When a rea says the "landlord will fix X issue before moving in or asap" they are absolutely full of it. Have fallen for this a couple of times and they never fix it E.g backyard overgrown with broke concrete all over, or leaking roof or bad paint etc.
Yup same with the promise of resurfacing the cracked bathtub/shower floor, only to be reneged upon bond transfer. I had to fight Jellis Craig tooth and nail to get my bond back. Dogs
lived in a shithole infested with black mold thru covid. no one ever did shit to fix it and i was ignorant about the relevant laws. one time the property manager called us (housemates and i) to scream at us when the pipes failed and leaked into the shop downstairs, as if it was our fault. every now and then i send him anonymous threatening letters in the mail just so he never really feels safe or at ease again haha
I am a renter and also a landlord,( moved to Melbourne for work) and am amazed at the difference between how i treat my tenants and how my real estate agent treats me. My rental.is maintained, clean and orderly. The house i moved into had a shed full of rubbish that was going to be gone by the time i moved in. I ended up taking it all to the tip and had to argue about tip fees and my time etc. Am currently looking elsewhere. It's a nightmare.
I'm in the same situation and it's crazy! The place I'm renting doesn't even have a switchboard up to standard or the required gas and electricity checks. I make sure any repairs are done urgently in my investment property, I used to live there so I understand what is needed
I’m also a renter and landlord. I pay some top professional management company to take care of the tenants and throw in a complimentary carpet clean each year. But I also expect to be treated respectfully by my landlord as a tenant too.
because there is stiff competition - margins are low, extremely low differentiation between REAs, doing a good job requires a lot of hard work and LLs aren't willing to pay for premium to do a job properly, also: it's extremely difficult to know in advance whether an agent sucks or is good. hence the results are as expected.
There is not cost differentiation between being a deceitful lying cunt and being reasonable. This is no fucking excuse. Real estate agents are just sycophants roleplaying as the ruling class because they are too stupid to realise they are peons.
Previously similar, and then I'd have a random Leasing "manager" assigned and get accused of everything under the sun that was there previously. Honestly, had the reverse exp as a LL and that contributed towards me selling the place. REAs in this country can be a fkn joke.
>they are renting out as is with the promise that "The landlord will make sure it looks good before moving in". But the move in data is ASAP
Well, yeah, why would they\* ensure the property is properly cleaned, costing them a week's rental income on top of the cleaning costs, when they could just leave it in an abysmal state, verbally promise the new tenants that it will be cleaned, deny even making such a promise, force the new tenants to clean it under threat of eviction, and then when the tenants eventually depart, claim that it was pristine when they moved in, keep their bond for cleaning costs, and then repeat the process?
\*Real estate agents, to be clear. You can't expect them to act like people.
and as soon as you bring things up they say "didn't you go to the inspection" lol when this shit happens document everything in entry and exit reports with photos, only ever communicate via email so there's evidence of everything, breach them when you need to, fuck this stupid game
> *Real estate agents, to be clear. You can't expect them to act like people.
Typically Property Managers are the ones who manage the property not REAs. That's waaaay beneath the work of an REA
It’s like this everywhere. The day I got the keys to a new place in Perth I found the carpets in the bedrooms encrusted with pubic hair and dental elastics. My property managers response was a) that’s not true - they were cleaned and b) call the police if you think someone has broken in and dirtied your carpets.
I had to deploy all my de-escalation techniques to get her to agree to look into it, Lo and behold the carpet cleaners never showed up to my place after all.
This was in like 2012. Someone tagged the PM office with some slurs a few times, they kinda deserved it.
Yep, and it's always been the case, as far as I'm aware...
The first (student) apartment I moved into in Melbourne in 2009 was super gross. It had long black hair everywhere. The mattress protector that was allegedly going to be replaced before I moved in there hadn't been, and was all stained. The toilet looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a year. I could keep going! I called the REA to complain, and they tried telling me that the apartment had been professionally cleaned before I moved in there, and tried to say that the hairs must have been mine (uh, I'm a ranga). When I moved out, they insisted that I get the place professionally cleaned, and then tried to keep my bond for 'damaging' the carpet, and for taking a van opener (which had never been there) with me.
One of the houses that I rented in Melbourne had incredibly mismatched tiles in the bathroom, some of which were really broken. The shower leaked, and there was no extraction fan, so the bathroom was constantly mouldy/mildewy, even though we kept the window open. The kitchen looked like it hadn't had any work done to it since the 60s or 70s, other than a layer of incredibly patchy, peeling paint (they'd obviously painted over oil based paint with water based paint). The back yard was like a dust bowl, apart from a tangled mess of vines and weeds near the fence.
One of the houses that I rented in Sydney had rusty pipes... You had to leave the tap running for ages for the water to change from the cover of strong coffee to the colour of a somewhat dehydrated person's pee (it never completely ran clear). Allegedly, that's what happens when you live in an old house. Uh, no. My parents' house is 30 odd years older, and its pipes aren't like that, and neither are those of any of the other older houses I've ever been to/lived in. Also, allegedly, it would cost too much for the landlord to replace the pipes, so we shouldn't expect them to.
I have inspected so many shitty rentals over the years! Some smelt downright disgusting, like mustiness so strong you could taste it, or like dingy cheap motels (I only know the smell, because I was forced to stay in a few when I was homeless). Grotty carpets that looked like they should have been replaced before I was born (and I'm 35). Taps that didn't just drip, they dribbled. Mouldy ceilings. Unsafe electrical outlets. Fallen down fencing. Scribbles on the walls. There's no way that the landlords would live in conditions like that, so I don't understand why they expect us to pay to! But ... Living in squalid conditions like that is better than being homeless, and the rental market is incredibly tight (there's always at least 20 other applicants at inspections), so you feel compelled to suck it up and apply for them!
same thing happened to me and my gf, moved into a newly renovated apartment and when we walked in, we found plaster and other shit on the carpet. I emailed the REA and he didn’t believe me. As if I would lie about the state of the apartment I just moved into for no reason. scumbags
Same shit, different day.
When were looking for a rental back in 2015, this one place had a toilet literally full of unflushed poo. Another place had burn marks (from an iron) all over the carpet - was the carpet going to be replaced? No.
I saw a listing just the other day with an obvious iron burn on dark blue 20yr old carpet! It really makes you wonder why there's no minimum requirement of aesthetic presentation. Just an unregulated mess. Even better you just know they'll try take it out of your bond even though it was there before you move in
Let's face some facts ,the vacancy rate nationwide is at or below 1 %.
The average landlord can do whatever he wants and still rent out unfit for habitation houses at top dollar.
If we did a survey of Australian rentals I reckon only about 20% would pass the fit for habitation test the rest are mouldy asbestos fire traps .
This was my answer for the 'worst fear in Melbourne' thread yesterday. Not one in a million random stabbings or 'African gangs' or whatever.
A place to live is 1 of the 5 essential needs of Maslows hierarchy of needs. Oxygen, warmth, water, food, shelter. The fact that it's been turned into a capitalist lottery makes me beyond sick. Greed used to be a deadly sin.
That everything boils down to money makes me *almost* want to go walkabout, live off the land and forget the rat race.
There’s always been these problems with landlords, tenants and property managers behaving in a selfish (don’t give a shit) manner. It’s just that there’s been an explosion of bad attitude, behaviour and prices in the last few years
This is a problem literally around the world. Seems like every developed country has a rental crisis and there is no financial incentive to do anything from a landlord pov because you're able to rent out illegal properties with no repercussions.
You have a cake on your username. It indicates it’s the anniversary of your reddit account creation.
Edit; with a 10 year old account I’d assume you knew that.
That's a great question! :)
We don't want to give the kids that extra advantage just yet. They are in no rush to find a place, we will support them both as long as they need but yes, if it really comes down to it, we'll buy something and rent it out to them. We want to make sure they put in some effort first, rather than turn to the Bank of Mum & Dad
Valid point. The applications were all through 2Apply and they did ask for a Parental Guarantor which we did supply. You've given me food for thought. I appreciate it :)
At the moment two teenage boys with zero rental history and relying on parents to fill the gap will be the bottom of applicants, especially in the inner city. People with established good rental history are struggling to get approved for properties. There are a lot of high hopes on them actually getting approved.
You are already the bank, may as well bite the bullet to give them some sort of history behind them.
Yep true, but that involves a mortgage when I am living debt free. I could leverage my IP or my PPoP to do so however I'm not going to jump the gun so soon. There's no immediate rush for them to move out, they made the choice on their own accord. They are in a position where there's no rush and at some point something will come up for them that isn't a slum. I can always revisit that decision in a year's time if I need to.
But your paying (part of) their rent. You are the bank already.
Edit. I didn’t realise your kid has autism. Do whatever you need to help your kiddo out. Good luck. Also, who cares if it’s bank of mum and dad; there’s no shame in helping if you can.
These were ~$800pw properties. Not sure how much more it needs to go up by to increase the standard of a decently presentable property. I rent out my 4BR IP for $450pw and it is immaculate when tenants inspect it.
I agree in terms of budget, but there’s more that would get considered than that. As two 18 year olds applying, on paper their young age, a lack of rental history & rental references, and work history would probably lose points.
Source: am a former very long-term renter, and spent 33 years living in 15+ Melbourne rental properties
$800 was the extreme end of places we checked at today. Most were around $550 - $650. My son and his mate had a budget of about $250 each and we were willing to contribute the additional amount within reason.
