Real Estate told me to do my laundry!?

So I'm with PRD, been in this house for 3 years now and only TWICE have we not had to have a re inspection, that agent was absolutely gorgeous. Last inspection we got a seemingly nice lady come through, apologized about the lawns not being mowed in a fortnight but it's been raining every night and the ground is just too wet, the mower will get bogged, yep sure fine. As she's leaving we ask if everything was ok and she said yep, the only thing is the lawns but I'm not going to write you up for that, it's too much paperwork. Today I get a letter for a re inspection in a week because

• The lawn needs to be mowed, so she out and out lied to us about not writing us up
• The floors need to be vacuumed and mopped, this was done the night before the inspection AND the morning of
• Rooms need to be tided, I was under the impression that as long as it wasn't damaging the house it was none of their business, they were all clean anyway, just a baby playmat on the floor of out room and a highchair and walker in the kitchen
• Laundry downstairs to be done, tidied and put away.....Excuse me??? How is my laundry and of their business? I had two baskets next to the washing machine to be done, thats it

This happens everytime. This house is over 70years old, there's only one layer of WHITE paint on the walls, no undercoat, you can see the old paint in patches, it always looks dirty. There's paint splattered on the cheap, old lino that isn't even glued down in the kitchen, it always looks dirty. I just, I cannot comprehend their attitude. It's gotten to the point of the owner coming over to have a look because they make it sound like we trash the house. He didn't have a problem with how it looked at all. I'm sorry, I'm just very very mad >.<

I would be tempted to write back & tell the re to feel free to come over any time to sort, fold & put away washing! That is absolute bull****. If your house is not damaged, dirty or being misused then what business is it of theirs if you haven't caught up on the washing?? I currently have 3 clothes horses chock a block in my 2nd lounge room due to Mother Nature being non compliant, I would be slightly embarrassed if I had strangers come to the house but I wouldn't expect to be openly judged.

Sorry, rant over :/

Call the tenancy tribunal & find out your rights. Your laundry is your business, but you might be legally allowed to tell them to stick it ;)

The lawns are the only thing you should have to comply with and you gave a reasonable reason why. I would contact the tenancy tribunal for their advice in how to respond.

Wow. That made me angry just reading it. I would tell them to get stuffed and that you won't be having another inspection until the normal 3 months is up thanks very much.

I'd be writing to her boss and asking how exactly is it any of her business how you live. I'd then go on to ask if their own washing was up to date and whether or not they left a dirty spoon in the sink of their own homes after they made their morning coffee and flew out the door. Seriously, she has zero right to even go there and I would be making a complaint.

Is there anything that could use some attention in the house (you mentioned the paint)? If I were you, I would write up a list of house maintenance items that you would like attended to ASAP. And tell them at the same time that as far as your rights under the Tenancy agreement the laundry and tidiness of the house does not come under the scope of their inspection.

I'd be livid!

How old are you? Under 25? And how old is the RE? I only ask cause the same thing has happened to DH and I shortly after DD2 was born (22 at the time). It sounds like you're being treated like a total child, completely patronised. I'd be really angry, and I'd definitely be writing a letter back asking when they're free to come and do your housework.

Our RE says we're expected to have it tidy for inspections so they can see any damage (I'm guessing no strategically placed stuff over carpet stains, for example!), which I get. But they also say stuff like make the beds, which I generally do anyway (won't tell you what gets hidden under there!), but don't see that being any of their business. Same with your laundry and a few kids things being out....I've offered to move DS's floor mat so they can see it's not hiding stains, but my RE just laughs at me...I obviously look trustworthy :)

Sounds like they're being picky on purpose - is she new and needs to prove herself? Has she seen you've had to have re inspections before and feels like she'd look slack by letting you get away scot-free? The fact that you asked at the time and she failed to mention any of that is really poor form IMO.

Find out your rights, then see them in person to discuss. It'd do my head in to have to go through that every three months!

They can not tell you how to live. They are they to view maintenance issues

My mum used to be in real estate, she's a very fussy and clean person. When she would do inspections, she would have to turn a blind eye to what she would call mess (unmade beds, washing piles, few dishes in the sink etc). Not once would she say anything about it, as the tenants were simply living how most live.

If the floors were clearly dirty or walls, bathrooms etc, then yes, she would ask that they be cleaned but never re-inspect unless when the next inspection rolled around and the same problems where there again

Make sure you put your complaints in writing then email to her and also her boss or owner and keep a copy for your landlord when he comes. Also mention you asked if everything was OK and you had mentioned the lawns were not done due to weather & was told you had passed. Pick her up on her lies.
In the letter quote your rights with the section from the tenancy act. Then let them know if this happens again you will be taking it further as their inspections are against the tenancy act.

