Would you have let them in?

[Arimeh]

We have butted heads a few times with our real estate. Here's a quick rundown.

1) it took 8 months of hassling them to get our garage door fixed. It would work with the remote whenever it wanted, and there was no button on the wall, so most of the time we were manually opening it from the button on the motor. They sent someone out to service it, and they said we were pressing the button the wrong way. Eventually they put a new motor in and wow, it works every time now.

2) The first inspection they did they came in and took photos without our permission. I had spent a few days cleaning the house, but on that actual day it was my mum's birthday, so we had all the grandkids around (10 in total) and the kitchen was a pigsty from presents and snack food and cake - and that was the exact time they decided to turn up at the door. So I let her in (she was quite snippy and rude) and then started to take pics. My sister called the real estate after they had left, and asked for copies of them which we have never received.

3) A few months ago (before DH finished his first semester of uni and was in exam week) they sent us a text message on the weekend and said that they had driven past our place and the front garden "Wasn't good enough" and we were to weed and mow the lawn asap. I think in the area we live in they should be grateful that we've paid rent every week because there are lots of people in this suburb that don't pay their rent... any hoo.....we told them DH was in exam week and he'll get to it after his exams. We aren't big on gardening any way (we admit it) but we think if the property isn't on the market and we have a year lease on it - whats the big deal really if we have a few weeds in our garden?

4) We asked if we could hang a boxing bag thing from the ceiling in the garage - obviously from a main structure point - and they refused on the basis that "given our financial status we wouldn't be able to afford to fix it if the ceiling caved in".

So today - they rocked up at the door and said they were here to do an inspection. They didn't give us any notice, the house was of course, a pigsty like normal so DH didn't let them in. She cracked it, was really rude to him and said that she sent the notice 2 weeks ago. We never received it.

So - would you have let them in? DH can't stand them so wouldn't let her in.

[maybebaby2012]

Probably, but I can be a bit wussy in situations with 'authority' type figures though. I would have been mortified though.

[Arimeh]

Probably, but I can be a bit wussy in situations with 'authority' type figures though. I would have been mortified though.

haha yeah I'm glad I didn't open the door! DH is 6 foot 7 though so most people are pretty intimidated when they first meet him - especially if they are on the short side like I am!

[Mummy&Daddy2Be]

no way! i wouldn't have let them in. i think your DH did the right thing! i would be leaving them ASAP though...!

[briggsy's girl]

Given the way you've been treated in the past, no way!

They my well have sent a letter a fortnight ago but given you said you hadn't received it they should have accepted that and made an appointment for a few days time.



We had a letter from our RE not show up one time re an inspection. The house was in ok state so we let them in. But they have since sent our letters registered if coming to the house rather than PO box. For security for both of us.

Good on your DH for stopping them entering.

[~clover~]

Nope. They have to legally give 7 days notice in writing for ANY inspections, allowing time for post on top of that 7 days. Its the same in NSW to WA, so I assume it would be the same around Aus.

Pretty sure that minimum time allowed between inspections is 3 months too.

I have been asked the lawn to be mowed at one property I was in. It was untidy, I was 6 months pregnant, ex was working away & we didn't own a mower. We paid someone to do it. I was sent a letter in writing though, not a text.

[RhiChiChi]

No, I wouldn 't have let them in, particularly since you didn't receive the notice. They sound unprofessional, particularly in their dealings with you. I'm not sure about the drive by - they may have been in the area and noticed the garden was unkempt, however they could have called you for a chat about it & given you the benefit of the doubt. If it became a regular occurence then they could have cause for concern.

I have never rented and don't own a rental property, however I would expect the gardens to be tidy/maintained, if it was in the agreement.

I understand with kids or not that a place can be messy & I would assume (or hope) that that is not part of the inspection - I'd be more concered about holes in walls, marked carpets etc....

I live alot differently to some of my friends and family - what I deem as tidy and even clean is probably not to some of my friends & certainly not to my sister (she is a clean freak!) and vice cersa, Some of my friends only clean their skirting boards once a month or even less, whereas I do mine weekly to fortnightly......

I'd check the agreement and find out what actually needs to be done/adhered to for renting the property and for inspections going forward so there is no misunderstanding for next time and also what your rights are as a tenant to let them in to inspect.

Sounds like a lot of RE agents are coping flack from vendors about the state of properties.

Whilst I agree that a paying tenant is probably preferred, I'd be mortified if the property was left in disarray and I had to fix the property so it could be tenanted again. This happened to my old boss - they had well paying tenants but when they vacated there were holes in the walls, doors taken off the hinges and it cost him a bucket load to repair, which wasn't covered by the bond.