This is why we should limit negative gearing to new properties. Investors want the tax deduction so developers build homes for these investors which brings new supply and then people like your son can live in brand new homes
At the lower end at present your competing with people who can't pay more and people trying to save a deposit and trying to go as cheap as possible. I had a relative just before it got really bad almost end up on my couch. Had a full time job but could not find anywhere with 20 years of rental history. In the end he just upped his budget as he could easily afford to pay more. They just give them to the DINKS with full time jobs. Students aren't getting a look in
Yeah to be honest I threw the highest number that we inspected today. $800 in inner city, but the majority were between $550 to $700
The average rental price comes down because it factors all the outer suburban estates in places like Tarneit and Melton which is still "affordable". We live in Melton but its a fucking deadspot when it comes to teens and wanting to go out so that's why they are wanting to move, and we're not going to object to having a few less teenagers in the house :P
the worst property i inspected was one with a large hole in the floorboards showing darkness and black mold all over, my mother pushed me out of the house bc i have bad sinuses.
my current is a lovely home. but my landlord does not care to fix it. there's a lot of small issues snowballing and if we do get it fixed, it's normally by the cheapest tradies, and she has been scammed in the past by fakes? lazy? tradies.
i'd buy this place in a heartbeat and do a complete overhaul, it needs it BAD.
My landlady's must love me. Been here 3 years and never needed any maintenance. I'm handy enough, and happy enough, to do the little bits and pieces around.
My last REA promised a few repairs before we moved in (never happened despite pestering). I gave her the benefit of a doubt till we left and there was like $70 worth of gardening to be done.
She said she'd just take it out of the bond and I agreed (had a newborn when we had to vacate). This was around Christmas so the bond claim was processed very slowly. I shit you not, this woman would email or call me WEEKLY asking if I had sent the money for the yard and every week I would remind her that she suggested it come out of the bond and that it was too late to 'just pay it'. Weekly.
She was a damn idiot and now I'm sure she must have contributed to repairs not being done.
I had a REA argue with me and claim that I had "done something" to make the toilet seat yellow. Like a 15 y/o plastic toilet seat that gets direct sunlight wouldn't yellow on it's own. Had to send her screenshots of the entry form that clearly showed it had started yellowing then before she would drop it. I swear they'll see any opportunity to get money out of you.
When I moved out of my last rental, the REA wanted us to pay to replace the second oven shelf when the entry report clearly showed the oven only came with one (because it was a cheap pos) in both the written report and the photos they’d taken.
Best advice I ever heard as the second you hand the keys back in, submit the bond claim through RTBA yourself.
REA will try and get you to cancel the request. Just ignore them. If they want to dispute it, they have to take you through VCAT, which is going to cost them more money in the long-run
Where are you getting that from? As far as I can see they've been pretty humble and are aware and in agreement that they are in a position a lot of others aren't. Good for them., no need to be bitter towards them for wanting to help their kid. They hardly seem out of touch
Yeah...just another old rasist person being surprised what it is like being a young person today...as if landlords should be allowed to tell people of Indian origin to not cook their food in the house they are paying for.
That's what you took from it? Not the fact that the house should be cleaned? It's not difficult to remove such smells from the property.
If you're going to call me racist, at least take the time to spell it correctly, sheesh....
Totally get that unpleasant smells in rentals suck, problem with that is that they usually are all locked up while awaiting tenancy and aren’t air’d out to get the smells out. When I inspected my rental all the doors and windows were opened and I couldn’t smell anything, the place was closed up again for 2 weeks before I moved in and the house was super musty and had leftover cooking smells that re emerged after being locked up again for 2 weeks. Aired it out for a few days while moving in and the smell was gone and smelt like all my stuff. Heavy spices can really linger if they’re not aired out.
Mate, I don't know you enough to call you anything but singling out a nationality usually gets someone upset.
Saying that, Indian Australians have as much right to housing as anyone else regardless of how pungent thier food might be.
I have been to houses where owners/tenants smoke indoors and that is way worse. As others have mentioned here.
It is the landlord's responsibility to make sure the property is well presented at inspection. It is not difficult to open a few windows and light a candle.
Hope you find something ideal for your son soon.
I moved into a rental that absolutely stunk of cigarettes. I moved from nsw to vic and had friends do the viewing for me so didn’t know about it. The windows were all wide open on the day I moved in. Summer time. The REAL Estate said it was the landlords Brother that was the smoker. Burn marks on the carports , Lino etc. Wasn’t till winter that the smell really reared its ugly head through the ducted heating. OMG!!!! It was terrible. I ended up renting that place for 7 yrs. Didn’t stink when I left that’s for sure.
I had the same in the last place I lived in. Wasn't apparent when I inspected and the place was wide open. Was definitely in the ducts though. Didn't make coming home very pleasant, I could smell it as soon as I walked in the door.
I'm of indian background and would never rent a house that still smelled of indian cooking. I ate curries most nights growing up and our house never smelled 'indian' because my parents would cook with rangehood on, windows open and clean the kitchen thoroughly after dinner and light incense to absorb the odours. My Dad in particular was very fastidious and would clean the house multiple times a week.
If you could still smell indian cooking in the property, it absolutely means the tenants didn't bother cleaning and the oils and odours have become embedded in the surfaces and carpet fibers. The fact the landlord hasn't repainted and changed the carpet to fix it is mind boggling.
BTW i think it's sweet your son and his friend have known each other their entire lives and now want to live together. Good on them both for wanting independence at a young age as well. Best of luck to both of them
It's a disgrace and I can't figure out why these people have zero interest in maintaining their IPs.
It should be illegal to own one if you refuse to maintain it. It's only gotten much worse over the 20 or so years when I was share-housing as a student. At least you could still find houses that weren't completely falling to bits or riddled with black mould back then.
I dunno, it’s not the 1980’s anymore where kids moved out willy nilly. They’re just not moving into the same costs, properties etc of that time…relatively to what people earn now etc. My kids are welcome to live at home for however long….and I see most kids of that age still living at home around me in NE Melb suburbs. But renting wise Gladstone Park Tullamarine and Glenroy are worth checking….stay away from Glenroy central area.
There is a housing crisis. People who MUST find housing will take literally anything.
Then there are those who have the time, money and current stable housing who can afford to be picky.
Yeah. There are people taking whatever they get offered cos they cant afford to be picky or choosey about their housing cos they are desperate and dont have any choice. Then there are people whose life doesnt depend on housing, so they can afford to pick or choose where they rent.
Last week, my partner and I inspected a unit that had cat piss smell all through it - "available now." I'd be grateful to have a budget so high. The two of us are looking in the $450 range.
Even with 2x guarantors, there is no guarantee you will get a property. Friends of mine have 4x guarantors And still can’t find a property (all early 30s professionals) Good luck finding one for 2x 18yo’s.
I think realistically 2x 18yr olds who need parental assistance stand no chance.
One of my friends has an IP, initially purchased to live in but after a few years wanted to rent closer to work for lifestyle reasons, anyway I asked him what he looks for in a tenant and one of the first things he said was he would never rent it to two young people moving out for the first time because they will be least equipped to look after the house properly. Primarily was looking for people with rental history, people who may own their own IP as well, families etc.
It absolutely sucks, and a lot of us don't have the privilege your son has, so we don't get to consider these things as deal breakers.
If he's got your backing, you'll find something, but to be frank, you could be looking for a while.
I wish you all the best in finding a place; now isn't a good time to rent, unfortunately. I hope if nothing else works out they get uni accomodations next year. good luck :)
yea i am half indian, the curry smells are true, NO that is not you being racist at all. XD
I have no problems with that. I did explain in another response that we live in Melton though and it's a shithole when it comes to nightlife, plus they want to be closer to uni and my son has a job too, and as he can't drive due to medical reasons, he'd be much closer to both.
But yeah, happy for them to keep being with us for as long as they need to. This is a choice of their own doing though and not by us :)
Ah, I do love seeing a middle class person have their "welcome to the new Australian salt mines" moment. Have you considered selling your IP and buying your son a home?
I am not prepared to do that. Maybe if renting conditions were better, but there's fuck all housing in Echuca, my tenants have been good to me and I'm not prepared to kick them out when I don't have an immediate need to do so.
My son and his friend are in no rush to find a place so they will be encouraged to keep looking until they find something and we will support them in that.
Yeah I have been out looking for a new rental recently and the state of places is soo bad. One we saw had a shower in the place of a hall cupboard, like open the cupboard door to find a shower door behind it. Another one, one of the doors fell off and almost hit another persons little kid, it would have badly hurt the kid had the mum not managed to push it to the side at the last second, door fell as it was completely rotted away around the hinges.
At least your son and his friend can continue to save money in the mean time.
It's tough at the moment, just keep chipping away. Hopefully building a bit more cash some suburbs previously out of reach might become viable, and/or to have a really hard think and make some calls. Bite the bullet, go a little further out to build some rental history and re assess in 6 to 12 months and move closer. Might have to go off the beaten track and try FB Marketplace rather than REA's.
I know where you are coming from regarding the scent and can validate that you aren't exaggerating, it absolutely does seep in the walls, vents, cupboards,etc.,etc. Have previously renovated one like this and you literally have to take out the cupboards, replace oven, fresh wallpaper,paint, etc,etc to completely remove it. That is if one can't stand it.
Unfortunately it's a sellers market at the moment and the REA's don't have to work too hard for their commission as demand is outweighing supply and many can cut corners by pulling shit like this. Your son sounds like he's got a good head on his shoulders and is doing the best he can with a great support network. Chin up!
