Domestic failure

[Saffy]

That's a bit rough. Things like toys shouldn't even be relevant, aren't they just interested in whether the actual house is damaged etc?

I agree that a lot of them think they are all that, when they are only real estate agents for crying out loud.

Maybe contact her and explain the situation nicely and ask if they can do it again when you are prepared.

I doubt it's grounds to kick you out so try not to worry about it, you know the reason it happened.

My Dh has been overseas for 3weeks and my house is a bomb site and I only have one kid

[briggsy's girl]

I would be doing what has previously been mentioned plus requesting that all future requests to access/inspect the property are provided in writing by post. SMS, while convenient for a lot of things, is notoriously unreliable and I don't believe it's an appropriate way to notify of something like a rental inspection (if they have called and given you notice and send details by text to confirm, fair enough, but not as the ONLY form of notification)

This is the first house I've rented so I can't comment in what is "normal" and what isn't in terms if inspections, however I will comment that our agent stated that we would have an inspection at three months and then six monthly after that. We had moved a hundred years worth of "stuff" with us from hubby's parents and grandparents so we had a lot of stuff to go through after moving - it definitely wasn't done within the first three months with an 18 month kid under foot, and working etc. Our first inspection mentioned that the house was cluttered but neat and not damaged. I thought cluttered was a polite way of saying it needed more cleaning up but because it was a written politely I didn't take offence kwim? It was just handled much better than your situation appears to have been.

I think the way your situation has been handled is pretty ordinary. I'd definitely be addressing it with the real estate or residential tenancy mob in your state. Know your rights and let them know you want be pushed around or made to feel crummy for what most people would consider "normal mess" when you have kidlets!