Venture Property is hosting a one day event next weekend. I am very excited about the event and expect to be full of motivation afterwards and feeling like the king of the world.
I believe it is going to be a very motivating event and I really would like you to attend. I also would really appreciate your feedback on it. So, everyone that attends and sends me feedback will go in a draw to win their ticket price back and dinner for two at waggamama’s. (Pam has told me that I am not allowed to put our name in the draw).
Follow this link to sign up and I look forward to seeing you there and receiving your feedback.
Beat the Banks Event
Shayne Thurston
Lambton Property Management
Shayne's blog, Various Things
While I sit here tonight, enjoying a glass of wine, I find myself thinking over the events of the day. We had a tenant come in today, who had rented a fully furnished place. Unbeknown to us, the owner had in the last month removed the TV, and changed the fridge to a smaller one. While I knew I was really annoyed, I was not even close to being as annoyed as the tenant was.
By the end of the hour and a half long three way conversation between the tenant, myself and the owner, we had a resolution sorted. The owner would ensure that these items were replaced within two days, the tenant would get reduced rent for a month and we would not sack the owner (I know our sacking them sounds harsh, but they had put us in what could have easily become an untenable position if the tenant had not been prepared to be accommodating). The entire situation basically occurred because we were not consulted and were kept out of the loop and while yes the owner does actually own those things, if the place is rented with them there, you cant simply just remove them.
This made me think about whats fair. Its not fair in my opinion, when you have some paying $580 per week for a furnished apartment to turn up and take things out. Its just not fair.
When it comes to the tenancy tribunal, the adjudicators look heavily at whats fair. This is a crucial thing to bear in mind. Be careful and fair, or if it gets to the tribunal even if you are in the right you may lose. I know that for a while another government department used the “Its our job to be fair”, but tenancy adjudicators really have that sown up. They look at what is fair - based on the tenancy act. They will often decide in the ‘merits’ of fairness that they will decide which aspects of the act to enforce and at what speed.
Shayne Thurston
Lambton Property Management
Shayne's blog, Various Things
In what I consider a great move, the government has announced over $300 million for insulation grants. This is great news. Tuesday morning at work will involve lots of conversations with insulation companies seeing how much of a deal we can work on prices for insualtion to get costs to us for the properties we own and also our clients properties to be as close to the $1800 grant limit as possible. Wish me luck.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/budget-09/2454905/Housing-323m-for-warmer-homes#share
Shayne Thurston
Lambton Property Management
Shayne's blog, Various Things
Today I heard another excuse. We hear a lot of them. Some are just funny, some are just simply bad.
Today’s one was from a tenant who was asked about a hole in the wall we noticed during the inspection – the reply was “It just was like that one day”.
Some of the worst and best ones I have heard follow.
Relating to late rent payments:
“My dog ate it”
“I had to pay my bills”
“Oh, do I have to pay it”
“I spent it on presents”.
Relating to issues during inspections:
“The wind did it”
“My friends did it”
“My dog did it”
“My neighbor did it” (Yes there is a theme here)
“Oh, I never noticed that”
So thanks for letting me share one of the more frustrating and yet sometimes amusing aspects of what we do.
Shayne
Shayne Thurston
Lambton Property Management Ltd
Various Things
