Rental property advice please - Real Mum story on MoM

Oh dear where do I start?

In February this year we noticed moisture problems in the duplex we are renting. Now you may think when I say moisture just a dampness…. Think again!!

We have puddles coming from under the vanity in the ensuite.

We have wet grout coming from the wall near the toilet ( other end of bathroom)

We have random puddles appearing mid floor

We have mould and moisture creeping up the wall

That’s just my ensuite. Then we move to the master bedroom.

We have skirting boards lefti g off the wall.

We have saturated carpet after slightly lengthy showers.

And then one morning last week I woke up to find a MUSHROOM growing in my bedroom……aargh!! That’s right a mushroom. It was about 1.5 inches tall. Called real estate who then asked of she could come inspect the damage and mushroom. Over the next 8 hours it grew another 2 cm. did I mention it was a vegetable – non edible variety – growing I the carpets my bedroom. I’m highly repulsed by this stage.

The real estate comes out rips up to carpet and pull skirting board away to look. This releases the most pungent smell. The carpet is black on the underside.

Next step dismantle my 3yo bed… Mattress on floor to make room for our mattress. 2 sleeps later….. I’m adjusting his bedding and as I grabbed the corner of his doona it’s wet!!! I call out to hubby that we have a serious problem. I lift up my sons mattress and it is saturated. This is a $500 14inch thick mattress that is wet all the way through. The bottom has festy brown stains almost half way down. 6month old mattress – worthy of the tip. The shower behind his room hasn’t been used since we moved in and apparently it leaks like a sieve.

Now it gets interesting with the agent. This is 7pm at night. Phones turned off. We message, we text, we call. 30 mins later we get a call back. She told us to move out. We asked her what we were supposed to do about the mattress as our child has no where to sleep. At this point she didnt appear to give a damn.

The owner is broke whichis why the property was never repaired. After moving out of our room we gained a $25 a week rent reduction ( not good enough). $400 a week for one bedroom duplex (bubs room).

After my husband got super cranky and threatened current affair, things started going our way. We are suddenly give an address of a resort where 3 weeks in advance has been paid for a 2 bedroom unit.

We now need to suss out compensation. Our insurance will cover the mattress, but we have a $500 excess. They were going to check the owners excess. They were supposed to advise us today as we need to sort something out as we move into our brand new house in next 3 weeks.

Who knows the rights etc of tenants. Rta are useless. How do we force the owner to replace this mattress. Insurance said they get someone to look at it and see ifi it is safe and hygienic. But I’m sorry…. I’m not happy to have a stained expensive 6month old mattress.

Posted by jaymelee, 1st May 2013

4 Comments

- - mom81879 said
  - 20 Sep 2015
    10:34 am
Ew, that’s terrible! Try free legal advice, we have a number in the phone book, they’ll be able to tell you of your rights etc

- - mom110057 said
  - 15 Feb 2015
    11:15 am
Keep talking to the insurance company. You should not be paying any excess as it is not your fault. Also you should be able to break your lease with no penalty as it sounds like the place is also a health hazard. Tell the real estate that you want out of your lease with no penalty and if RTA will do nothing then go to the ombudsman. Hope you get a satisfactory suction.

- - mom94125 said
  - 02 Jan 2015
    11:37 pm
that would be the most frustrating that no-one is listening

- - mom57522 said
  - 28 Dec 2014
    9:03 pm
I hate dealing with rental agencies and land lords! So glad we have our own place now.