I'm 21 so my being young might have something to do with it. Problem is I just don't want to start anything. My MIL was there too so do you think having her be able to verify what was said would help? I'm just over this, every inspection for the last 3 years. If they didn't keep gettting us to sign 12month leases I'd swear they were just trying to annoy us out of the house. Maybe it's an intimidation thing? You know, never forget we have complete control over you living situation kind of thing?

Also my MIL was a cleaner in a nursing home for quite a few years which is why I asked her over, so she could have a look over and point out anything that I might not have noticed, she said it was fine

Make her accountable. I would go in with your MIL and see the manager and if she is the manager someone higher. She is nitpicking

I don't know if anyone is still following this thread but I emailed the real estate, didn't go well. She called up very angrily and said the inspection WILL still be going ahead, the kitchen floor was FILTHY ( absolute bull btw) and everything needs to be organised so that they know we are neat people who will take care of the house, and don't forget we can send out a notice to vacate. Although the RTA is on my side and said what we got written up for is not right :p So Thursday when she comes around again I'm going to take pictures with time stamps, let her know I've contacted the RTA and have the forms to dispute if she writes me up again

It seems almost laughable that she thinks she can tell you to do your laundry!! Right now it's raining hard here, so I have clothes hanging inside, some wet in a basket and some dirty in a basket waiting to be washed. Would she demand that they were dried faster, or I held off on doing laundry until after the inspection?

If she thinks the kitchen floor is filthy, but at the next inspection it's the same as last time because it's that type of floor (had one of those, I hated it), invite her to clean it herself!

The way she's spoken to you is completely unprofessional, keep note of things like that - it's great that you've got the RTA onside, things like this will help.

She wants to evict a tenant who pays the rent on time (I presume) and hasn't done any structural damage to the house and for all intents and purposes has proved themselves to be clean? Houses are meant to be lived in aren't they? Seems like she has a few screws loose. We would never pass one of her inspections, I have no less than three baskets full of washing in various states of cleanliness (I HATE ironing!). All she had to do was ask if you could move it so that she could see that there was no damage. Talk about overkill.

Next time I would be asking her very politely to email you a response. Keep a written trail. Keep your own diary of dates, times and what was said. Have a witness for the next inspection. Good luck.

Can you or someone else quietly video her inspection which will show the state of the house while she is in the picture. That way if she nitpicks head straight down to the RE and see the manager. The way she is behaving is harassment and certainly not on.

But yeah, have someone there with you when she comes.

Call her boss/director of the RE. Tell them you are being unfairly harassed and you don't want her to inspect. Tell them they are welcome to, but do not send her as you won't let her in.

We've done that before. We've even had the director send the property manager to DH who was working almost 100kms away because he tried to evict us (he said we hadn't paid rent yet we had the receipts to show it). Once you get the boss involved, it'll be a different ball game.

She sounds really nuts. I'd e-mail her manager with a complaint and ask that someone else does the inspection: it is not the inspection per se that you object to, just this one woman and her attitude. I'd also get the manager to log that it is e-mail communication only with you and that you will complain if this is not adhered to.

I second taking the photographs with time and date stamp. Take photos before and after inspection. E-mail them to the manager before she gets her report in and ask him to look over it, assuming that they don't assign you another agent as per the request you are about to make.

Hugs to you. It is not supposed to be this aggrivating.

She is being a piece of poo. Do what the other girls have suggested, please - take it higher. She is not a free agent and she can't harrass you like this just because of your age (because the rest doesn't fly and this is clearly a prejudice she has, especially to speak with you that way).
She's been caught out in a lie. Go hard!

:

---

Call her boss/director of the RE. Tell them you are being unfairly harassed and you don't want her to inspect. Tell them they are welcome to, but do not send her as you won't let her in.

We've done that before. We've even had the director send the property manager to DH who was working almost 100kms away because he tried to evict us (he said we hadn't paid rent yet we had the receipts to show it). Once you get the boss involved, it'll be a different ball game.

---

Agree with this, she is crazy and shouldn't be treating you like that.

Call her boss and then report her to fair trading (if in qld)

Do you rent through a large franchise? If you do call their head office too. I used to work for the large yellow black and white one and they take thus stuff VERY seriously.

