Renters ignored by politicians/treated as second class

[Wokko]

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/victoria-state-election-2014/the-forgotten-people-victorias-1-million-renters-20141101-11f29t.html

Good article from The Age.

Interestingly the best experiences I've heard about renting generally come from those who have private rentals rather than through agencies. Rental agencies use VCAT as a constant and terrible threat against tenants but people I know who have a simple arrangement with a landlord usually get things fixed faster, have less rental increases and have a generally more positive outcome.

I'd also add if a landlord is relying on tenants to pay their mortgage on their primary abode and also cover interest on the 'investment' they are at best naive and at worst stupidly ignorant.

[ronrat]

They can start by kicking people out of public housing who own rental properties or have holiday/retirement homes but maintain a housing commission flat (apartments are for yanks) for convenience. They also decimated the Defence Housing Authority and threw young defence personnel onto the private property market and subsidise them so areas near military bases have inflated prices. These include inner areas of Sydney and Brisbane.

I signed a lease in Thailand a week ago. The agents introduced us to the owners. The owner has been here 3 times already to fix things up after thunderstorms and to rectify things we saw before we moved in. They also own a bar about 5 kms away and have said if ever we want to go there they will pick us up and drop us back for nothing. My girlfriend loves gardening so we picked up a heap of stuff for a hundred bucks (it filled a ute) so the owner picked up another bill we had to pay because he was grateful.

We had cable connected the day we moved in and wifi added within 48 hours. We are seen as an asset and not a impediment to riches in the future.

[Culprit]

We have terrible renters and terrible landlords. The system is a failure and with demand so high landlords and real estate agents can do as they please.

Public Housing needs an overhaul as well. When I split with my ex I rented again and we were renting 11 years ago. Looked after the place and the owner looked after us. He died, his kids came in treated us like shit and bang we were out. Found another place we liked but it had no aircon. So I asked the Real Estate Agent can I put one in at my own cost. Amazingly the Landlord said no and put the rent up so we said stuff it and we purchased our house we are currently in. We departed and were told after they inspected the place for our bond that the place was left in perfect condition and we were the best tenants they ever had. Now hows this, the new tenants came in, trashed the place and took them months to evict them.

I will never rent again, nor will I rent a property for domestic use.

[think positive]

happily the arsewipes renting our old house get 60 days notice tomorrow. its going to cost us around 30,000 to fix the damage they have caused. works both ways guys, works both ways

[watt price tully]

[1061]

VCAT works well for both parties, one must know ones rights!

[pietillidie]

[Mugwump]

^ agreed, with the one exception of newbuild housing. You add to the housing stock, you can have a tax break. It's that important. However, if you bid up the price of existing houses because you have a tax structure that young people trying to buy a roof can't emulate, you ought to pay doible tax, not less.

All that said, there is no negative gearing in the Uk and we have the same problem, so maybe NG is not the root of it ; maybe immigration, planning controls and foreign buyers play a large part, too, as well as an unbalanced capital stock.

I'm no socialist, but hosuing is something where there is a role for government. The govt can borrow very cheaply, and i see no reason why we do not build homes, rent them to the young and houseless at a rate that covers the borrowing cost, and the transfer the house to them after x years. This is pretty much what the Housing Development Board does in Singapore, and it works.

[David]

Sounds like a good idea, Mugwump. I wonder why that's not more common here? It's not like we have too many houses.

[Culprit]

With the amount of foreign investors buying properties and leaving them empty is making the Rental market very small. The housing market is over inflated and now that our dollar has dived; overseas investors can pick up properties even cheaper in real terms.

[Member 7167]

I personally believe that people who are non citizens or residents of Australia should not be allowed to purchase private homes. THE Abbott government claims they are doing something but all it amounts to is a tax that is fairly irrelevant when considering the means of the Chinese who are buying up big. Late last year a Chinese family purchased a nearby house for $1.2m and the father of the couple that have moved in was overheard to say that he wanted to buy "another one" before he returned to China on the Monday. Young Aussie couple cannot compete in this market.

Are we that desperate of foreign investment?

[HAL]

We are just having a little chat

[Mugwump]

[Brenny]

My parents are renting a place in Albert Park at the moment. They are doing a direct lease as it works out cheaper for the folks and the landlord gets the same amount as they would have got through the agent.

They have been doing that for 12 months so far and it's worked out very good, for both parties.

Dad has done some work to the place, like painting and always keeps the garden neat and tidy and the place is always tidy and clean.

I plan on buying my first place later this year (provided I get to the 20% deposit by mid year - which so far is on track ) and I know a few people who will gladly rent from me - my sister and her partner.

I've already said it will be through a private lease (I'd have to look into how I can set it up properly) as it works out better for me and cheaper for them.

I live at home with the brother whilst he's doing his apprenticeship. I don't mind as it's 'cheap' for me rent wise, but I don't mind dropping some cash into him from time to time to make sure he's all good.

I think there are some great deals out there, like what my parents got, but they're very hard to come by and there are not many of them.

[HAL]

Our parents have a tremendous influence on us.