Property damage by tenant upon moving in

I'm a new landlord. I've just rented out my brand new place to a new tenant. They have been in the place for only a week, so far.

The tenant has moved in, and in the process, damaged the garage door by reversing into it. Can't tell if the damage is more than cosmetic, but it still seems to close okay.

A few questions:

1. I assume that when the tenant wants to move out, I get a quote for the damage, and then agent will take it from the bond?

2. Currently, do I just - Advise Agent so it can be noted when they do their first inspection at 6 weeks after move-in? And that's it?

I have landlord insurance, and property is managed by a PM.

 

Thanks Wylie. I don't want to get off to a bad start with the tenant, but also don't want to be shafted.

Ill speak to the PM and make a few suggestions as you have made.

 

You have a pm but also have been made aware of damage. If you don't act Now, the tenant will start raising the issue the the shutter's not working properly etc.

Nip it in the bud, get the tenant/insurer to fix and get on with life.

 

Did the tenant call you or the PM?

It needs to be sorted now and hopefully the tenant will admit they did it and therefore pay for it. I had one who I'm 99% sure hit the downpipe with their car but I can't prove it and they say they didn't so I can't get them to pay for it to be fixed

Get the PM onto it if they aren't aware of it and let them handle it.

 

They should pay for the repair via their car insurance. Or pay for the repair in whole if they do not have car insurance. Your house insurer can follow it up for you.

 

Get a quote and accurately assess the damage, get the property manager to give them the option to repair it. If they don’t, have it repaired then you do it and have them pay for it.

Probably best to have it sorted now not at the end out of the bond.

Yes let the PM know and the tenants

 

just rememer that every claim you make on landlords insurnace, may, and probably will increase your premiums from the next year

 

Just note - this is tenant damage, nothing that you need to claim on your insurance. Tenants pay for it

 

I hope you have a signed ingoing report already ???

Or

"Nah mate, wasn't me" !!!!

 

IF everything is in place,then it should only take 2 phone calls and let them fix the problem..

 

It dosent need to be signed by a landlord to be valid

 

Good idea. I saw the damage personally.

We have a common access way, and the damage is obvious. That sucks about your downpipe.

Thanks.

Thanks. It doesn't look repairable, more like replace the panel that was impacted.

Yes, exactly. I don't want to claim unnecessarily, and it just raises premiums.

True.

I asked the PM for it, and apparently it is with the tenant?

They said:

"We do not have the returned copy yet from the tenant.
They have until next Tuesday to retum it (because of the public holiday’s).
Once we have it, XXXX or myself will send through the amended copy for your records."

I am unsure of why it needs to be amended, but will clarify Tues.

Yup, that's what I pay the PM for.

 

The 'amended' condition report is probably the one with tenant comments.

A question for PMs. What happens if the the tenant returns a vastly different condition report than that of the PM/LL?

 

That does happen. We'll organise with the tenants to re-attend the property and go through the notes.

Usually tenants have dramatized everything, something that should say ">5 small black marks on wall >2cm in diameter" will say "WALL COVERED IN MARKS". It's rare for them to lie or add their own damage, but easily caught out.

 

I don’t like the sound of this.
Make sure that they don’t put The tenant damaged roller door in the initial inspection report - it does not belong there, there is no reason why they should put it there it will hinder your ability to be able to claim later on if the tenant refuses to pay.

The report should have a picture and comments that the roller door was in good condition before the tenants took possession of the property.

Question what they mean by “amended”

You don’t need the tenants copy to make a claim

 

Get it fixed now, send tenants quote to pay. Otherwise they will try the wear and tear angle down the track and you may only get partial costs at tribunal if they have been in a number of years

 

Thanks.

In my renting days I would always make the comments on my copy vague to my advantage. Not really lying, but giving me some wiggle room on exit. eg - multiple black marks on wall. Never had my version of the condition report disputed by the agent. This was 20 years ago - I think agents were a lot slacker then.

 

It dosent need to be disputed we have 400 photos that are not given to tenants

 

My post was about 20 years ago. No photos back then.

Tenants have cameras too.