A ‘cash-strapped’ landlord has been slammed online after advising poor tenants to ‘deal’ with broken fixtures without demanding they be fixed.
The mother, who owns her own home in Sydney as well as renting it out, complains that her new tenants have made numerous repair requests since moving in.
He described the issues as ‘minor’ including a broken roller door, loose door handle and leaking plumbing in a lengthy Facebook post asking for advice.
He added that rising interest rates have left him strapped for cash – and claimed his rental property could fetch much more value in the current market.
‘My question is do I just suck it up and keep fixing these little things? Or should I start saying they just have to deal with it?’ he asked.
A ‘cash-criminal’ landlord has been slammed online for advising poor tenants to ‘stuff’ instead of demanding ‘broken fixtures’ be fixed – including leaking pipes (stock)
‘Every time, I approve repairs and racking up maintenance! In my own home I take all the above minor issues and just live with it,’ he said.
The tenant’s new issues that have yet to be resolved include ‘a sliding door that won’t lock unless forced shut’ and ‘a stove lighter has stopped working’.
‘I think my tenants have forgotten that I’m not a multi-millionaire. What do you think?,’ she asked.
But people were less sympathetic and told the woman to fix her property or get out of the real estate game.
‘You can’t be a landlord if you can’t maintain your rental property. It’s actually very simple,’ said one woman.
‘If they break, you have to fix them. As a renter, I hate constantly asking for repairs because I feel like a burden but then I think that’s one benefit of renting. If something breaks, it is the landlords obligation to fix it. Sorry, but it’s all part of the property investment gig,’ one woman said.
‘It may seem small to you and you may be willing to suck it up and live with the problems, but your tenant is paying to live in a house without problems,’ said another.
Most people agree that problems are not ‘small’.
‘A leaky tap can increase their water bill, a dead battery in a roller door means they can’t use the door.. A door that won’t lock unless forced is not acceptable, if they use force and then What happens if it breaks? DOOR Do you blame the tenant.. Be a good landlord and fix the problem.’
‘These are very reasonable requests, especially if they’ve just moved in, don’t forget yes you’ve given them a place to live but they’re paying you to pay off the mortgage which you can do minor repairs,’ said another.
The woman said she didn’t raise the rent because she didn’t want to be a real estate tycoon — she just wanted to pay her mortgage. But it failed to impress.
‘You don’t get a cookie for not exploiting the housing shortage and raising rents for profit. Investment carries risk.
Some people had advice for the woman.
‘Increase your rent for maintenance etc. Most people in this group will disagree with me but at the end of the day owning a rental property is a business/investment and not a charity,’ said one woman.
Some people called the landlord’s faulty doors a serious problem and scolded him for not wanting to fix things
‘It can be annoying but as a landlord I go and do the basic repairs myself or send my dad over. Things like changing batteries/globes can be so expensive when the agent arranges simple people to do it,’ suggested another.
Some tenants favor landlords.
‘I fix everything that breaks in my rental. Instead, the owners don’t bother us with constant visits. Have 2 in 8 years. I put in pavers, new gardens, all new blinds, because that’s where I live and I want it to be beautiful and functional.’
In another post, the landlord said their debt on the property was just $1.1 million — about $30,000 more in annual payments than last year.
The cash rate is currently at an 11-year high of 4.1 per cent, with the RBA halting hikes in July.
Since May last year interest rates have risen at the fastest pace since 1989, with 12 increases in 13 months.
Just three days later, the carnage in global bond markets sparked speculation the RBA would follow the U.S.
Federal Reserve
Efforts to control inflation by raising interest rates further.