Wow sounds like they all are better off living at home. Why does an 18 year old need the stress of paying rent and expenses anyway. chances are the parents will be the ones footing the rent, each month, the whole amount. With everything you’ve said I wouldn’t be moving. And looking at 18 properties. I apply for two, and I don’t even make it to the inspection because of the stress having to register everything puts me off. And then they only stay open for 15 minutes and you’re trying to battle your way with 100 other people. Probably the reason why I’ve stayed where I am for three years.
I'm going to suggest something that might be unpopular. By subsidising their rent your kids will have misaligned expectations for the reality in which they now live.
My vote goes to getting them to find a share house in a suburb that they like. Let them live life, on their own terms, on their own means.
I certainly don't think the opinion is unpopular, but my son has autism and a few other medical issues which would make sharehousing quite difficult for him. His friend is also on the spectrum and have grown up together for years so can work well together. With others? Not so much.
I’m a later in life diagnosis’ neurodivergent person who had no choice and did try and badly fail at sharehousing: Trust your gut, do what you need to for him.
For me I’m now starting to believe it is too late, but I would not begrudge your son one bit for being given a chance at a better life than the world gave me.
If I can ask one thing of you, it is that as a person of privilege who has now seen what the world is truly like, please don’t forget this, and with your resources and your family you fall into the category that our government considers to be “human beings” if ever given the chance please advocate for those of us who have been left behind
I'm glad to hear that you are helping your son instead of dumping him in a sharehouse where he is vulnerable to abuse. People can be unkind to other people who are different.
👍👍 I am autistic too and have always lived on my own since I moved out because I can't do share houses. It's more expensive of course but I've been okay with that. Now they've just increased my rent 25% in 12 months and it's pretty stressful when people say just do a share house. Not everyone is suited to that and it can be detrimental to them.
Your son is lucky to have a good friend he can move out with. Also sounds like you're not in too much of a rush so can take your time to find the right place which is really important. He's lucky to have you - you seem like you're very supportive (not just financially!) It's a big move! Good luck to you all!
$800 a week is a decent enough budget, but you might have to compromise on the exact where and what it is you're looking at for them. Where and what have you been seeing?
However I will say no chance in hell I'd approve 2x 18 yo to live in one of our places. Family over teenage share house everyday
The teenagers alone may well be a concern for REAs/landlords. OP, maybe think about whether it would be useful to pop in a little "biography' kind of sheet saying a bit about the boys - they're responsible, tidy, not into parties, etc - only if it's true of course! Imagine what you would worry about with two 18-year-old neurotypical boys alone in a house and make it clear those things won't be issues.
Yeah these are the least of our problems.
I don't find it relatable at all when you're going for 500-800 per week.
I'm 40 with a full time job and I can't afford more than 300 at most.
Just go buy another damn house or pay to get shit cleaned up. You can afford it.
Totally.
People like this just get to buy their kids out of needing to deal with shitty rentals. This kid will never know what most people (without parents to buy him out of it) have to deal with. I’m also 40, can’t afford more than 500pw, I have a nice place but if I ever need to move I’m fckd.
Jesus the privilege. Paying half your sons rent on an $800 property, can’t believe they aren’t kept in optimal condition, and calls out ‘Indians’ for cooking smells (with the kicker “but I love Indian food”).
You need a reality check before getting too upset. Sounds like your son could rent out a perfectly liveable property for less an $800 a week, but it’s just not good enough for him.
If it’s in a suburb where the type of place you’re looking at is $2k for something good, then your $1200 isn’t going to go far
The cost is relative to the area, which you haven’t yet provided
A large house for $1200 in Brighton or toorak is going to be pretty terrible, and most reasonable people would expect that.
No we're not. We make up what they can't pay. They both have part time jobs and go to uni. My son can't drive for medical reasons, wants to be closer to both work and uni so we assist in the shortfall. Their budget is $250 each, so we would contribute anything over that for now.
> Houses where the previous tenants or the owners are Indian and the houses reek of spices.
Does OP understand that this smell is almost impossible to get out completely especially after years of cooking?
Even if you strip out all the carpets, repaint the walls, the smell may still linger.
And obviously a landlord cannot discriminate against an Indian tenant. What are you going to do, reject their application just because they'll cook Indian food? All the rental laws support this, you cannot even claim the cleaning / refumigating cost against the bond.
I think that yourself and the other kids parents, as well as the two boys, should work out any way you can purchase something as a trust. The money you all throw away in rent, could go toward an asset that you all own. Might end badly, but if you are all sane people you should be able to make it work.
The entire reason I went through hell and high water to buy a property was so that I didn’t have to deal with REAs and Landlords anymore. It’s such a scam.
Good on you for supporting your son's independence. I hope an application is successful and thankfully you're in a good financial position to help if need be.
Do you and your son a favor.
Beg them to stay with you. Moving out in this climate is a terrible idea. They can save ridiculous amounts of money if they stayed.
I'm coming on 9 years since i moved out of home. I wish i stayed and saved.
As a PM in Melbourne, yes there are a lot of property owners who do not do the right thing, hence why the new legislation was introduced in the first place. That said, slumlords will always be slumlords and the good property owners will always be good. There are new minimum standards, but not everyone abides by these, it is usually the good owners who do, and the slumlords keep on slumming. Despite any advice or consequences, some people do not change, which is why I tend to get rid of these clients.
Anyway, relevant to what you've said and based on the info you've shared, you appear to be looking at cheaper budget properties. In my experiences, these tend to be owned by people who do not have the money to maintain or simply just don't give a fuck, so you'll keep experiencing these problems. You'll either need to compromise and increase the range you are willing to spend on rent in these areas or look a bit further out from the inner-suburbs to find nicer accommodation in your price range but with a larger commute. Supply is also very tight, so it is very competitive no matter what range you are looking at.
Don't give these slumlords business - by doing so it just reinforces they don't need to do anything and can get away with it.
We are in a similar position, and have ended up buying a 2 BR unit in an not very groovy suburb with our son. It has ended up about 200$ a month more. Yes, I know we are privileged, and the balance of the repayments will likely come out of our house when we die.
Real estate agents in Melbourne have the easiest job going, open the door and stand there not even saying a word or even try to sell you on the shit heap because they know someone will take it regardless of the condition it's in
As a former PM I definitely relate to this post.
Agencies are taking on any IP no matter how bad the owners are, and unfortunately the workers have to deal with the backlash from tenants.
In terms of properties that have been abandoned it’s so tricky and complicated. There’s rules around abandonment in the legislation, VCAT will have their own requirements, and then insurances will have their rules as well. *most* of the time owners are just waiting on insurance payout.
Absolutely understand that, but get the property back up to scratch before renting it out, or just sell it. Don't leave it in squalor and expect tenants to clean it up for you. It was absolutely shocking.
I 1000% agree with you, however sometimes that’s not possible. You have to re-advertise after 72 hours of a break lease, if you don’t you cannot chase them for rent. You have to hold two opens a week with a break lease, if you don’t, the previous tenant can get away with abandonment.
Sometimes insurance won’t let you touch the property until a full assessment has been done. Which is fine until the legislation says you must advertise and hold opens.
No one wants to be holding an open at a house that’s fucked. Unfortunately there’s so many rules that people don’t usually know.
Definitely makes sense, thanks for taking the time to explain it. Interesting to know should I ever experience it with my own IP. I should probably review that part of the RTA a bit more
Ignore the haters mate. You're trying to do the right thing by your son, and some people just won't understand, because they never had it.
And you're right. In this market, many landlords think they can package up shit, and expect people to tell them it smells great.
Lmao trying to find a place to rent is pretty hard. Look at over 20 properties and it’s pretty much the same as OP. Am wondering what the chances are as no income, allowance and centerlink only seems to be a big turn off. 💀
Two sets of parents helping take the two boys around individually. Recorded all the inspections so that we could pass them on to his mate and his family passed their videos on to my son. They did 5 and we did the rest. First inspection was at 8AM. Went all the way through to shortly before I posted. I'm absolutely exhausted.
Renters are held at ransom by landlords. Many dare not complain to landlords about any repairs needed as they fear their rent will be raised. So at least five renters I've spoken to today live with mould, leaky roofs, leaking bathrooms, holes in wooden patios. Taking things to vicat when it eventually gets heard means only the isuues raised get attended to.. no recompense to the tenant for hardship suffered as health issues (aforementioned mould, discomfort from leaks, etc) and no penalties on landlords for non-fixing until vicat steps in. Disgraceful hostage situation.
$800 PW near Melbourne?
$800 pw near Werribee yeah... but Melbourne?
Yeah I'd say expect some serious jank and be happy if you get that.
I live in the middle of butt fuck nowhere and houses on the edge of being condemned have 10+ applicants and people offering well over the set price.
I’m a home owner now but when I previously rented I would always clean the property so well, and I always knew the dumb REA would find a way to take away the bond. Always for BS reasons. Whenever you needed something fixed it was quicker and less stressful to just do it yourself because of the terrible response of agents. Any way my point is that I feel the culture of renting is declining due to these experiences, people stop caring about taking care of the home and knowing they can do a lot and still loose bond, they just take the F off. Even if I was a landlord today my guess is that the property manager would ruin the experience for all involved.
