rent money without actually taking adequate responsibility of their property
Hangryuman on 11/07/2025 - 14:22

-1

lotta haters here - FYI some landlords are good - the OP has already stated he forked out maybe $5K for various repairs that not every landlord would do

but hey we tend to start with our prejudice, accept only info that supports it, and ignore anything that doesn't support our prejudice.

but yeah - REA should have a handyman - max $200 to screw a loose light fitting - blimey !
- hungrywolf on 12/07/2025 - 15:42
  
  +2
  
  "some landlords are good" - impossible, because they're landlords
  - CalmLemons on 12/07/2025 - 17:01
    
    -2
    
    Pretty short sighted.
    
    I'm an excellent landlord and give the REA instructions to not bother me at all if anything needs to be fixed under $1k to not even notify me at all.
    
    OP seems relatively new to the game, but remember, without these guys you won't have rentals in the first place. Wealthier people would not bother with houses like that. Various circumstances would deem the tenant being unable to afford a house at this point nor wanting to.
    
    As for OP, if it's a loose fitting, you gotta deal with it. If it's a blown light globe, that's the tenants.
    
    The issue is if the tenant tries to screw the light fitting into the ceiling and hits an electrical wire, who's fault is that?
    
    $150-250 fix.
    - tenpercent on 12/07/2025 - 20:54
      
      +6
      
      without these guys you won't have rentals in the first place
      
      Correct. They'd own their own homes.
      - CalmLemons on 12/07/2025 - 21:59
        
        -4
        
        @tenpercent: ok commie.
        
        tenpercent on 12/07/2025 - 22:08
        
        +6
        
        @CalmLemons: Umm. You might want to double check what "commie" means.
        
        Typically "commie" refers to "communists". And typically communists do no believe in private property.
        
        And yet that was how you chose to insult me for having the gall to point out that renters would probably own their own homes if there was less demand for owning houses from ~~scumbag landlords~~ investors. It's just supply and demand.
        
        Muppet Detector on 12/07/2025 - 22:22
        
        -1
        
        @tenpercent:
        
        . It's just supply and demand.
        
        Nah, it's far more complex than that. You may even need to explore the Nash Equilibrium and a bit of Sociology to explain the epistemology of long term accomodation provision.
        
        Nice try though.
        
        tenpercent on 13/07/2025 - 09:44
        
        +1
        
        @Muppet Detector:
        
        Wealthier people [don't bother] with houses like that…. without these guys [scumbag landlords] you won't have rentals in the first place
        
        That's what I was replying to. Not whatever you have imagined I replied to.
        
        Go on. Tell me what happens to the Nash Equilibrium when an entire class of market participants or players, i.e. scumbag landlords, withdraws from the market for "houses like that". You're left with owner occupiers and developers.
        
        Muppet Detector on 13/07/2025 - 09:48
        
        @tenpercent:
        
        And yet that was how you chose to insult me for having the gall to point out that renters would probably own their own homes if there was less demand for owning houses from scumbag landlords investors. It's just supply and demand.
        
        https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/16722589/redir
        
        That's what I was replying to. Not whatever you have imagined I replied to.
        
        You replied to yourself. Summarised is probably more accurate.
        
        tenpercent on 13/07/2025 - 09:55
        
        +2
        
        @Muppet Detector: Are you confused about what "commie" means too?
        Or are you confused about the original comment that led to my reply about renters owning homes which then led to me be called a "commie"?
        Or are confused about what would happen in a particular market if an entire class of market participants withdrew from it?
        
        CalmLemons on 12/07/2025 - 22:34
        
        -2
        
        @tenpercent: You live in a market based system in Australia.
        
        Not everyone is going to own their own home. Therefore you rent, and most rental supply is provided by investors. If you don't like that, some people move to Singapore where you can live in a nice apartment via the public housing scheme. Remember that only works because it's apartments.
        
        If you get the government to build houses and provide housing to the majority of people, that would be highly inefficient and most circumstances highly undesirable as the government is really only capable of large mass apartment projects, as per singapore.
        
        It's not a simple matter of supply and demand.
        
        From your post history, you've been trying to speculate as to why people aren't able to own a home.
        
        As long as you choose to live in a free market, you are going to have investors owning properties.
        
        But look, a lot of investors are selling now as in Victoria the government has made it unfeasible for many investors to keep residential tenancies.
        
