r/AusRenters

Hi all, need some advice. I’m renting in Victoria and there’s a neighbour in my building who’s become a serious issue. He’s not the leaseholder (my agent confirmed this) and they’ve already started a VCAT process regarding him.

Day-to-day, I’m still dealing with him. He shouts, appears to be using drugs, and has installed multiple surveillance cameras that are pointed towards shared parking area. I’ve raised this with my agent, but they’ve basically ignored the camera issue.

At the same time, they’ve increased my rent.

I’ve been living here for a while and it used to be fine, but now it feels unsafe and stressful to stay. I’m considering moving out.

My question is: do I have grounds to terminate my lease early without penalty due to safety concerns? Or any other options I should be exploring?

Hello,

We are two females living in Sydney with a male roommate whose behaviour is beginning to escalate to the point where we feel unsafe and would like him to leave.

The lease ends in August, but we can't wait that long.

If you have any advice, we would love to hear it.

I’ve been thinking about how broken the flatmate search process still is.

Everything seems to revolve around price and location, but the stuff that actually makes or breaks a share house is things like:

• cleanliness
• sleep schedules
• working from home
• how people deal with conflict
• how social the house is

I’ve had (and heard plenty of) situations where people looked like a good fit on paper but were completely incompatible day to day.

Curious how others approach this:

• What’s the biggest thing that’s gone wrong in a share house for you?
• What would you actually want to know about someone before moving in?

I’ve been working on a small project around this idea, but honestly just trying to figure out if others feel the same pain.

So the house i'm renting has been for sale since february and it has been under contract now for 2 weeks does this mean the new owners who have it under contract are struggling to get a mortgage approved or does a house generally stay under contract for weeks?

Hi

I was wondering if anyone had been in the situation of not being able to find a new place when their existing lease expires and what you did? Our landlord put up the rent and was only open to us signing another 12 month lease rather than month to month, plus we had been wanting to leave the property anyway due to various issues so we had given notice to leave at end of tenancy.

I’ve never had an issue finding a place before but we have had multiple applications turned down now. I’m 41 and live with my partner who is also 41 and our small 8 year old dog. We both have extensive rental history and stable well paying jobs (mine is in state government so it’s pretty safe! We have been applying to places in the 800-900pw range but not a lot coming up and time is getting tight. I’m pregnant too which is adding to the worry (not mentioned in the applications in case it is seen as a negative m!) so starting to think we may have to put stuff in storage and crash at friends or an air bnb for a few weeks which would be pricey. Anyone else found themselves between places and what did you do? Sure this will add up the costs of moving too as will have to pay for two separate days of removalists plus storage.

Honestly didn’t think finding a place would be this difficult. We are looking in a range of inner Brisbane suburbs but we can’t go too far out as my partner can’t drive due to a vision impairment and needs to be in the west end by 6.30am each day for work

Sorry for the long post I’m just a bit fed up with it all!

Not sure if this is the best place to share this but looking for some advice on an invoice my partner and I recently received from our landlords agency.

My partner and I are based in SA and have been living in our current rental for about 5 months now, and in the span of that five months our bathroom has been flooding anytime we take a shower. The water comes up out of an open drain hole in the floor. I noticed recently when using the laundry sink that the same happens in there. We've had a plumber come once before to unblock the bathroom, and it worked for about a week then went back to it. My partner and I put off requesting another invoice because of our busy schedules and only recently put in a request.

Yesterday they came, fixed it, said the whole system had been blocked and that the pipes were eroding (or something) and it needed to be replaced. I get an email today saying my partner and I have been invoiced 400 dollars to reimburse the owner for the issue because the plumber found a build up of fat and grease in the pipes and that my partner and I were 'not to pour grease and fat down the kitchen drain'. Which we haven't been doing, at all.

I realise there's probably absolutely no way to contest this. I'm just baffled that we're being blamed for something that has been an issue in this rental since day 1 and was likely caused by the previous tenants. I can't tell you how many times a random object has floated up onto the bathroom floor from the drain.