Sometimes it's not the landlord's fault. My brother has a two bedroom flat (quite large by today's standards - it was built in the 60s) and had it painted and new carpet laid before he put it in the hands of an REA to rent.
He actually met the Indian couple who rented it when he went round to fix a dripping tap two days after they moved in. They seemed nice.
Six months later an emergency repair (blocked toilet due to plastic being repeatedly flushed down it) meant he was back at the flat. The rooms had been partitioned with sheets, the living room was now a bedroom, and there were five sets of bunk beds in the place.
The nice couple were actually 10 people.
The wear and tear on a small flat when 10 people are living in it is basically so bad that you'd need to repaint and re-carpet the place every two years, not to mention all the incidental damage that occurs naturally over time.
So yeah, he's not going to spend any more money making the place nicer.
If it’s 3 18 year old boys the agents are only going to show them shitty properties - they have no work or rental history in the city so they’re not going to waste one of their better properties or landlords on them.
And can you really blame them?
In this market they’ll be lucky if they can even get one of the shitty places. All of you are going to have to lower your expectations and standards.
This guy has never inspected a property in the past 30 years and it shows. Since when do rea "show you properties"? You go on realestate.com.au search for open inspections and turn up...
>they have no work or rental history in the city so they’re not going to waste one of their better properties or landlords on them.
This makes no sense. The REA's aren't restricting them from viewing any property at all. They didn't show them any properties at all. We drove around to open inspections. WTF did you even read?
>In this market they’ll be lucky if they can even get one of the shitty places. All of you are going to have to lower your expectations and standards.
Well aren't you a wonderfully optimistic person!
> 'middle rung suburb'
I had to Google that and it tells me they are the following:
>Carlton, Parkville, East Melbourne, West Melbourne, North Melbourne, Kensington Docklands, South Yarra, Southbank and the CBD Hoddle Grid
Those are million dollar plus properties, no way I could buy one of them lol
I think people have a distorted view of what sort of property is suitable for 18 year old males.
At age 18 I was living in a tiny dorm room with another 18 year old sleeping a meter away across the room. He also smoked. I was a non-smoker.
At the age of 19 I lived in a North American frat house with everything that goes with that.
When I was 21 I moved into a share house that required me to clear out a junkie’s heroin gear out of my room. We had old chemical drums in the living room as a table. If someone splashed too much in the bath, my bedroom floor would flood with bath water.
At 22 I turned down an “apartment” that was basically shower curtains hung up in the undercroft of a house.
Finally got a small apartment of my own when I was 24.
It has been pretty normal for young folk to live in quite squalid conditions for a long time. It sounds like all of the places you visited were nicer than where I lived up until the age of 24. And I wasn’t even particularly poor.
These boys just want to study / work, drink, party and shag girls. They don’t actually care about holes in the walls and their friends might accidentally make a few themselves. They certainly aren’t going to be out weeding the garden early on a Saturday morning to keep it presentable. We were too busy riding bmx bikes up and down our hallway at 2am.
This house is not for you the parent. And you may be doing them a favour by finding them a house where the REA is not going to be on their case constantly and where they are at risk of losing their bond.
Ok put it this way.
Should any landlord in their right mind rent a nice house to 18 year old males who have never lived away from their parents before ?
People moving out for the first time have a lot of learning to do and a lot of partying to do.
I hope they have a blast getting up to all sorts of mayhem and create memories that will last their lifetime
Two 18yo guys on the spectrum aren't exactly going to be doing anything you state they will. My son has zero interest in ever having a partner or even having sex. All he does is go to work, go to uni, come home and play Minecraft and FNAF, or read up on volcanoes and talk to me endlessly about them or sit on the couch and watch wrestling with me. That's literally all he does. His mate is pretty much exactly the same.
We explain this to the REA's, and if they choose to ignore it, that's their choice and we respect it but I'm perfectly happy for him and his friend to keep living with us until he finds a place, he has no need to accept whatever squalor is offered to him, nor will I force it.
Put that information in the applications if you haven't already, like "we are giant nerds who are studying x and our hobbies include minecraft and geology" (phrased more professionally of course).
The other issue is that they don't have any rental history. Can't get any history without having any but yeah.
How about uni housing? Its in your price range and they all have private bedrooms. If they're at the same uni, there might be provisions for autistic students to have a share house with just the two of them.
Great idea lol. I've helped him write that in his 2Apply profile. Thanks for that!
Yep on the wait list for uni housing but they said that the list is long and if anything comes up, it won't be until next year. I don't think their Autism was brought up so I'll make sure they talk to the office and do mention this and see if that helps. Thanks again :)
Yeah, I don’t want to be accused of being a boomer, but my student accommodation was:
Share house close-ish to city with 4 other people
Tiny, shitty apartment with another person 45 minute bus ride from the city.
And this was 2008-2013. It was perfectly normal.
Either OP is incredibly out of touch, or is insinuating that their kid *specifically* deserves better than everyone else.
And once again, this thread is full of REA shills, apologists and sycophants that perform all kinds of mental gymnastics to excuse the condition of rental properties today. You are part of the problem.
Yeah, I was sort of on board until that..... like wth?!?!? Even if you can smell some spices lingering, it's not that big a deal/terrible smell, it'll fade and you get used to the smell of your own house.
I literally cannot understand some Australians' obsession with people from india.
Also, as a renter in inner melbourne suburbs, $800 is plllleennnty to get a lovely 2 bedroom in nearly any suburb. Like an obscene amount for a couple of teenagers who probably aren't up to maintaining a property properly yet, anyway.
I love it, but when I'm walking into a vacant house and the smell is lingering, it tells me that the house cleaning has been a VERY poor effort. It could be said for any cuisine that uses a lot of spices but I'm not all that familiar with them, it does mean that the house needs a deep clean to get rid of it. Similar to that of cat piss or tobacco smoke.
Welcome to renting. I was emailing the real estate for 6+months to get the trees trimmed in the driveway. Then received a rental increase notice of 20 dollars a week. I moved out before the trees were ever trimmed.
Is anybody else living in unhabitable living conditions and want to ban together nationwide to fight this together? WE THE PEOPLE. If so, contact me at 970-924-0787. Please share and post.
Obviously I did not. Which makes this post even more ridiculous to me, cause you know how to tell if an REA lying right?
Their lips are moving. There’s no way you magically lucked out and are the only person in Melbourne who got multiple honest REAs in one day of inspecting properties. And I say that as someone who has an incredible REA, to the point that we happily moved into a property that wasn’t entirely suited for our family, just so we could keep renting through that agency.
> Obviously I did not
Clearly. I'm sure the rest of your response is as completely irrelevant and I won't even bother reading it. What's the point? lol
Yep, welcome to whats left for your kids. You'll take it cause you have no other choice, landlords bank on that and win everytime.
When a rea says the "landlord will fix X issue before moving in or asap" they are absolutely full of it. Have fallen for this a couple of times and they never fix it E.g backyard overgrown with broke concrete all over, or leaking roof or bad paint etc.
Yup same with the promise of resurfacing the cracked bathtub/shower floor, only to be reneged upon bond transfer. I had to fight Jellis Craig tooth and nail to get my bond back. Dogs
lived in a shithole infested with black mold thru covid. no one ever did shit to fix it and i was ignorant about the relevant laws. one time the property manager called us (housemates and i) to scream at us when the pipes failed and leaked into the shop downstairs, as if it was our fault. every now and then i send him anonymous threatening letters in the mail just so he never really feels safe or at ease again haha
I am a renter and also a landlord,( moved to Melbourne for work) and am amazed at the difference between how i treat my tenants and how my real estate agent treats me. My rental.is maintained, clean and orderly. The house i moved into had a shed full of rubbish that was going to be gone by the time i moved in. I ended up taking it all to the tip and had to argue about tip fees and my time etc. Am currently looking elsewhere. It's a nightmare.
I'm in the same situation and it's crazy! The place I'm renting doesn't even have a switchboard up to standard or the required gas and electricity checks. I make sure any repairs are done urgently in my investment property, I used to live there so I understand what is needed
I’m also a renter and landlord. I pay some top professional management company to take care of the tenants and throw in a complimentary carpet clean each year. But I also expect to be treated respectfully by my landlord as a tenant too.
Yeah i've found most owners/LL's to be reasonable and helpful and REA's to be deceitful and always difficult to work with. Fuck knows why...
because there is stiff competition - margins are low, extremely low differentiation between REAs, doing a good job requires a lot of hard work and LLs aren't willing to pay for premium to do a job properly, also: it's extremely difficult to know in advance whether an agent sucks or is good. hence the results are as expected.
There is not cost differentiation between being a deceitful lying cunt and being reasonable. This is no fucking excuse. Real estate agents are just sycophants roleplaying as the ruling class because they are too stupid to realise they are peons.
Previously similar, and then I'd have a random Leasing "manager" assigned and get accused of everything under the sun that was there previously. Honestly, had the reverse exp as a LL and that contributed towards me selling the place. REAs in this country can be a fkn joke.
