fire my property manager???

I have just leased my apartment but unfortunately I didn't get around to changing a downlight before I left. The tenants have asked the property manager to address this.....I don't know why they can't just do it themselves and bill me for the globe, Coles is across the road for goodness sake.

Anyway, the property manager, who's office is 1 minute away from the apartment, said either I have to go around there and change the bulb, or he has to get a handyman out to change a light bulb!!!!

Is this the way it is supposed to work and am I being unreasonable? I'm paying them 11% of $270/wk for goodness sake. Surely they could change the globe without bothering me about it.....

 

I would sack them just to get a more agreeable management fee. Useless tenants like that I put the rent up and don't care if they leave. I often have tenants take light bulbs when they leave.

 

Most people probably do not expect this of a property manager but for that price it is reasonable to expect it. I've personally changed downlights for a clients property, so there are property managers that would be happy to do it.

 

It would take him 15 minutes considering how close his office is and where Coles is located. Changing the lightbulb is actually worth his management fee of $1544/year in my opinion as if he doesn't do it, I've made it clear that I would sack him. Funnily enough he is still quoting the Residential Tenancies Act telling me I have to do it, which is probably right, but is not the point.

If someone asked me to change a downlight, and told me it would take 15 minutes of my time, and I would get $1544 for doing it, of course I would change the light bulb!

I believe this is also one of his first properties....

 

i wouldnt touch it if i was the PM, downlights are a nightmare. in theory its a no brainer but when mr pm goes to change it and the the thing falls out or the light doesnt work after changing it, its on his head. why would he want that when he's already been threatened to be sacked.

Ask the PM nicely that if you drop a globe off will the tenants put it in. Like you said it should have been done before you left. cop the small expence and get it fixed

 

@Moist - Climbing ladders is not in the PM's job description, they aren't engaged to undertake r&m (unless you have included facilities management in their contract and are paying for that service).

Tenants are liable to change light bulbs, anything more complex than an edison/bayonnet mounted light fitting is the owner's responsibility.

Why are you so anti paying for a handyman to replace a globe?

 

I had a PM email me once asking for permission to reimburse her $11 for replacing a light cover she noticed was starting to crack during an inspection. As bunnings was around the corner she bought one, returned and installed.

Depending on what state the property is in it can be tenants responsibility to change light bulbs providing they are accessible. If it's a new tenancy you would have to ensure its working to start with.

 

@Moist

It is not PM job to replace downright.(as you already know). He may be managing upwords of 200+ properties. Imagin, of he does that for all prop he manages

As other said, some PM do it as a courtesy but it is not part of their job description.

Best to include change of light bulb,etc as a special conditions in tenancy agreement next time.

Sacking him won't even work as you may have term agreement with agency, best to check agreement.

 

I just feel that it's such a petty task that I wouldn't feel justified paying a handyman his call out fee and time when the tenants could very easily do it themselves and bill me for it. How hard is it?

 

What exactly do property managers do????

 

How many property managers does it take to replace a light bulb?

 

To answer that question in short manner,

Think you have portfolio of 200 properties, would you change light bulb or get ppl to do it for you?

 

It's funny how a task forced on another person is petty, small, no work...

It could involve climbing a ladder, something could go wrong, a month from now that light shorts out and burns the house to the ground - I'm thinking the PM isn't insured for electrical work!

You have a fire start from that downlight and I bet you'll be raring to sue them for causing it. Then the insurance company would come after them.

It's not a petty task and there are plenty of excellent reasons a PM wouldn't risk their assets to perform work that could really backfire on them.

 

A: A facility manager

 

I wonder if you pm is losing ass much sleep over this as you are??

If your so anti pm, self manage! I reckon that would fun and you could probably do it with one hand tied behind your back while you change globes and those other meaningless tasks they do... What they do we'll never know. Another of lifes many mysteries remains unsolved

 

11% seems rather high for PM fees :O

 

Not in Perth. That's a bargain.

 

If punters are prepared to pay it, then it's market.

For the long term WA investors, has it historically been 11% (over a >20 yr timeframe)?