        Now there are less places to rent, more houses for sale - has that solved your issue of owning a home yet? No. Has that bought down house prices by 50%? No.
        
        What is even better is, because of a combination of costs, labour shortages, slightly lower house prices (meaning with point 1, lower or non existent building margins), higher interest rates, there are also less houses being built by those even greedier naughty builders who are nearly as bad as those 'scumbag landlords'.
        
        So after we have burnt all the 'evil witch landlords' and 'heretic builders' at the stake, we are finally going to have housing for all. No.
        
        Now since the interest rates are high and with banks having stricter lending criteria it is just going to so much easier for renters to afford their own homes. No.
        
        You cannot assign blame to a particular segment of people thinking it is going to solve any problems.
        
        My recommendation to you is to concentrate on what you can do in your inner circle of control as a better use of your time.
        
        Throwing your fists up at the government or investors or whomever is not going to change much at all.
        
        CalmLemons on 12/07/2025 - 22:36
        
        @CalmLemons: That said, the Victorian government has made it unfeasible not because they are trying to deter investors, but the fact that they have sent themselves bankrupt by blowing all their money/OUR MONEY on inefficient, overpriced, capital projects and sucking the Victoria building labour force dry of its best talent.
        
        tenpercent on 13/07/2025 - 09:52
        
        +2
        
        @CalmLemons: Thanks, but you've gone off on a tangent. I wasn't replying to what the situation actually is, I was replying to this:
        
        Wealthier people [don't bother] with houses like that…. without these guys [scumbag landlords] you won't have rentals in the first place
        
        You said:
        
        most rental supply is provided by investors
        
        Correct. But if investors withdrew from the market for "houses like that" then demand for "houses like that" would collapse and so would prices and then renters would be able to afford to buy the houses they live in. It wouldn't actually happen though… free market and all. But if it did, more renters would be able to afford to buy homes.
        
        CalmLemons on 13/07/2025 - 12:47
        
        +1
        
        @tenpercent: Well, it won't, the prices that is.
        
        Although our population has 'increased' due to migraition, much of the new migrants appear to be very hesitant to go into blue collar construction jobs vs 30-50 years ago from european migrants and asian migrants who provided much of the construction labour force.
        
        It's not like america which has easy access to cheap labour and a large industrial economy and demographic. Although we actually have a plethora of natural resources the government is quite frankly regarded in putting in policies to make the most of it.
        
        The only way is to rapidly increase supply of 'desirable' housing, but unfortunately you have 1 million new migrants, needing a place to live, who are engaged mainly with low quality white collar jobs and contributing very little to the skills shortage that the government has failed to address. We don't need more accountants, coders or food delivery drivers, we need carpenters, roof plumbers and concreters, who will require years of training by people who don't exist, to address the shortage in housing along with support for developers rather than a cash grab by local councils and state government from developers while the federal government then has to bail out the excessive spending by vic.
        
        tenpercent on 13/07/2025 - 16:44
        
        @CalmLemons: Almost exactly this
        
        The only way is to rapidly increase supply of 'desirable' housing, but unfortunately you have 1 million new migrants, needing a place to live, who are engaged mainly with low quality white collar jobs and contributing very little to the skills shortage that the government has failed to address. We don't need more accountants, coders or food delivery drivers, we need carpenters, roof plumbers and concreters, who will require years of training by people who don't exist, to address the shortage in housing along with support for developers rather than a cash grab by local councils and state government from developers while the federal government then has to bail out the excessive spending by vic.
        
        It's not "the only way". The other way is to pause immigration of the type that doesn't contribute to increasing total supply of dwellings. And return to sender the excessive number of students undertaking degrees like Bachelor of Uber Eats Delivery Driving.
        
        CalmLemons on 13/07/2025 - 19:21
        
        @tenpercent: I think they've already paused it haven't they? One of the governments oh shit moments maybe we should have actually vetted the one million migrants.
        
        lol to the B.UEDD degree
  - Protractor on 13/07/2025 - 10:49
    
    +4
    
    The 1% of good landlords, are always quick off the mark to defend the 99% who are AH.This is why the public round them up.
GoatSuprise on 11/07/2025 - 15:14

+4

Now those lights (well 1 of them) that got replaced/fixed has come loose from poor installation. I'm not trying to skip on my obligations, I've gone over and beyond

You've just admitted that the light fixture was poorly installed, but you want your tenants to do the repair?