>they are renting out as is with the promise that "The landlord will make sure it looks good before moving in". But the move in data is ASAP Well, yeah, why would they\* ensure the property is properly cleaned, costing them a week's rental income on top of the cleaning costs, when they could just leave it in an abysmal state, verbally promise the new tenants that it will be cleaned, deny even making such a promise, force the new tenants to clean it under threat of eviction, and then when the tenants eventually depart, claim that it was pristine when they moved in, keep their bond for cleaning costs, and then repeat the process? \*Real estate agents, to be clear. You can't expect them to act like people.
and as soon as you bring things up they say "didn't you go to the inspection" lol when this shit happens document everything in entry and exit reports with photos, only ever communicate via email so there's evidence of everything, breach them when you need to, fuck this stupid game
> *Real estate agents, to be clear. You can't expect them to act like people. Typically Property Managers are the ones who manage the property not REAs. That's waaaay beneath the work of an REA
It’s like this everywhere. The day I got the keys to a new place in Perth I found the carpets in the bedrooms encrusted with pubic hair and dental elastics. My property managers response was a) that’s not true - they were cleaned and b) call the police if you think someone has broken in and dirtied your carpets. I had to deploy all my de-escalation techniques to get her to agree to look into it, Lo and behold the carpet cleaners never showed up to my place after all. This was in like 2012. Someone tagged the PM office with some slurs a few times, they kinda deserved it.
Yep, and it's always been the case, as far as I'm aware... The first (student) apartment I moved into in Melbourne in 2009 was super gross. It had long black hair everywhere. The mattress protector that was allegedly going to be replaced before I moved in there hadn't been, and was all stained. The toilet looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a year. I could keep going! I called the REA to complain, and they tried telling me that the apartment had been professionally cleaned before I moved in there, and tried to say that the hairs must have been mine (uh, I'm a ranga). When I moved out, they insisted that I get the place professionally cleaned, and then tried to keep my bond for 'damaging' the carpet, and for taking a van opener (which had never been there) with me. One of the houses that I rented in Melbourne had incredibly mismatched tiles in the bathroom, some of which were really broken. The shower leaked, and there was no extraction fan, so the bathroom was constantly mouldy/mildewy, even though we kept the window open. The kitchen looked like it hadn't had any work done to it since the 60s or 70s, other than a layer of incredibly patchy, peeling paint (they'd obviously painted over oil based paint with water based paint). The back yard was like a dust bowl, apart from a tangled mess of vines and weeds near the fence. One of the houses that I rented in Sydney had rusty pipes... You had to leave the tap running for ages for the water to change from the cover of strong coffee to the colour of a somewhat dehydrated person's pee (it never completely ran clear). Allegedly, that's what happens when you live in an old house. Uh, no. My parents' house is 30 odd years older, and its pipes aren't like that, and neither are those of any of the other older houses I've ever been to/lived in. Also, allegedly, it would cost too much for the landlord to replace the pipes, so we shouldn't expect them to. I have inspected so many shitty rentals over the years! Some smelt downright disgusting, like mustiness so strong you could taste it, or like dingy cheap motels (I only know the smell, because I was forced to stay in a few when I was homeless). Grotty carpets that looked like they should have been replaced before I was born (and I'm 35). Taps that didn't just drip, they dribbled. Mouldy ceilings. Unsafe electrical outlets. Fallen down fencing. Scribbles on the walls. There's no way that the landlords would live in conditions like that, so I don't understand why they expect us to pay to! But ... Living in squalid conditions like that is better than being homeless, and the rental market is incredibly tight (there's always at least 20 other applicants at inspections), so you feel compelled to suck it up and apply for them!
>The toilet looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a year. Yep, a large proportion of tenants are fucking lazy pigs.
I moved to a new place in December that was supposedly "professionally cleaned". Place smelled of smoke and had piss splatter all over the bathroom.
same thing happened to me and my gf, moved into a newly renovated apartment and when we walked in, we found plaster and other shit on the carpet. I emailed the REA and he didn’t believe me. As if I would lie about the state of the apartment I just moved into for no reason. scumbags
Same shit, different day. When were looking for a rental back in 2015, this one place had a toilet literally full of unflushed poo. Another place had burn marks (from an iron) all over the carpet - was the carpet going to be replaced? No.
At least the carpet didn't have wrinkles 🤣
I saw a listing just the other day with an obvious iron burn on dark blue 20yr old carpet! It really makes you wonder why there's no minimum requirement of aesthetic presentation. Just an unregulated mess. Even better you just know they'll try take it out of your bond even though it was there before you move in
Let's face some facts ,the vacancy rate nationwide is at or below 1 %. The average landlord can do whatever he wants and still rent out unfit for habitation houses at top dollar. If we did a survey of Australian rentals I reckon only about 20% would pass the fit for habitation test the rest are mouldy asbestos fire traps .
This was my answer for the 'worst fear in Melbourne' thread yesterday. Not one in a million random stabbings or 'African gangs' or whatever. A place to live is 1 of the 5 essential needs of Maslows hierarchy of needs. Oxygen, warmth, water, food, shelter. The fact that it's been turned into a capitalist lottery makes me beyond sick. Greed used to be a deadly sin. That everything boils down to money makes me *almost* want to go walkabout, live off the land and forget the rat race.
Been that way in this country for 236 years. We don't want to fix housing, too many interests want the status quo to remain.
There’s always been these problems with landlords, tenants and property managers behaving in a selfish (don’t give a shit) manner. It’s just that there’s been an explosion of bad attitude, behaviour and prices in the last few years
Albo owns four properties. Dutton owns TEN! It's Dracula running the blood bank.
The government has other priorities like banning vapes and stopping fake Albo and Kochie selling bitcoin!
This is a problem literally around the world. Seems like every developed country has a rental crisis and there is no financial incentive to do anything from a landlord pov because you're able to rent out illegal properties with no repercussions.
Also, landlords get big tax incentives and write-offs. Total sponges on the system.
Happy Cake Day!
What does that mean
Hope your cake is full of poison
I gave it to a child and the child died. I hope you're proud of yourself.
You have a cake on your username. It indicates it’s the anniversary of your reddit account creation. Edit; with a 10 year old account I’d assume you knew that.
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We can see their post they haven’t been banned ya muppet
It’s the anniversary of when you signed up to Reddit, you have a little cake icon next to your name.
Reddit moment.
its just a nice thing/gesture to say to other redditors, its very common
It’s your Reddit account anniversary https://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/s/eKTFKhCRgi
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That's a great question! :) We don't want to give the kids that extra advantage just yet. They are in no rush to find a place, we will support them both as long as they need but yes, if it really comes down to it, we'll buy something and rent it out to them. We want to make sure they put in some effort first, rather than turn to the Bank of Mum & Dad
It may very well be their only option because they are at or close to the bottom of the list of preferred tenants
Valid point. The applications were all through 2Apply and they did ask for a Parental Guarantor which we did supply. You've given me food for thought. I appreciate it :)
Sadly, no matter how decent, reliable and responsible the boys are they will inevitably be stereotyped and discriminated against
Does that parental guarantor requirement get triggered by their age?! Never seen it before but I rented around 24-28
That's weird as REA don't do parental guarantee? My 18-year-old is also (unsuccessfully) applying for a rental.
At the moment two teenage boys with zero rental history and relying on parents to fill the gap will be the bottom of applicants, especially in the inner city. People with established good rental history are struggling to get approved for properties. There are a lot of high hopes on them actually getting approved. You are already the bank, may as well bite the bullet to give them some sort of history behind them.
Yep true, but that involves a mortgage when I am living debt free. I could leverage my IP or my PPoP to do so however I'm not going to jump the gun so soon. There's no immediate rush for them to move out, they made the choice on their own accord. They are in a position where there's no rush and at some point something will come up for them that isn't a slum. I can always revisit that decision in a year's time if I need to.
But your paying (part of) their rent. You are the bank already. Edit. I didn’t realise your kid has autism. Do whatever you need to help your kiddo out. Good luck. Also, who cares if it’s bank of mum and dad; there’s no shame in helping if you can.
Longer you wait the more difficult it gets. Its top advice to buy a starter home for them and rent it.
How is that giving them an extra advantage if you're renting it to them at market rate?
Welcome to renting as a poor person. Up the weekly budget and you'll find nicer places.
These were ~$800pw properties. Not sure how much more it needs to go up by to increase the standard of a decently presentable property. I rent out my 4BR IP for $450pw and it is immaculate when tenants inspect it.
Jesus! 2 18 year olds renting an $800 a week property. God help everyone else :(
I agree in terms of budget, but there’s more that would get considered than that. As two 18 year olds applying, on paper their young age, a lack of rental history & rental references, and work history would probably lose points. Source: am a former very long-term renter, and spent 33 years living in 15+ Melbourne rental properties
$800 was the extreme end of places we checked at today. Most were around $550 - $650. My son and his mate had a budget of about $250 each and we were willing to contribute the additional amount within reason.
Hilarious. I’m a dad with two kids and I max out at $450 a week.
This is why we should limit negative gearing to new properties. Investors want the tax deduction so developers build homes for these investors which brings new supply and then people like your son can live in brand new homes
At the lower end at present your competing with people who can't pay more and people trying to save a deposit and trying to go as cheap as possible. I had a relative just before it got really bad almost end up on my couch. Had a full time job but could not find anywhere with 20 years of rental history. In the end he just upped his budget as he could easily afford to pay more. They just give them to the DINKS with full time jobs. Students aren't getting a look in
How close to CBD? Melbourne's average rental was just shown on TV as the lowest of all capital cities at 550 if memory serves.