[Miss_Dee]

I probably would have let them in, but I can be a bit of a pushover. Good on your DH for not letting them in!

[Cass72]

You are well within your rights to refuse them. I do not let people come into my home without being given adequate notice.

However, if they were friendly agents I probably would have if I knew they would turn a blind eye to the mess (there's a big difference to an untidy home to a dirty home). Our home is often untidy but I know that it's "clean" underneath the washing, toys and school books!

With regards to the maintenance of the front garden, I think you'll find this on your lease. It is the responsibility of the tenant to maintain the upkeep of the property, ie, mowing the lawns and weeding the garden. Some tenancy agreements will cover additional items but, as I say, this should be on your lease. If you don't have a copy, you can request an additional one.

[Arimeh]

With regards to the maintenance of the front garden, I think you'll find this on your lease. It is the responsibility of the tenant to maintain the upkeep of the property, ie, mowing the lawns and weeding the garden. Some tenancy agreements will cover additional items but, as I say, this should be on your lease. If you don't have a copy, you can request an additional one.

Hmm I'll have to try and find it..... It probably says reasonable state or something, and my reasonable state is probably a lot different to their reasonable state LOL!!!!

[Mummy&Daddy2Be]

my reasonable state is probably a lot different to their reasonable state LOL!!!!

i'm the same with our garden! hilarious

[Rowellen]

No way! My DH would have threatened to call the police if they didn't leave too. Good on your DH for not letting them in. After the experiences we've had with some not so friendly rental agents, my attitude is stuff em. Know your rights and stick to it. We had them turn up without notice once. Unfortunately we weren't home to not let them in. Not happy campers here. I tell anyone who asks never to rent through that agency (as tenant or landlord) if they can avoid it.

I'd also be rather concerned about the structural integrity of the house given the response in point 4. Unfortunately I think it is within their rights to say no to that one without giving a reason. The reason they gave is rather stupid IMO.

[leesha]

They have to legally give you 24hrs notice so even if they did send a letter I would of suggested that they call rather than send a letter and if they would like to make another day and time.

[Jakabella]

I think your DH did the right thing!
This thread is the exact reason I have and never will rent! Way to nasty and hard work!

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

And I hope you never have to rent, Jakabella. But most people I know have rented at some point or another - and not because it's what they absolutely wanted to do.

Last rental we had (we hadn't wanted to rent but had no other options at that point), we had really lovely estate agents who not only gave notice, but trusted us. If they'd turned up, even if I was in the middle of baking and hadn't vacuumed yet, I would have been OK with them coming in, because they looked at the state of the building and not the day-to-day living. And they didn't inspect the place too much once they realised we kept it in decent nick. Before that was when we were students but I can't recall many, if any, inspections.

With your agents, no, wouldn't have let them in. They don't sound trustworthy, so I wouldn't trust them.

[*Ang*]

You are right Mrs NB, I digressed, sorry

In answer to your original question, then yes you were within your rights to refuse them and your husband did the right thing.

[Ms_Fi]

We've got an inspection on Friday and I'm dreading it . DP is going to be here and he's never met the realtors (I moved in with my now ex-DP) and I just know they're going to hate each other on sight

I get an email from the agents suggesting a date then when I confirm it I get a letter so I always know when they're going to come. Last time she *****ed at me for the dust in the back bedroom (we back into a building site) and a cobweb in the garage "Didn't you read the letter, it said the property had to be immaculate"!!

I'd never, ever rent from them again and if I didn't love the house so much I'd move.

We've also had a business card stuck in the front screen door saying LAWNS on it in big red letters cause the postie had driven over the lawn and chewed up the grass with his moped

[fionas]

If they turn up without giving notice, no, of course, I wouldn't have let them in if a) it was inconvenient or b) the house was messy.

However, it sounds like the first time they did give notice, it's just that the party coincided with that date. If that had been me, I would either have rearranged the inspection or rearranged the party. Having said that, taking photos without permission (I'm not sure they needed permission) is TOTALLY not on.

I agree with the others about the garden (and this is from someone who owned their own place and had a tip of a garden -yes, it's a pain in the butt but an agreement is an agreement).

As for the garage door - if it worked, albeit not perfectly and you had to push a manual button, well, as a landlord I wouldn't have treated that as a priority either.

It totally sucks when you feel like the landlord/agent are driving past and making assumptions about what sort of tenant you are from a look at the garden but I guess you have a choice a) do the garden to keep on their good side b) neglect the garden and worry about it or b) reach some agreement with the agency whereby you pay a bit more rent to get a gardener in now and again.