for all you landlords out there

[Trillian]

You really need to talk to them and get some things sorted out quickly! I wouldn't tolerate that. I wouldn't care if they weren't green thumbs or anything, but it sounds like they have just been totally inattentive and actually destructive. Even though the house may be OK inside, the outside is just as important. If they left tomorrow and you had to get new tenants in, it's going to be even harder with the yard looking the way it does kwim? It's still something you are going to have to fix that you shouldn't even have to fix.

[Amity]

I'd look at giving them a notice to vacate for no reason. I think in Victoria it's a 90 or 120 day notice. And then have a barney about what needs fixing.

But before I did that, I'd ensure that there was actually a "market" for the property - is it easy to let? In a good area? Will people be interested? How long will the place be vacant, and is it worth kicking out (non-paying) tenants for the possibility of paying tenants?

[teresa]

thank you ladies! I was starting to think I was being unreasonable in what I was thinking!

the only reason we are renting our house out is due to DH relocating for work (he is in the RAAF and we didn't want to sell as we want to go back eventually).

[teresa]

they have 3 monthly inspections and we get a report and photos. but the outside has never really been mentioned nor has photos been given either.

the rainwater tanks are hooked up to a sprinkler system for the backyard which we put in to help water the lawn especially during the water restrictions.

[Traveller]

I'd be requesting action over the yard and the non payment of rent before kicking them out. Approach the PM and state your concerns and see what they can come up with. You can ask for the property to be cleaned before you inspect but he prepared that your idea of clean and theirs may differ dramatically.

Not chaining up a dog is a non issue, I wouldn't chain mine up. However I would move him into another room during an inspection just to be polite but I don't actually have anywhere he could be chained up and maybe they don't either. Sorry to be blunt but your child being afraid of their dog is not really a big problem (for them). They have the right as tenants to expect an inspection will be done by adults and no kids will be brought uninvited into their home, which it is for the duration of their tenancy. I say this as both a tenant in the past and as a landlord now. I would not take my kids with me to inspect a property.

[Kazzo]

I would be giving notice to them.

We recently moved out of our house and kept it as a rental. We gave the tenants the option of having the lawn/gardening taken care of every fortnight over summer/spring and every month in winter/autumn for $10 a week added to the rent or they had to to the up keep themselves to a set out standard. They are doing it themselves and so far doing a great job. Might be an option you can have if you get new tenents in or give to these tenents if you don't evict them.

[teresa]

we took our son to the inspection as we had no one at that time of day who could look after him for the half hour needed. plus if someone was coming to my house for what ever reason, I always chain my dogs up out of respect for others.

[sangie]

they have 3 monthly inspections and we get a report and photos. but the outside has never really been mentioned nor has photos been given either.

Sounds like your property manager may not be doing their job properly. I'd have a serious chat to them about your expectations and if they can't meet them then it may be time for a new PM.
I'm not sure how it works outside of VIC, but I'd start court proceedings to evict them now if you are legally able to do so. These things can take weeks and better to get the ball rolling sooner rather than later. To be honest I wouldn't be too worried about cleanliness but more about anything they have damaged (yeah its disgusting if its not cleaned but a pretty easy fix once they've moved out). They should definitely be held accountable for the broken lights and the holes in the yard etc.

[Marley&Me]

Wow, that is unacceptable. We are still renting and I have seen the state of some houses in open for inspections. One house smelled of human urine. The house we are in now was actually pretty dirty. I was cleaning for days. It's usually in the lease terms that you maintain the gardens, so they should be looking after that. Sounds like the PM is a bit slack too.

I'd look at giving them a notice to vacate for no reason. I think in Victoria it's a 90 or 120 day notice. And then have a barney about what needs fixing

Divvy, do you know if if a notice to vacate for no reason is usually because the landlord doesn't like the tenants. We have never met our landlord, but we have just been served with one of these 'no reason' vacate notices. We have been late with rent twice in 2 years but never more than 5 days. We have kept this place in excellent condition, so we are confused.