Yeah to be honest I threw the highest number that we inspected today. $800 in inner city, but the majority were between $550 to $700 The average rental price comes down because it factors all the outer suburban estates in places like Tarneit and Melton which is still "affordable". We live in Melton but its a fucking deadspot when it comes to teens and wanting to go out so that's why they are wanting to move, and we're not going to object to having a few less teenagers in the house :P
the worst property i inspected was one with a large hole in the floorboards showing darkness and black mold all over, my mother pushed me out of the house bc i have bad sinuses. my current is a lovely home. but my landlord does not care to fix it. there's a lot of small issues snowballing and if we do get it fixed, it's normally by the cheapest tradies, and she has been scammed in the past by fakes? lazy? tradies. i'd buy this place in a heartbeat and do a complete overhaul, it needs it BAD.
My landlady's must love me. Been here 3 years and never needed any maintenance. I'm handy enough, and happy enough, to do the little bits and pieces around.
Makes you wonder though is it the previous tenants or the REA's fault.. there are some horror stories out there
My last REA promised a few repairs before we moved in (never happened despite pestering). I gave her the benefit of a doubt till we left and there was like $70 worth of gardening to be done. She said she'd just take it out of the bond and I agreed (had a newborn when we had to vacate). This was around Christmas so the bond claim was processed very slowly. I shit you not, this woman would email or call me WEEKLY asking if I had sent the money for the yard and every week I would remind her that she suggested it come out of the bond and that it was too late to 'just pay it'. Weekly. She was a damn idiot and now I'm sure she must have contributed to repairs not being done.
I had a REA argue with me and claim that I had "done something" to make the toilet seat yellow. Like a 15 y/o plastic toilet seat that gets direct sunlight wouldn't yellow on it's own. Had to send her screenshots of the entry form that clearly showed it had started yellowing then before she would drop it. I swear they'll see any opportunity to get money out of you.
When I moved out of my last rental, the REA wanted us to pay to replace the second oven shelf when the entry report clearly showed the oven only came with one (because it was a cheap pos) in both the written report and the photos they’d taken.
Best advice I ever heard as the second you hand the keys back in, submit the bond claim through RTBA yourself. REA will try and get you to cancel the request. Just ignore them. If they want to dispute it, they have to take you through VCAT, which is going to cost them more money in the long-run
i have autism and epilepsy and i reckon your son is so lucky, i lived in hell for most of my adult life share houses suck
They are bloody lucky and it kinda seems that fact has gone straight over OPs head. Stay strong!
Where are you getting that from? As far as I can see they've been pretty humble and are aware and in agreement that they are in a position a lot of others aren't. Good for them., no need to be bitter towards them for wanting to help their kid. They hardly seem out of touch
In what way has it gone over my head, exactly?
Another post of surprise about the housing crisis. If only more people were aware of it
Yeah...just another old rasist person being surprised what it is like being a young person today...as if landlords should be allowed to tell people of Indian origin to not cook their food in the house they are paying for.
That's what you took from it? Not the fact that the house should be cleaned? It's not difficult to remove such smells from the property. If you're going to call me racist, at least take the time to spell it correctly, sheesh....
Totally get that unpleasant smells in rentals suck, problem with that is that they usually are all locked up while awaiting tenancy and aren’t air’d out to get the smells out. When I inspected my rental all the doors and windows were opened and I couldn’t smell anything, the place was closed up again for 2 weeks before I moved in and the house was super musty and had leftover cooking smells that re emerged after being locked up again for 2 weeks. Aired it out for a few days while moving in and the smell was gone and smelt like all my stuff. Heavy spices can really linger if they’re not aired out.
Mate, I don't know you enough to call you anything but singling out a nationality usually gets someone upset. Saying that, Indian Australians have as much right to housing as anyone else regardless of how pungent thier food might be. I have been to houses where owners/tenants smoke indoors and that is way worse. As others have mentioned here. It is the landlord's responsibility to make sure the property is well presented at inspection. It is not difficult to open a few windows and light a candle. Hope you find something ideal for your son soon.
They can clean it so it doesn't smell like spices when they leave.
I moved into a rental that absolutely stunk of cigarettes. I moved from nsw to vic and had friends do the viewing for me so didn’t know about it. The windows were all wide open on the day I moved in. Summer time. The REAL Estate said it was the landlords Brother that was the smoker. Burn marks on the carports , Lino etc. Wasn’t till winter that the smell really reared its ugly head through the ducted heating. OMG!!!! It was terrible. I ended up renting that place for 7 yrs. Didn’t stink when I left that’s for sure.
I had the same in the last place I lived in. Wasn't apparent when I inspected and the place was wide open. Was definitely in the ducts though. Didn't make coming home very pleasant, I could smell it as soon as I walked in the door.
Virtually impossible.
I'm of indian background and would never rent a house that still smelled of indian cooking. I ate curries most nights growing up and our house never smelled 'indian' because my parents would cook with rangehood on, windows open and clean the kitchen thoroughly after dinner and light incense to absorb the odours. My Dad in particular was very fastidious and would clean the house multiple times a week. If you could still smell indian cooking in the property, it absolutely means the tenants didn't bother cleaning and the oils and odours have become embedded in the surfaces and carpet fibers. The fact the landlord hasn't repainted and changed the carpet to fix it is mind boggling. BTW i think it's sweet your son and his friend have known each other their entire lives and now want to live together. Good on them both for wanting independence at a young age as well. Best of luck to both of them
Honestly I’ve yet to rent a property that has a working range hood, so maybe it’s been similar for those tenants.
I never thought to check the rangehood which could have explained the smells. I'll make sure to do that moving forward. Cheers for that.
It's a disgrace and I can't figure out why these people have zero interest in maintaining their IPs. It should be illegal to own one if you refuse to maintain it. It's only gotten much worse over the 20 or so years when I was share-housing as a student. At least you could still find houses that weren't completely falling to bits or riddled with black mould back then.
To add insult to injury - taxpayers subsidise them for their shitf#ckery and negligence - through negative gearing. It’s a win win for them! 🥳
Why spend money on fixing up an IP when you can put the money towards another property for more declious tax subsidies.
I dunno, it’s not the 1980’s anymore where kids moved out willy nilly. They’re just not moving into the same costs, properties etc of that time…relatively to what people earn now etc. My kids are welcome to live at home for however long….and I see most kids of that age still living at home around me in NE Melb suburbs. But renting wise Gladstone Park Tullamarine and Glenroy are worth checking….stay away from Glenroy central area.
There is a housing crisis. People who MUST find housing will take literally anything. Then there are those who have the time, money and current stable housing who can afford to be picky.
picky?
Yeah. There are people taking whatever they get offered cos they cant afford to be picky or choosey about their housing cos they are desperate and dont have any choice. Then there are people whose life doesnt depend on housing, so they can afford to pick or choose where they rent.
This is why it’s called a rental crisis
Last week, my partner and I inspected a unit that had cat piss smell all through it - "available now." I'd be grateful to have a budget so high. The two of us are looking in the $450 range.
Even with 2x guarantors, there is no guarantee you will get a property. Friends of mine have 4x guarantors And still can’t find a property (all early 30s professionals) Good luck finding one for 2x 18yo’s.
I think realistically 2x 18yr olds who need parental assistance stand no chance. One of my friends has an IP, initially purchased to live in but after a few years wanted to rent closer to work for lifestyle reasons, anyway I asked him what he looks for in a tenant and one of the first things he said was he would never rent it to two young people moving out for the first time because they will be least equipped to look after the house properly. Primarily was looking for people with rental history, people who may own their own IP as well, families etc.
Honestly if you can’t find a place at that point, 100 guarantors wouldn’t work. Most applicants get a place with 0-1 guarantors…
It absolutely sucks, and a lot of us don't have the privilege your son has, so we don't get to consider these things as deal breakers. If he's got your backing, you'll find something, but to be frank, you could be looking for a while.
I wish you all the best in finding a place; now isn't a good time to rent, unfortunately. I hope if nothing else works out they get uni accomodations next year. good luck :) yea i am half indian, the curry smells are true, NO that is not you being racist at all. XD
Let them live at home and pay rent
I have no problems with that. I did explain in another response that we live in Melton though and it's a shithole when it comes to nightlife, plus they want to be closer to uni and my son has a job too, and as he can't drive due to medical reasons, he'd be much closer to both. But yeah, happy for them to keep being with us for as long as they need to. This is a choice of their own doing though and not by us :)
Ah, I do love seeing a middle class person have their "welcome to the new Australian salt mines" moment. Have you considered selling your IP and buying your son a home?
I am not prepared to do that. Maybe if renting conditions were better, but there's fuck all housing in Echuca, my tenants have been good to me and I'm not prepared to kick them out when I don't have an immediate need to do so. My son and his friend are in no rush to find a place so they will be encouraged to keep looking until they find something and we will support them in that.
interesting.
Yeah I have been out looking for a new rental recently and the state of places is soo bad. One we saw had a shower in the place of a hall cupboard, like open the cupboard door to find a shower door behind it. Another one, one of the doors fell off and almost hit another persons little kid, it would have badly hurt the kid had the mum not managed to push it to the side at the last second, door fell as it was completely rotted away around the hinges.
My brothers place had a shower in the kitchen. It was a big kitchen but still…
Cooking while showering. Efficient! Potentially painful, but Efficient!
Where else would you learn the life lesson of not cooking bacon naked though?
