Landlord orders Aussie renter to cough up more than $1,000 to fix ‘invisible’ scratch

Landlord orders Austrian tenant to cough up more than $1,000 to fix ‘invisible’ scratches

A furious Australian tenant has turned to the internet for advice after their former landlord demanded $1,000 to fix a small, barely noticeable scratch.

The tenant, from Sydney, shared two photos of scratches on the floorboards in their living room, which had appeared since they and their partner moved in.

However, they questioned whether the owner was right to require the entire floor to be replaced.

“I just want to ask if you think it’s ridiculous that my landlord wants to pay $1,000 for a minimal scratch on a panel of a hardwood floor?” they asked online.

“Does that make sense to you?”

A Sydney landlord demanded a couple pay $1,000 to fix a small scratch (above) in their living room

A Sydney landlord demanded a couple pay $1,000 to fix a small scratch (above) in their living room

Hundreds of commenters were horrified by the owner’s request and accused them of ‘extorting’ the couple.

The tenant followed up their post with an update a few days later.

“We told (the estate agent) we were going to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, NCAT, as we did not agree to pay the $1,000,” they wrote.

“The agent came back to us and said they had a serious discussion with the owner and the owner decided to lower the fee to $500.

At first I didn’t want to pay $500 and insisted on going for NCAT and my partner agreed, but after two days he asked me if we can close the case and just pay him $500 because he doesn’t want to waste his time his.

“I hope she spends that $500 well because if I wasn’t with my partner I would have gone to court.”

Although the couple agreed that taking the matter to court ‘wasn’t worth anyone’s time’, they were confused when they discovered someone else was already living in the house.

“Does the owner want to do the floor while there are new tenants staying?” the tenant wrote.

‘No sense. They even had the audacity to complain about the blind saying it wasn’t being tracked properly, which wasn’t even true.’

Hundreds of other commenters were shocked that the couple still paid $500.

The couple ended up paying $500 after negotiating with the landlord (pictured, scratch)

The couple ended up paying $500 after negotiating with the landlord (pictured, scratch)

“That’s almost certainly under ‘normal wear and tear’ – if he didn’t expect a wooden floor to scratch, then he shouldn’t have laid it. That’s a joke,” said one.

“Owners should be asked to show a photo of the repaired damage within a month or else take it back,” wrote another.

“Given to their demands just reinforces that behavior and will encourage them to continue to kidnap people in the future,” said a third.

Not even that scratch can be repaired. Maybe just try the same thing with the other tenant,” wrote another.

State and territory breakdown by advice for tenants in Australia

State/Territory

NSW

Victoria

Queensland

WA

how

Tasmania

NTA

NT

How often can landlords increase a periodic rent?

Once every 12 months for periodic rentals.

Once every 12 months for periodic rentals.

Once in 6 months.

Once in 6 months.

Once every 12 months. The rent cannot be increased in the first 12 months of the tenancy.

Once every 12 months, after the start or renewal of the rental agreement.

Once every 12 months from the date of the last increase.

Once every 6 months and not within the first six months of the lease. Rents can only be increased if the right to do so is written into the tenancy agreement.

How much notice do they have to give you?

At least 60 days (written notice).

At least 60 days (written notice)

At least 2 months (written notice). The notice must include the date and amount of the increase.

At least 60 days (written notice).

At least 60 days (written notice).

At least 60 days (written notice).

At least eight weeks written notice.

At least 30 days written notice. The notice must indicate the intention to increase the rent, the increase in the amount and the date of its change.

Source: The Residential Tenancies Act of each state/territory.

Rent increases that are considered ‘excessive’ are different in each country, but in general, rent authorities consider increases to be excessive if they are very different from similar market rents, if there is a significant difference in comparison with the current rent or if the property has outstanding repairs needed.

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