"Don’t let your tenancy go away with you"

As an added note to my last post here is an excerpt from the most recent Office of Fair Trading Newsletter;

With the holiday season fast approaching, many tenants may be planning to visit friends or relatives or go on an extended holiday. It is good practice to notify the landlord or agent if you are going to be away for an extended period. This ensures that the landlord or agent does not think you have abandoned the premises if they can’t contact you or if your rent payments stop for some reason.

In a recent case, a tenant did not advise the agent that she would be away for several months. There was a banking problem with the tenant’s automatic rent payments and her rent fell behind without her knowledge. The landlord thought she had abandoned the premises and considered terminating the tenancy.

In this case it was simply a misunderstanding that fortunately was able to be sorted out, but it could have resulted in the tenancy being ended while the tenant was away. Just like you might tell the neighbour to keep an eye on your place and empty the mail while you are away, it is a good idea to let the landlord or agent know when you will be absent from your rental property for several weeks or months. It is also good practice to regularly check your bank statements while you are away to make sure your rent payments are continuing to be made.

The full newsletter can be found here; http://node3.enews.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/online/18209992-33.html

In case you didn't realise - Christmas is on again!

Every year it's not uncommon to hear the phrase 'I couldn't pay my rent, I had to buy the kids presents'.

Now I love Christmas. I love giving gifts and receiving gifts and absolutely everything that goes with Christmas, so please don't think me a Scrooge when I say what I'm about to say...

If you can't afford both rent and Christmas presents then maybe you should have a 'home made' Christmas this year. Seriously, what's more important? A dozen more cheap plastic toys or a roof over the kid's heads?

Christmas comes every year. Every year! I know this year has just flown by, but when we started it, you knew at the end of it there would be a Christmas. If there's any possibility that it's going to be a choice between Christmas and rent then you really should be putting a little money away every week to help out. It doesn't sneak up on you, it's the same day every year, it should not come as a surprise. Be prepared!

As a side note, your car registration/insurance comes every year too. Expect it!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

The Twelve Days of Christmas - Property Management style

I received this by email from EBM Insurance brokers, thought it was quite clever and that everyone might enjoy it.


On the first day of Christmas
my agent said to me:
My property had a vacancy.

On the second day of Christmas
my agent said to me:
My tenants did a runner,
That’s why my property has a vacancy.

On the third day of Christmas
my agent said to me:
They hadn’t paid the rent,
And then they did a runner,
So my property has a vacancy.

On the fourth day of Christmas
my agent said to me:
They’ve taken all the blinds,
And hadn’t paid the rent,
That’s why they did a runner,
Which has now left me with a vacancy.

On the fifth day of Christmas
my agent said to me:
They’d plugged up all the drainholes,
As well as pinched the blinds,
And they hadn’t paid the rent,
Which is why they did a runner,
And has now left me with a vacancy.

On the sixth day of Christmas
my agent said to me:
They turned on all the taps,
After plugging all the drain holes,
As well as pinched the blinds,
And they hadn’t paid the rent,
Which is why they did a runner,
And have left me with this rotten vacancy. On the seventh day of Christmas
my agent said to me:
The place filled up like a pool,
‘cos they turned on all the taps,
After plugging all the drain holes,
As well as pinched the blinds,
And they hadn’t paid the rent,
Which is why they did a runner,
And I can’t believe I have this vacancy.

On the eighth day of Christmas
my agent said to me:
The damage is horrendous,
As it filled up like a pool,
When they turned on all the taps,
After plugging all the drain holes,
As well as pinching all the blinds,
And they hadn’t paid the rent,
Which is why they did a runner,
And now I have this silly vacancy.

On the ninth day of Christmas
my agent said to me:
Lucky you have insurance,
‘cos the damage is horrendous,
As it filled up like a pool,
When they turned on all the taps,
After plugging all the drain holes,
As well as pinching all the blinds,
And they hadn’t paid the rent,
Which is why they did a runner,
And I also have this stupid vacancy.

On the tenth day of Christmas
my agent said to me:
We’ve filled out all the forms,
It was lucky for insurance,
‘cos the damage is a nightmare, From it filling like a pool,
When they turned on all the taps,
After plugging all the drain holes,
As well as pinching all the blinds,
And they hadn’t paid the rent,
Which is why they did a runner,
And I hope it also covers the vacancy.

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my agent said to me:
RentCover to the rescue,
They’ve approved all of your claim,
It was lucky for insurance,
‘cos the damage is a nightmare,
From it filling like a pool,
When they turned on all the taps,
After plugging all the drain holes,
As well as pinching all the blinds,
And they hadn’t paid the rent,
Which is why they did a runner,
And they even said it covers the vacancy.


On the twelfth day of Christmas
my agent said to me:
Have a lovely Christmas
Your loss is now all covered,
RentCover’s paid the bills,
It was lucky for insurance,
‘cos the damage was a nightmare,
From it filling like a pool,
When they turned on all the taps,
After plugging all the drain holes,
You will now get all new blinds,
And the rent it is all covered,
Even though they did a runner,
So no need to worry ‘bout a vacancy.