Approved quote for $140, agent paid invoice for $471

I approved a quote of $140 for some electrical work, the work done included some stuff I didn't approve and the total bill came to $471 which the PM paid.

Unapproved work includes:

- smoke alarm safety test $85
- 1 power point not requested $30
- 1 light switch not requested $20
- replace smoke alarm $116
- supply safety switch $80

Funny thing is as part of the purchase I got the vendor to install a smoke alarm as the building report noted no smoke alarm. So I have my doubts about needing a new smoke alarm so quickly. Even if I did need a new smoke alarm, I don't believe the work should have been performed without my approval.

Raised it with the PM and said I wanted a refund for all items not approved.

PM has put in the system no invoices are to be paid without my approval now. They also told me I would have an answer by Wednesday last week. Nothing as of yet.

Have sent two follow up emails and no reply from PM.

This PM has been recommended by someone on here as the best in the area too. They also post on here.

Wanted to know what other people on here would do or think of the situation?

 

Smoke alarm safety test should be yearly, so that should be ok.
Smoke alarm replacement - is it related to this? https://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/community-safety/smokealarms/Pages/existing-properties.aspx

The rest of the fixes sounds like necessary? I'd say poor communications from their part though

 

It could be that a second smoke alarm has been installed.

Yep, get a refund or take him around the back lol.

 

I have no idea what happened. I asked the PM if this was work she approved, or if it was work the electrician did without approval and invoiced me for - she didn't reply to that.

Has now been avoiding my emails for a couple of days it would seem.

Kinda starting to notice she had a habit of making excuses,

I rent myself and when trades people come, they only ever do strictly what the landlord has requested/approved. Anything else needs to go back to the landlord through the real estate agent. How would this be any different?

 

Can't see any reason for no communication. The agent would know straight away if they approved the work or not.
If it was the electrician so say, if it was the PM say so and give a reason - it could well be justified, but to not reply at all.
Not acceptable.

 

Sometimes the trades people will notice things while they're there that could also use some work, or sometimes tenants bring up things to them directly.

Ours are trained to give us a call to get the go ahead or not. In most cases they may as well, as repairs are mandatory, and it prevents another call out, but always best to keep landlords up to date on whats happening with their property so that they can budget accordingly.

 

Funny thing is that once I emailed this thread to the PM they started calling me.

However, did not have the time to send an email last Wednesday when they said they would or reply to my email from Sunday.

 

This is not the first time this funny thing (quid pro quo) has happened on this forum.
It is a commercial site on property, not all advise will be out of goodwill.

 

That sums up exactly how I feel.

Circa 10% in management fees. I know QLD is different, but I see PMs in Sydney who come and check repairs before they waste the landlord's money and send an unnecessary call out.

 

Issue has now been resolved satisfactorily, difference will be refunded to me.

 

No RCD on a rental property? What does your state legislation require?

If my PM's trades were on the ball and fixed broken items while onsite to save additional callout fees and make the property less hassles and safe/compliant, I would be congratulating them not crucifying them in a public forum

 

I think the main issue is that there's no communications until this thread was posted. An approved $140 is completely different from $471, I'd want to know in advance if the quote suddenly trippled

 

Knowing, yes would be nice. Expecting the PM to pay the repairs out of their own pocket as compensation when it was my house with broken stuff needing fixing, no.

 

Happy to be corrected,but doesn't a licensed electrician have to replace faulty switches,power points,no RCD,if they deem they need attention? in South Australia,you get a compliance certificate on work done/why work was done.
I see there was a post from your PM which has now been removed,you may now want to publically thank them also for making the tenants,YOUR investment probably a safer place.

 

As a client I want my Agent to work for me and to have good communication.
You say it 'replaces' a smoke alarm, and yet you had a new one from the vendor
NSW Fire service insists that Smoke alarms are noted on the Inspection report.
Were these other items things noted on your tenants ingoing inspection report?
(power point etc?)
These types of incidents tend to happen when they have 'copied' an inspection report...
I do hope this isn't the case.

 

'Ultimately though, if the work was required to make my IP safe, I'd prefer to save the second call out fee. Communication is key.'
I agree with this point, provided I can trust them

 

Though it's not clear exactly what was done and whether the smoke detector light switches etc were faulty.

 

What I would do, is ask for photos of what was broken, in regard to the smoke alarms, nothing to do with the sparkie really, they should still call.

It does sound like they were making work up.

Ask your tenant too what they know, sometimes they let the cat out of the bag in a big way.

 

Maybe the PM is lysdexic and thought the approval was for 401?