Well the inspection was today and as soon as she walked in the door she asked about my 3yr old stepson who was over last time she was and fell in love with her and said, wow the house looks so much better! Which is BS considering I didn't do anything except mop and vacuum again. THen she played with bub, asked his name, played with the dog, we had a nice chat blah blah blah and seemed like a completely different person. Stupid me didn't end up taking pictures since she was just so nice, I forgot. I mentioned that I had talked to the RTA and that the house being 'unorganised' was none of there business and her reply was that yea, but it wears the house down??? I also said I use cloth nappies and hes a really pukey baby so there is always going to be washing in the laundry. But in the end she did say it looks fine, this is the inspection standard we expect and it's all fine. She also mentioned it's up to the owner if we breach, so from what I understand she does the inspection, writes the report, gives it to the owner and then he lets them know whether to come back or not? Oh, and said she didn't mean to offend on the phone, she wasn't in uniform so I'm thinking maybe she's new and feels needs to prove herself or perhaps because the email wasn't addressed directly to her a superior read it and told her off?

She was nice to you in person last time too. I'd still be complaining about the way she's treated you. It's not right.

I agree with Tinks. Get the photos now. And email her, copy the manager, thank her for the interest in your family and her pleasant attitude and say that you are happy she said xyz about how your home is perfect. Get in before she does OR have a great new relationship, either works.

This is so hard, I'm absolutely terrified of confrontation. We have nowhere to go and a 6 month old, no savings. His mum lives with his grandparents, they have 5 people in a 3bedroom house already, and they all hate each other. There's no room there and it's an awful environment. My dad lives in a 1 bedroom shack in the middle of nowhere, my mum is in cairns, it's a 22hr drive. I'm scared to start something and get kicked out of this house.

you can't be evicted for exercising your right to not be walked all over. even if they gave notice to vacate without grounds, if you have nowhere to go you continue paying your rent until you do find something suitable. no tribunal would rule to make you homeless. even if for some crazy reason you were ordered to get out..... you'd have a reasonable time frame.

This woman has harassed, patronized and threatened you with eviction for no reason. I don't think tge landlord would be impressed with that.

I understand your position but you have the right to be treated with respect. You don't have to be confrontational to stand up for yourself. If you need help writing a letter, all of us in this thread would be happy to help you.

She may have already brought this up with a supervisor and been given a heads up about how to be with tenants?
Regardless, you need the peace of mind that she's not going to shake you up again because that is NO way to live, and it's NOT want renting is about.
You can write a letter and post photos and even mention that the second inspection went really well and her demeanour towards you had changed, which is why you are writing to make sure the attitude the first time never crops up again. You can write it very civilly and politely, it doesn't have to be aggro at all :) If you need help then write everything you want to write in point form and PM me so that I can draft up something nice and to the point that you can tweak if you like. There might be other BBers who might want to do that, too, and you can pick the one that feels best?

:

---

This is so hard, I'm absolutely terrified of confrontation. We have nowhere to go and a 6 month old, no savings. His mum lives with his grandparents, they have 5 people in a 3bedroom house already, and they all hate each other. There's no room there and it's an awful environment. My dad lives in a 1 bedroom shack in the middle of nowhere, my mum is in cairns, it's a 22hr drive. I'm scared to start something and get kicked out of this house.

---

I also think it would be best to let the agency know about her behaviour, however you need to feel comfortable as well. And it would also be reasonable for you to let that one go this time and just see what happens with this. The whole idea of deling with the issue is obviously confroting to you so don't let us pressure you into something you don't want to or can't or feel too anxious to do. Feel confident though that her behaviour WAS unacceptable and you have the right to follow it up if you so desire. In the meantime do what feels right for you - you can't be evicted for leaving a pile of washing in the laundry.

Deep breath. I am hooping that this report is smooth sailing and you can relax about it all.

Oh :hug:, that's just a horrible thing to have to deal with. I'd just put it all in writing and email your concerns to the RE office, asking for her supervisor to be informed. I wouldn't invite confrontation, just let them know you're concerned about the threat re eviction when there was nothing said at the actual inspection itself that indicated anything was out of the ordinary. I'd kinda come from a place of confusion at getting mixed messages.

Oh don't get me started raving about inspections! We've just bought our own house but were renting for five years, had so many property managers in that time. Some were fine, others were so picky! Drove me insane!
A friend had hers complain because she had crumbs on her breadboard! Perhaps complain to management?

I think I'll wait a few days and see if we get contacted. If we do I would definitely love help writing a letter, I'm sure a lot of you have had to start out from the bottom, young poor and alone like we have haha, it's awesome having this kind of support from people who understand. I'll update if anything happens

Did you hear back yet?

Thanks guys for caring and checking up, its been a week and no letter yet, I've also had to contact them about something different and talked to her and nothing was mentioned even though I asked about something to do with the lease. We've always had letters before this so I've stopped worrying, for now