Get the job finished properly
TightLikeThisx on 11/07/2025 - 15:56

Check to see what is legal in your state and if possible hire a handyman to reattach the fixture.
BartholemewH on 11/07/2025 - 17:42

+3

"Now those lights (well 1 of them) that got replaced/fixed has come loose from poor installation."

Then ring whoever installed the light, and tell them they did a shit job, and they need to rectify it.

Where is the mystery?
kaleidoscope on 11/07/2025 - 17:47

+1

Just get a handyman to do the job if its just to reinforce the fixing. Whichever is cheaper. From tenants point of view it will be a safety hazard if the screws come off and fall on the ground and expose wiring. If that is a new house, ask the builder to fix it up. Dont know what else you will be looking for if you can't make it down there
Nebargains on 11/07/2025 - 19:37

-3

I must admit I have some sympathy for OP here. A couple of mates have houses they rent out (both were originally bought to live in) and they start out super keen to keep the tenants happy and fix anything that's broken and make the place as good as they can but then they start to wear thin when requests keep coming for really stupid stuff, money ends up getting wasted on plumbers and sparkies for problems that weren't really problems, wanting handymen to do really basic things that the tenant could just so themselves.
- tenpercent on 11/07/2025 - 21:38
  
  +3
  
  wanting handymen to do really basic things that the tenant could just so themselves
  
  What does the tenancy agreement say?
  If the tenant does attempt a minor basic thing repair themselves and something goes awry (whether their fault or not), then they'll probably forgo some or all of their bond. They might even hurt themselves. Is the landlord paying their medical bills and lost employment income for time off? And even if nothing goes awry, who's compensating the tenant for cost of tools and materials, and for their time?
  
  really stupid stuff
  
  Would you just leave a light cover dangling off the ceiling in the middle of a room? Don't think so.
- Protractor on 13/07/2025 - 10:52
  
  +3
  
  Did it occur to you that the tenants were covering their arse , by listing existing faults, due to opportunistic landlords throwing ppl put for any excuse, so they can re-rent at a higher price? That behaviour has become the preferred model and why rents are so high, and ppl find themselves thrown out onto the street.
Brainwhacker on 11/07/2025 - 19:46

OP - usually REA's Handyman should be able to handle otherwise you can also try Airtasker/Service Seeking. If these were changed recently the same electrician should be able to fix. Costs have increased so it pays to look for options where possible especially if its not possible for tenant to fix.
shruglord on 11/07/2025 - 20:31

+1

You're allowed to go look at it yourself. If it doesn't need an electrician then why wouldn't you? Lazy landlord
paulusjr on 11/07/2025 - 21:23

-4

how the heck can the tenants even tell a light fitting is loose?

Normal people, will focus on asking you to keep working things that matter, like working and safe gas supply, hot and cold running water, running power and basic safety, they won't send you REA requests because something isn't perfect. People that do that are people you don't want in your home.

That said

The fitting screws are not really electrical work, the electrical components are electrical work. You can ask an electrician of course they'll do it, or a handy man or do it yourself but if your tenants knit picking minor stuff then ask your agent to see if you can evict them at the end of the lease and get better tenants.

Investment property is not about being a servant to entitled tenants, if they are costing you that sort of money the investment is a bad investment, better sell out and get into index funds or something without the headaches because its only going to be harder to own property. New property laws coming are also worth looking at to help make the decision to put you money into something better.

Also if you swap the oyster out, see if you can go with something simpler like a basic batten holder, the more complex things are in investment properties the harder it is to maintain. Simple stuff, reliable, tenant proof is the mindset to have.
- tenpercent on 11/07/2025 - 21:49
  
  better sell out and get into index funds or something without the headaches
  
  Yeah some people aren't cut out to be responsible landlords. Simple stuff, investor proof assets like index funds might be the way to go.
TilacVIP on 11/07/2025 - 22:34

I just knew the responses be like this as soon as I read the OP
- Protractor on 13/07/2025 - 10:55
  