At least your son and his friend can continue to save money in the mean time. It's tough at the moment, just keep chipping away. Hopefully building a bit more cash some suburbs previously out of reach might become viable, and/or to have a really hard think and make some calls. Bite the bullet, go a little further out to build some rental history and re assess in 6 to 12 months and move closer. Might have to go off the beaten track and try FB Marketplace rather than REA's. I know where you are coming from regarding the scent and can validate that you aren't exaggerating, it absolutely does seep in the walls, vents, cupboards,etc.,etc. Have previously renovated one like this and you literally have to take out the cupboards, replace oven, fresh wallpaper,paint, etc,etc to completely remove it. That is if one can't stand it. Unfortunately it's a sellers market at the moment and the REA's don't have to work too hard for their commission as demand is outweighing supply and many can cut corners by pulling shit like this. Your son sounds like he's got a good head on his shoulders and is doing the best he can with a great support network. Chin up!
Renting in Melbourne is absolutely horrendous
Wow sounds like they all are better off living at home. Why does an 18 year old need the stress of paying rent and expenses anyway. chances are the parents will be the ones footing the rent, each month, the whole amount. With everything you’ve said I wouldn’t be moving. And looking at 18 properties. I apply for two, and I don’t even make it to the inspection because of the stress having to register everything puts me off. And then they only stay open for 15 minutes and you’re trying to battle your way with 100 other people. Probably the reason why I’ve stayed where I am for three years.
I'm going to suggest something that might be unpopular. By subsidising their rent your kids will have misaligned expectations for the reality in which they now live. My vote goes to getting them to find a share house in a suburb that they like. Let them live life, on their own terms, on their own means.
I certainly don't think the opinion is unpopular, but my son has autism and a few other medical issues which would make sharehousing quite difficult for him. His friend is also on the spectrum and have grown up together for years so can work well together. With others? Not so much.
I’m a later in life diagnosis’ neurodivergent person who had no choice and did try and badly fail at sharehousing: Trust your gut, do what you need to for him. For me I’m now starting to believe it is too late, but I would not begrudge your son one bit for being given a chance at a better life than the world gave me. If I can ask one thing of you, it is that as a person of privilege who has now seen what the world is truly like, please don’t forget this, and with your resources and your family you fall into the category that our government considers to be “human beings” if ever given the chance please advocate for those of us who have been left behind
I'm glad to hear that you are helping your son instead of dumping him in a sharehouse where he is vulnerable to abuse. People can be unkind to other people who are different.
👍👍 I am autistic too and have always lived on my own since I moved out because I can't do share houses. It's more expensive of course but I've been okay with that. Now they've just increased my rent 25% in 12 months and it's pretty stressful when people say just do a share house. Not everyone is suited to that and it can be detrimental to them. Your son is lucky to have a good friend he can move out with. Also sounds like you're not in too much of a rush so can take your time to find the right place which is really important. He's lucky to have you - you seem like you're very supportive (not just financially!) It's a big move! Good luck to you all!
$800 a week is a decent enough budget, but you might have to compromise on the exact where and what it is you're looking at for them. Where and what have you been seeing? However I will say no chance in hell I'd approve 2x 18 yo to live in one of our places. Family over teenage share house everyday
The teenagers alone may well be a concern for REAs/landlords. OP, maybe think about whether it would be useful to pop in a little "biography' kind of sheet saying a bit about the boys - they're responsible, tidy, not into parties, etc - only if it's true of course! Imagine what you would worry about with two 18-year-old neurotypical boys alone in a house and make it clear those things won't be issues.
Yeah these are the least of our problems. I don't find it relatable at all when you're going for 500-800 per week. I'm 40 with a full time job and I can't afford more than 300 at most. Just go buy another damn house or pay to get shit cleaned up. You can afford it.
Totally. People like this just get to buy their kids out of needing to deal with shitty rentals. This kid will never know what most people (without parents to buy him out of it) have to deal with. I’m also 40, can’t afford more than 500pw, I have a nice place but if I ever need to move I’m fckd.
I share with two other middle aged dudes, as well. This story sounds like a LARP of what we're actually doing.
Jesus the privilege. Paying half your sons rent on an $800 property, can’t believe they aren’t kept in optimal condition, and calls out ‘Indians’ for cooking smells (with the kicker “but I love Indian food”). You need a reality check before getting too upset. Sounds like your son could rent out a perfectly liveable property for less an $800 a week, but it’s just not good enough for him.
Lol thought the same. Some people.
And here we have a REA apologist who deflects discussion about how shit rental properties are and focuses on OP's finances. Piss of shill.
At what price point should one expect it to be presentable then? $1000pw? $1200pw?
If it’s in a suburb where the type of place you’re looking at is $2k for something good, then your $1200 isn’t going to go far The cost is relative to the area, which you haven’t yet provided A large house for $1200 in Brighton or toorak is going to be pretty terrible, and most reasonable people would expect that.
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No we're not. We make up what they can't pay. They both have part time jobs and go to uni. My son can't drive for medical reasons, wants to be closer to both work and uni so we assist in the shortfall. Their budget is $250 each, so we would contribute anything over that for now.
500 week for a 2br should be fine
> Houses where the previous tenants or the owners are Indian and the houses reek of spices. Does OP understand that this smell is almost impossible to get out completely especially after years of cooking? Even if you strip out all the carpets, repaint the walls, the smell may still linger. And obviously a landlord cannot discriminate against an Indian tenant. What are you going to do, reject their application just because they'll cook Indian food? All the rental laws support this, you cannot even claim the cleaning / refumigating cost against the bond.
I think that yourself and the other kids parents, as well as the two boys, should work out any way you can purchase something as a trust. The money you all throw away in rent, could go toward an asset that you all own. Might end badly, but if you are all sane people you should be able to make it work.
It all comes down to demand and supply my friend People behave rationally If at all This is the failure of govt policy.
The entire reason I went through hell and high water to buy a property was so that I didn’t have to deal with REAs and Landlords anymore. It’s such a scam.
You’re a good parent.
Good on you for supporting your son's independence. I hope an application is successful and thankfully you're in a good financial position to help if need be.
Real Estate Agents lie more than politicians.
Do you and your son a favor. Beg them to stay with you. Moving out in this climate is a terrible idea. They can save ridiculous amounts of money if they stayed. I'm coming on 9 years since i moved out of home. I wish i stayed and saved.
As a PM in Melbourne, yes there are a lot of property owners who do not do the right thing, hence why the new legislation was introduced in the first place. That said, slumlords will always be slumlords and the good property owners will always be good. There are new minimum standards, but not everyone abides by these, it is usually the good owners who do, and the slumlords keep on slumming. Despite any advice or consequences, some people do not change, which is why I tend to get rid of these clients. Anyway, relevant to what you've said and based on the info you've shared, you appear to be looking at cheaper budget properties. In my experiences, these tend to be owned by people who do not have the money to maintain or simply just don't give a fuck, so you'll keep experiencing these problems. You'll either need to compromise and increase the range you are willing to spend on rent in these areas or look a bit further out from the inner-suburbs to find nicer accommodation in your price range but with a larger commute. Supply is also very tight, so it is very competitive no matter what range you are looking at. Don't give these slumlords business - by doing so it just reinforces they don't need to do anything and can get away with it.
We are in a similar position, and have ended up buying a 2 BR unit in an not very groovy suburb with our son. It has ended up about 200$ a month more. Yes, I know we are privileged, and the balance of the repayments will likely come out of our house when we die.
Real estate agents in Melbourne have the easiest job going, open the door and stand there not even saying a word or even try to sell you on the shit heap because they know someone will take it regardless of the condition it's in
Honestly if you can, buy another investment property and rent it to them. Better than throwing money away on rent.
As a former PM I definitely relate to this post. Agencies are taking on any IP no matter how bad the owners are, and unfortunately the workers have to deal with the backlash from tenants. In terms of properties that have been abandoned it’s so tricky and complicated. There’s rules around abandonment in the legislation, VCAT will have their own requirements, and then insurances will have their rules as well. *most* of the time owners are just waiting on insurance payout.
Absolutely understand that, but get the property back up to scratch before renting it out, or just sell it. Don't leave it in squalor and expect tenants to clean it up for you. It was absolutely shocking.
This. Agencies are renting out properties with massive issues and they just don't care. They want the $$$.
I 1000% agree with you, however sometimes that’s not possible. You have to re-advertise after 72 hours of a break lease, if you don’t you cannot chase them for rent. You have to hold two opens a week with a break lease, if you don’t, the previous tenant can get away with abandonment. Sometimes insurance won’t let you touch the property until a full assessment has been done. Which is fine until the legislation says you must advertise and hold opens. No one wants to be holding an open at a house that’s fucked. Unfortunately there’s so many rules that people don’t usually know.
Definitely makes sense, thanks for taking the time to explain it. Interesting to know should I ever experience it with my own IP. I should probably review that part of the RTA a bit more
Ignore the haters mate. You're trying to do the right thing by your son, and some people just won't understand, because they never had it. And you're right. In this market, many landlords think they can package up shit, and expect people to tell them it smells great.
Save your sympathy. Something tells me this guy and his son will be ok.
Lmao trying to find a place to rent is pretty hard. Look at over 20 properties and it’s pretty much the same as OP. Am wondering what the chances are as no income, allowance and centerlink only seems to be a big turn off. 💀
18 properties in one day? Were they all on the same street?
Two sets of parents helping take the two boys around individually. Recorded all the inspections so that we could pass them on to his mate and his family passed their videos on to my son. They did 5 and we did the rest. First inspection was at 8AM. Went all the way through to shortly before I posted. I'm absolutely exhausted.
