Beyond Blue Home Improvement Thread

[geoff]

Hi everyone. I'm Geoff and have been a dedicated Volunteer on the forums for 13 years. I am proud to have stopped some of the stigmas that are associated with mental health as well as doing my best to help others too

Before my health went south I was a builder in all aspects of home construction and renovation. If you don't have a handyman around I hope I can offer you some tips that may be of help. I have had many years of experience in home renovation and will do my best to help you out if you are stuck and need some advice

I hope my experience may be of help to the people on Beyond Blue and make their life a little bit better. Even if you need help with the most basic painting job or putting up a shelf I can help there too with some tips

I will do my best to get back to anyone that has a question when I can as this is social yet important thread

Geoff

[geoff]

Hello EM, the guy who quoted you $12k and then another $4k was an untrustworthy guy, for sure he would ask for $12k but then you wouldn't see him or his friend, they would vanish, and there were roof 'repairmen' who came to where I lived, saying to people they could clean and reseal their rooves for a fraction of the cost, so people employed them, mind you they were living in the caravan park and moved from town to town.

They did 'reseal' people's rooves but within 6 months it all started to peel away, making the house look terrible, they were conned and had no forward address.

A ceiling wouldn't bow 2 inches unless there was a reason, and water could be making it bow and it's sad to know that tradesmen do take advantage when discussing the situation with a female, it's no different than when they're talking with a car mechanic, they will tell you the worse, unfortunately.

If you have 2 whirly birds, I can't see why you've need another one, two would be enough.

All the ducts that are removed will need to be fixed, same as the skylight, but if the ceiling had dropped 2 inches (5cm or 50mm) then you could claim on insurance to have the entire ceiling replaced and painted for you.

Take care.

Geoff.

[geoff]

Hello RX, the roof that was asbestos, which the corner had broken off, the insurance would provide payment to replace the entire roof but he's been very lucky.

Hello Sleepy, if the real estate don't do anything to try and fix this problem then you have a right to go the VCAT ( the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal ) because in Vic 'your rented home needs to be maintained in good repair and in a reasonably fit and suitable condition, section 68, and the application is very minimal and you can be reimbursed back if the tribunal feels that it's right to do so.

You can't rent a place that's not suitable for hygienic reasons.

Let us know what happens.

Geoff.

[Guest_1584]

Hi Geoff , didn't know about that gov free offer or the lead lights , there ya go sleepy maybe you can grab that and get cheaper bills while your at it.

Funny , just yesterday a guy knocked on the door about replacing the light globes, l thought he was trying to sell me somem so l brushed him off. Now l'm wondering if it was the gov free offer , might've messed up.

Yeah they told my brother they won't repair espestos they replace the whole roof . Don't believe the luck he's had with all that money and that house , you know he was on the dole when he bought it back when , did a wangle. he'd never had a full time job wouldn't work in an iron lung dad use to tell him. Low and behold after yrs and yrs never working , he runs an import business now and works like a dog . no one can believe it's the same brother. he started the business with the flood insurance money.

rx

[Guest_1643]

hi geoff thank u

reimbused back meaning reimbursed rent or reimbused the fees for hiring someone myself?>

[Guest_1643]

Hi Geoff,

The agents put it off for one month, during which time I had to live with mold.
For part of that time I was in hospital, but otherwise I''m here...and also with MH i'm vulnerable as is.
A recent hospital patient!

I'll call VCAT and appreciate the good advice. I've heard the laws have changed recently and mold is recognised as a fault of the landlord and requiring urgent repairs.
I've found someone myself to fix it urgently (as soon as I could - wish was early next week...)

They will have to reimburse me for this. They have not indicated they will find anyone to come before the end of April. They said they "will try" but have not given a date etc.

So I believe they will have to pay back my treating it, as it is reasonbaly considered an urgent repair.

[ecomama]

Hey Sleepy

The VCAT will advise you every step of the way, with each communication to your landlord / property manager.

Alexa was advised to have every communication via email, so she did.

I hope your situation is rectified quickly. (Alexa's took many months to rectify but it happened in the end. The Tenant's tribunal or whatever it's called here in NSW even suggested she was within her rights to withhold paying rent - she didn't but told them that's what they advised etc).

Good luck.

EMxxxx

[geoff]

Hello RX, isn't it amazing how people can change so much.

Sleepy to apply to the VCAT cost about $20 or so and it may differ from state to state, then if the tribunal finds that the landlord hasn't complied to have carried out any of their duties under your tenancy agreement, then you will be compensated for that amount, plus they have a time frame in which the repairs have to be completed by.

If you are able to take any photos this will certainly help and if the work is not carried out, then you have the option to leave under the tenancy agreement, and as well as taking photos, try and document everything with the dates included.

The landlord is responsible to have all the essential appliances in good working order and if the repairs aren't carried out as stipulated by the tribunal by the due date, then you are entitled to get them fixed and take that amount out of your rent money, but give warning to the real estate or to the landlord.

Hope that helps you.

Geoff.

[Guest_1643]

Hi Em Geoff and Rx

thank u so much for the tips

Definitely having the convos via email, great tip!

I have hired someone myself to come and VCAT says they will have to reimburse me for the payment

VCAT were very very helpful also consumer affairs - both were very supportive and concerned and nice

I feel better actually because intead of waiting for the landlord to send their own dodgy perosn to get it fixed, since they kept me waiting and wouldn't make a date, i've found my own person, so am using a company i trust and is objective. The landlord seems to send dodgy ppl to fix things and to do so by keeping me waiting a long time

I was reading a lot of ppl on social media sharing the way their landlords have caused them trouble over the pandemic and it's unacceptable

I will let u know how it goes, I hope the landlord will reimburse me for the repairs quickly and without a fuss but if not I have to go to VCat again

[geoff]

Hello Sleepy, that's great news, well done and yes I do know how landlords send people who haven't any idea of how to fix anything, they only do this if they are called back into VCAT saying that they 'followed' the order and sent someone, just so they won't be fined.

Landlords who rent out a house/flat they own are responsible to make sure that all the essentials are in good working order, that's the law and if the problem is still not fixed after a few weeks, then you have every right to go back to the VCAT, where a certain date is set so that the problem is repaired.

If you decide to get a tradesman then I believe you pay your rent less than the cost you have paid out to the tradesman, but keep dates and all the receipts.

Good luck.

Geoff.

[Guest_1643]

hi Geoff, thank you

I'm getting quite annoyed about the landlord.
I've chosen a reputable and well-known company to come and the agent has just told me that's fine I can get the quote but specifically I cannot do any repairs until a report has been sent to them.
The only problem is this eats up more and more time.
If he comes and sees what needs to be done and how to fix it it then has to be approved....

And he'll probably charge for the quote which it seems they won't pay.... I don't understand their approach....