  Well it does reek of 'please hold my hand'.
JKW on 11/07/2025 - 23:18

+1

This is not the place you are going to get any sympathy.
Yes been a landlord is hard and things like this seem so trivial and frustrating and costly.
But at the end or the day you need to sort it out and if you can't do it yourself, you need to get someone to do it. Hopefully you can claim it back on tax.
Yep I remember buying my place and renting it out as I couldn't afford to live in it myself and while I was renting myself, tenants were living better life than I was and every one of these request from a tenant was painful as that amount was taken away what little rent I got. There are so many cost involve that people don't realise and assume that all landlord own their property but most still have mortgages that the rent in most cases barely cover the interest cost of the property. I had to subsidise my income and it was a hard slog. The damages to your property was hard through the renting process as tenant never quite treat the property of how you would have yourself and expected everything done. While I can relate to both sides. It isn't all roses been the landlord and I never went back to being one.
Ciderfizz44 on 12/07/2025 - 07:30

how dare you also where in regional VIC? Are you based interstate.
Eeples on 12/07/2025 - 11:18

+4

Getting things fixed or installing new things in your rental house isn’t doing things for them. (Well, that’s only a by-product).

It is doing things for you and your investment property. Good things.
Eeples on 12/07/2025 - 11:24

+2

A landlord used to be a job.

It is now outsourced to the Public or REA.

Have you met the Public? (Or, dealt with a REA?)
CodeXD on 12/07/2025 - 11:31

+1

Now those lights (well 1 of them) that got replaced/fixed has come loose from poor installation

tell the installer to come back and fix it?
burningrage on 12/07/2025 - 14:33

Maybe new to OP but OzB is not the right forum for landlords as you have witnessed the prejudices yourself.

My suggestion is to defer back to your REA and ask if this should fall under the scope of DIY based on your description. If it is not, then you just have to follow what your REA said. It should not be pricey and tax deductible as well.

When it comes to electrical and you do not necessarily have the expertise, deferring back to REA would be strongly advisable.

Hope this helps and dont let the prejudices discourage you from posting in the future.
- tenpercent on 12/07/2025 - 15:55
  
  +1
  
  Can you identify the prejudices? Are they in the room with you right now?
cpapi on 12/07/2025 - 16:20

+6

Honestly, your mind frame is RANK.

The business expense of $3200 on the kitchen (which without a doubt) adds value to the property then cry about fixing a light fixture.

You're everything wrong with landlords and the rental market.
- CalmLemons on 12/07/2025 - 17:02
  
  OP is an isolated case. Remember guys like this rent out properties like this. More experienced ones wouldn't bother doing rentals like this.
Reticent on 12/07/2025 - 16:42

+4

Jesus Christ, landlords are the worst. Especially this one.

The tenants are paying for a service. Deliver on it and pay up.
H3R34TH4C0MM3NTS on 12/07/2025 - 17:29

+2

Do what most landlords do raise the rent every 3 months by 10 %, until the voluntarily boot out the "problem" and "ungrateful" tenant because the rental rate is absolute robbery. Put the tenant on the rental black list then resist the property to a new tenant for much a much lower rate.
Purp on 12/07/2025 - 20:16

-4

You expected reasonable responses from people that hate landlords but voted for the same people in that will continue to make it impossible for people to own their first homes?
Zapwap on 12/07/2025 - 22:31

If I had the time, I'd pay a visit myself as a handyman and if it's fixable, I'd fix it.
Daddy Chill on 13/07/2025 - 05:33

The landlord just got a bukake
THICKnSLOW on 13/07/2025 - 10:18

+1

More affordable renting solution is for landlords to lease directly to tenants and cut out the middleman REA.

If you're a property owner who is only interested in the monetary return from your investment then go ahead and employ an REA and charge inflated prices and reap what you sow.

If you care about your fellow human beings and want the system to change and have a best outcome for both tenant and landlord, private property management is the way to go.

REA are the ones who artificially inflate prices by their presence.
love2buy on 13/07/2025 - 12:08

I think op at the end of the day just wants a fair bill for the job and not being ripped off or taken advantage of by whomever.
TheRealCher on 13/07/2025 - 14:54

it's a business. you get to claim it on tax. what's the problem?
Narull on 13/07/2025 - 15:21

+2

While you may think it's DiY I've learnt from 20+ years of renting to not touch DiY because if I don't do it up to your standards whatever the hell they may be (because owners like to change the goal posts) you will blame me and charge me, so yes everything even a simple little thing is up to you to fix. You bought an investment in a world where property owners exploit renters for every dime they can get, don't expect any good will apart from others who are doing the same, even if you're thr greatest owner ever all it takes is one tiny mistake and you will take your renters for every cent you can.

Received a Request from The REA That The Tenants Wanted a Loose Oyster Light Fixed

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