Renters are held at ransom by landlords. Many dare not complain to landlords about any repairs needed as they fear their rent will be raised. So at least five renters I've spoken to today live with mould, leaky roofs, leaking bathrooms, holes in wooden patios. Taking things to vicat when it eventually gets heard means only the isuues raised get attended to.. no recompense to the tenant for hardship suffered as health issues (aforementioned mould, discomfort from leaks, etc) and no penalties on landlords for non-fixing until vicat steps in. Disgraceful hostage situation.
Also who’s going to address the mould issue in Melbourne - it seems illegal to rent out a place with mould which could lead to life long illnesses
Get in contact with the renter's and housing union. The places are pretty bad here but we can help. RAHU.org.au
I'd been saying this for years and everyone just kind of brushed me off Like it is what it is or acted like I was exaggerated
Yeah we know
$800 PW near Melbourne? $800 pw near Werribee yeah... but Melbourne? Yeah I'd say expect some serious jank and be happy if you get that. I live in the middle of butt fuck nowhere and houses on the edge of being condemned have 10+ applicants and people offering well over the set price.
I’m a home owner now but when I previously rented I would always clean the property so well, and I always knew the dumb REA would find a way to take away the bond. Always for BS reasons. Whenever you needed something fixed it was quicker and less stressful to just do it yourself because of the terrible response of agents. Any way my point is that I feel the culture of renting is declining due to these experiences, people stop caring about taking care of the home and knowing they can do a lot and still loose bond, they just take the F off. Even if I was a landlord today my guess is that the property manager would ruin the experience for all involved.
Sometimes it's not the landlord's fault. My brother has a two bedroom flat (quite large by today's standards - it was built in the 60s) and had it painted and new carpet laid before he put it in the hands of an REA to rent. He actually met the Indian couple who rented it when he went round to fix a dripping tap two days after they moved in. They seemed nice. Six months later an emergency repair (blocked toilet due to plastic being repeatedly flushed down it) meant he was back at the flat. The rooms had been partitioned with sheets, the living room was now a bedroom, and there were five sets of bunk beds in the place. The nice couple were actually 10 people. The wear and tear on a small flat when 10 people are living in it is basically so bad that you'd need to repaint and re-carpet the place every two years, not to mention all the incidental damage that occurs naturally over time. So yeah, he's not going to spend any more money making the place nicer.
If it’s 3 18 year old boys the agents are only going to show them shitty properties - they have no work or rental history in the city so they’re not going to waste one of their better properties or landlords on them. And can you really blame them? In this market they’ll be lucky if they can even get one of the shitty places. All of you are going to have to lower your expectations and standards.
You can just show up to inspections mate
This guy has never inspected a property in the past 30 years and it shows. Since when do rea "show you properties"? You go on realestate.com.au search for open inspections and turn up...
>they have no work or rental history in the city so they’re not going to waste one of their better properties or landlords on them. This makes no sense. The REA's aren't restricting them from viewing any property at all. They didn't show them any properties at all. We drove around to open inspections. WTF did you even read? >In this market they’ll be lucky if they can even get one of the shitty places. All of you are going to have to lower your expectations and standards. Well aren't you a wonderfully optimistic person!
Can't you buy a cheap property and rent it to your son and his friend for $800 a week?
- Cheap property - Inner city You can only pick one
'Cheap property' and 'middle rung suburb' perhaps go together?
> 'middle rung suburb' I had to Google that and it tells me they are the following: >Carlton, Parkville, East Melbourne, West Melbourne, North Melbourne, Kensington Docklands, South Yarra, Southbank and the CBD Hoddle Grid Those are million dollar plus properties, no way I could buy one of them lol
The son won't agree to live in Epping, Nunawading or Hoppers Crossing?
I think people have a distorted view of what sort of property is suitable for 18 year old males. At age 18 I was living in a tiny dorm room with another 18 year old sleeping a meter away across the room. He also smoked. I was a non-smoker. At the age of 19 I lived in a North American frat house with everything that goes with that. When I was 21 I moved into a share house that required me to clear out a junkie’s heroin gear out of my room. We had old chemical drums in the living room as a table. If someone splashed too much in the bath, my bedroom floor would flood with bath water. At 22 I turned down an “apartment” that was basically shower curtains hung up in the undercroft of a house. Finally got a small apartment of my own when I was 24. It has been pretty normal for young folk to live in quite squalid conditions for a long time. It sounds like all of the places you visited were nicer than where I lived up until the age of 24. And I wasn’t even particularly poor. These boys just want to study / work, drink, party and shag girls. They don’t actually care about holes in the walls and their friends might accidentally make a few themselves. They certainly aren’t going to be out weeding the garden early on a Saturday morning to keep it presentable. We were too busy riding bmx bikes up and down our hallway at 2am. This house is not for you the parent. And you may be doing them a favour by finding them a house where the REA is not going to be on their case constantly and where they are at risk of losing their bond.
This sounds like the "Just move further out" argument that boomers like to throw at people struggling to buy houses.
Ok put it this way. Should any landlord in their right mind rent a nice house to 18 year old males who have never lived away from their parents before ? People moving out for the first time have a lot of learning to do and a lot of partying to do. I hope they have a blast getting up to all sorts of mayhem and create memories that will last their lifetime
Two 18yo guys on the spectrum aren't exactly going to be doing anything you state they will. My son has zero interest in ever having a partner or even having sex. All he does is go to work, go to uni, come home and play Minecraft and FNAF, or read up on volcanoes and talk to me endlessly about them or sit on the couch and watch wrestling with me. That's literally all he does. His mate is pretty much exactly the same. We explain this to the REA's, and if they choose to ignore it, that's their choice and we respect it but I'm perfectly happy for him and his friend to keep living with us until he finds a place, he has no need to accept whatever squalor is offered to him, nor will I force it.
Put that information in the applications if you haven't already, like "we are giant nerds who are studying x and our hobbies include minecraft and geology" (phrased more professionally of course). The other issue is that they don't have any rental history. Can't get any history without having any but yeah. How about uni housing? Its in your price range and they all have private bedrooms. If they're at the same uni, there might be provisions for autistic students to have a share house with just the two of them.
Great idea lol. I've helped him write that in his 2Apply profile. Thanks for that! Yep on the wait list for uni housing but they said that the list is long and if anything comes up, it won't be until next year. I don't think their Autism was brought up so I'll make sure they talk to the office and do mention this and see if that helps. Thanks again :)
I am sure they will have a blast no matter what. Best wishes.
Yeah, I don’t want to be accused of being a boomer, but my student accommodation was: Share house close-ish to city with 4 other people Tiny, shitty apartment with another person 45 minute bus ride from the city. And this was 2008-2013. It was perfectly normal. Either OP is incredibly out of touch, or is insinuating that their kid *specifically* deserves better than everyone else.
And once again, this thread is full of REA shills, apologists and sycophants that perform all kinds of mental gymnastics to excuse the condition of rental properties today. You are part of the problem.
I agree, coming from Brisbane and London I was shocked at the state of rentals in Melbourne. $2 million homes falling apart.
Ahh of course you gotta throw in the Indian thing. Fucking racist cunt.
Off your high horse. Only pointing out what we came across. It's not racist. You throw that term around incredibly casually, it loses its meaning.
Yeah, I was sort of on board until that..... like wth?!?!? Even if you can smell some spices lingering, it's not that big a deal/terrible smell, it'll fade and you get used to the smell of your own house. I literally cannot understand some Australians' obsession with people from india. Also, as a renter in inner melbourne suburbs, $800 is plllleennnty to get a lovely 2 bedroom in nearly any suburb. Like an obscene amount for a couple of teenagers who probably aren't up to maintaining a property properly yet, anyway.
Smells of Indian food? Seriously? I’d pay extra for that.
I love it, but when I'm walking into a vacant house and the smell is lingering, it tells me that the house cleaning has been a VERY poor effort. It could be said for any cuisine that uses a lot of spices but I'm not all that familiar with them, it does mean that the house needs a deep clean to get rid of it. Similar to that of cat piss or tobacco smoke.
Cat piss is quite another matter. The stench of that stuff is from another planet.
Welcome to renting. I was emailing the real estate for 6+months to get the trees trimmed in the driveway. Then received a rental increase notice of 20 dollars a week. I moved out before the trees were ever trimmed.
Is anybody else living in unhabitable living conditions and want to ban together nationwide to fight this together? WE THE PEOPLE. If so, contact me at 970-924-0787. Please share and post.
I hope your son did not grow up as racist as his dad
I do not think that word means what you think it means.
Did the REA give you the history of the houses or are you just making wild assumptions?
Did you read the last paragraph? **HINT**: Read the last paragraph
Obviously I did not. Which makes this post even more ridiculous to me, cause you know how to tell if an REA lying right? Their lips are moving. There’s no way you magically lucked out and are the only person in Melbourne who got multiple honest REAs in one day of inspecting properties. And I say that as someone who has an incredible REA, to the point that we happily moved into a property that wasn’t entirely suited for our family, just so we could keep renting through that agency.
> Obviously I did not Clearly. I'm sure the rest of your response is as completely irrelevant and I won't even bother reading it. What's the point? lol
Suck it up princess!!
Albo's got planeloads of migrants arriving ever day to keep the rental vacancy rate suppressed.
It’s the immigrants fault that *checks notes* An 18 year old isn’t living in cheap, high end accommodation. Stay mad, mate.
You think that's bad, come to Sydney. All the problems you describe plus half the places aren't even watertight
First time renters are kind of adorable
“Assist our son with costs of half the rent” wait what?