Tenants have rights if the Landlord fails on repairs
A non-urgent repair is any repair that falls outside the definition of an urgent repair.If a party to a lease does comply with the law, the law does not give the other party power to enforce. If a landlord does not maintain their property as required by the law, the tenant can seek a remedy…Read More→
Tenants’ obligation to Mitigate?
Having the right to fix a problem doesn’t give a tenant the right to spend freely at the expense of another. It also means that if you have the power to act and don’t, any losses incurred because you didn’t act or acted late are on you. Mitigating is about minimising everyone’s costs even when…Read More→
What to do when an Owner and Tenant disagree about repairs
When you don’t know why something is broken, it is not uncommon for either party to assume a reason and blame the other person. The Tribunal has had to decide many cases where the actual cause of an issue is disputed. From our experience, this is how they decide. If the cause is unknown, it’s…Read More→
Who is responsible for garden care?
When it comes to the lawns and gardens, there are few specifics written in a lease and the Act about who must do what. Over time, the tribunal has created a series of standards for what they see as the tenants’ responsibility and what they consider the owner’s responsibility. These have worked reasonably well and…Read More→
Who is responsible for fixing Mould?
Mould is a variety of fungi that grow naturally on plant and animal matter. Mould spores are fungi seeds drifting in the air until they find a spot to germinate and grow. Mould needs food, and pretty much anything organic will do. House dust is a favourite because it has everything from skin cells, hair,…Read More→
I want compensation!
When things go wrong, it’s not unusual for tenants to think the law is on their side. Tenancy law is quite specific on what compensation will be awarded, and it is not as broad as many think. To be liable, Landlords must breach their obligationsThe Act will only allow a tenant to claim compensation if…Read More→
New units are getting better. Well, maybe some are.
If you are considering buying a new unit you now have some options that you didn’t have a year or two ago. The appointment of the NSW Building Commissioner in 2019 has been one of the better changes our previous NSW Government made to improve the quality of high-rise residential development. For years the axiom…Read More→
Okay, now, but perhaps not so good later.
The Federal Government secured a compromise with the Greens so they could pass their $10 billion Social Housing Fund. Now, if you haven’t been putting in the effort to understand what that really means, and I don’t blame you, let me quickly explain. The Government isn’t going to spend $10 billion on housing. They are going…Read More→
Is increased immigration boosting property prices?
Net overseas immigration last financial year saw 400,000 more people come to Australia, and this financial year, it looks like we will add another 300,000 people. Promotors of Real estate are shouting this Net Immigration number is massive and will push up property prices. It’s a neat argument, focusing on one data point (net immigration)….Read More→
The Best way to approach Rent Increases
One of our long-term clients asked us how we think through rent increases and the strategy we use. She referred to a newsletter I wrote many years ago and asked quite reasonably if our approach was still relevant given the nature of the rental market and the changes in law. Our strategy So first, I’ll…Read More→