Regardless - is there any way I can argue against this charge, or at least get the cost down a little, seeing as we've been sent the entire invoice for the whole service and not just the kitchen/main drain. Thanks.

Hi there! I filed for my bond immediately after handing my keys in on 08/04

The agent put a freeze on the bond on 10/04

The things they are saying are small are not even close to the value of the full bond, but since then ive heard nothing.

I was wondering how they have to actually give quotes or apply to tribunal, because I dont believe either has been done yet.

Is it legal for a real estate person to ask if we would like to increase our offer to rent a place?
ie, "You're a strong applicant, however as there's offers above yours, would you consider increasing?"

(M/31) attended inspection for a property - 2 Bed-2 Bath Top Floor Unit (owned by a church) on 11 April (was listed on 9 April) and sent in application couple of minutes after inspection as I had all docs loaded onto App2Apply. My income bracket (140k+) and WFH employment (engineer) places me I guess on a competitive level for this one (660 p/w) - which the REA later confirmed that he has shortlisted me and forwarded profile to the owners (church) for their decision. It has been a good 10 days and agent says owners still hasn't got back to them. Although I have other application being processed (decision pending) I was particularly looking forward to this one due to its proximity to M3 (QLD) and you get the CBD view from the balcony - near to the river etc. Has anyone else been through similar situation? (REA confirming as top applicant but owners taking nearly 2 weeks to decide?). Should I abandon and move onto applying - following up with other agents/listings?

They did not issue an entry notice, they told us the the owners are looking to refinance. We do not know what this means as not costumed with these processes. We asked if they are looking to sell and they tell us they do not.

Any help please on what does this process entail? Will they take pictures of the property? Do they need our permission? Any QLD laws on this? (These are questions I asked the agent but waiting on a reply).

Hi guys! I am moving into my first rental property soon. My electricity and gas connection will start in the next few days. Do I need to be present when the technician comes to set it up as my unit/apartment building is fenced and gated. Or do they have master keys to access the meters?

Renters left the house a big mess with heaps of rubbish and didn’t pay the last weeks rent. Told the landlord to use bond for cleaning. Still expected to get some back.

Now landlord has kept the whole bond for the clean and also wants renter to pay for the damage to 2 blinds, and holes in 2 walls from door knob going through. There is no condition report and no evidence that it wasn’t like that when tenants moved in. Can tenant still seek some of bond back or can landlord claim some damages

Our lease started less than a month ago. I asked for urgent and non-urgent repairs. The property has a lot of issues: missing/broken smoke alarms, faulty locks, blocked drains, exposed electrical wiring, faulty garage door, broken window, doors that don’t open etc etc. and they also pressured me to pay 12 months rent in advance before I pick up the keys for the property.

so property manager has stopped answering my calls and emails. I got contacted by mediation officer and they forwarded my case straight to VCAT for urgent hearing. I already spent my own money on some repairs (they have not paid me back).

I will seek an order for Rent special account (rent will go to VCAT trust account instead of RE or landlord).

I have never dealt with a landlord or a property manager who ignored urgent repairs requests.

Surely this is not going to go well in VCAT. Can anyone explain to me why this is happening and what is their strategy. Has anyone been in this situation?

My mum isn't tech savvy and asked me to post this for her, copy pasting her text.

I given notice at our rental. The current lease ends 25 May 2026. New lease starts 25 May 2026 for 8 months.

Real estate are saying I'm breaking lease and will be subject to costs. We found this information does anyone have any information or experience in this

Initial vs. Subsequent Leases: The law limits costs (pro-rata re-letting/advertising) to the first fixed-term agreement. If you signed new 12-month agreements subsequently, these are often considered renewals, and break fees may not apply, according to Tenants Victoria. https://tenantsvic.org.au/explore-topics/ending-your-tenancy/ending-or-breaking-your-lease/private-rental/