What's a reasonable rental increase to install fly screens?

Discussion in 'Property Management' started by Foxdan, 2nd Feb, 2016.

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  1. Foxdan

    Foxdan Well-Known Member

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    Brisbane property, 510 per week. Flys teens will cost about 1100.

    Property manager suggested $5 but I thought 10-15 was more reasonable.

    Thoughts?
     
    Foxdan, 2nd Feb, 2016
    #1
  2. Propertunity

    Propertunity Exclusive Real Estate Buyers Agent Business Member

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    $0 - should have been provided in the first place IMO. If you can get $5pw so much the better. Your PM has to "sell" the idea to your tenants. If they move on, you will be 2 weeks vacant anyway and have blown another $1,020 in missed rent.
     
    Propertunity, 2nd Feb, 2016
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  3. Simon L

    Simon L Well-Known Member Business Member

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    Fly screens are pretty standard for all properties. I would leave it at $5 or nothing unless you want tenants to feel crap about living in your house and will cause more headaches and $$$ in the long run.
     
    Simon L, 2nd Feb, 2016
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  4. Marg4000

    Marg4000 Well-Known Member

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    Flyscreens are a necessity in Queensland. Your property will be far more attractive to tenants or buyers with screens, particularly security screens. All our windows are open all the time except when away or during storms.
    Marg
     
    Marg4000, 2nd Feb, 2016
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  5. joel

    joel Well-Known Member

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    How can you not have fly screens? Summer's hot yo & even worse when you can't screen out the flies
     
    joel, 2nd Feb, 2016
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  6. wylie

    wylie Moderator Staff Member

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    I'd beg to differ on the flyscreen issue being a necessity. None of our houses has them. Our own house hasn't got them. I hate living with them now I've lived without them. I actually don't have any friend who have them, but we all live in older houses. Our neighbours had them put in and they looked horrible to me.

    We don't get mozzies (BCC sprays the mangroves regularly I guess). We get flies when we have food out, and it is annoying, but I prefer that to having the breezes blocked and having to look through mesh.

    We've also never (in over 35 years of being landlords) been asked for them. Of course, we will never know if someone would have rented if they had them. We also have old houses that are ruined visually by ugly flyscreens.

    I think you are all soft. :D:p

    Back to the question though. I wouldn't want to lose a tenant for lack of them, but heck, they chose to rent it, didn't they? Did they not notice?

    Perhaps ask for $5 per week to keep them and avoid a vacancy if they don't like the "no" answer. IO for $1100 cost is $1.26 (using 6%) so you are doing okay, and much better than suffering through finding a new tenant and the costs involved.
     
    wylie, 2nd Feb, 2016
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  7. Xenia

    Xenia Well-Known Member

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    Check laws
    In SA properties need to have fly screens installed before leasing
     
    Xenia, 2nd Feb, 2016
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  8. Greyghost

    Greyghost Well-Known Member

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    Why should there be any increase?
    Reasonable expectation to have flyscreens on a property.
    Especially when they are paying $510 per week!
     
    Greyghost, 2nd Feb, 2016
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  9. Connor

    Connor Well-Known Member

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    Flyscreens? Really?

    Unless you property is due for a rental increase to keep in line with the market, I don't think flyscreens really warrant a rental increase at all.
     
    Connor, 2nd Feb, 2016
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  10. Foxdan

    Foxdan Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the feedback on what's acceptable in qld. I guess the 60yr old queenslander home that has never had fly screens is about to get some essential protection.
    Apparently I'm a greedy jerk of a landlord. I'll cry myself to sleep but I'm ok with that though.
     
    Last edited: 2nd Feb, 2016
    Foxdan, 2nd Feb, 2016
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  11. Cactus

    Cactus Well-Known Member

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    I'd charge $5.

    They rented it and didn't ask before

    It's not a charity.
     
    Cactus, 2nd Feb, 2016
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  12. Foxdan

    Foxdan Well-Known Member

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    Here here @Caltan - I happily fix anything that is broken quickly. But if you want something that wasn't there before, I think a price increase is reasonable.

    But hey, maybe I'm just an objective a**hole.
     
    Foxdan, 2nd Feb, 2016
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  13. Cactus

    Cactus Well-Known Member

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    Probably, but then it makes me one too.

    I've got no objection with upgrades at an amicable fee. Repairs are different obviously.
     
    Cactus, 2nd Feb, 2016
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  14. joel

    joel Well-Known Member

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    Really? On all windows? Jeez my old landlord really shafted me
     
    joel, 2nd Feb, 2016
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  15. Bran

    Bran Well-Known Member

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    I'm with you
    My Brisbane places don't have flyscreens
    One gets loads of bugs (tenant hasn't complained), the other doesn't.
    Both have big folding doors that open to a big balcony. Flyscreens are pointless with combined indoor/outdoor living
     
    Bran, 2nd Feb, 2016
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  16. norwoodman

    norwoodman Well-Known Member

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    My tenants asked me if they could install fly screens at their expense (basic ones) - to which I approved. Guess it depends on your tenant market though. Lots of older Queensland homes I've come across don't have them.
     
    norwoodman, 2nd Feb, 2016
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  17. kierank

    kierank Well-Known Member

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    If the tenants requested the screens, give them the option:

    1. No screens, rent stays as is

    2. Want screens, rent increases by $x per week.

    We had a similar situation a couple of years ago. Tenants wanted split system air-con in living area. We presented the above two options and they chose Option 2.

    Rent went up by $10pw at the time and they are still there.

    I believe you can only increase the rent at the start of a lease (but I could be wrong). We did all the negotiations and had the air-con installed just prior to a lease renewal.

    Plus we got the benefit of the depreciation.
     
    kierank, 2nd Feb, 2016
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  18. Inov8ive

    Inov8ive Well-Known Member

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    I just installed two fly screens on two bedrooms in a property I have in Sydney due to the tenants repeatedly asking. Costed around $180.00 so no biggie and I didn't raise rent or anything. $1100 though might ask for $5 if they were not there when they rented the property in the first place. Definitely no more than that
     
    Inov8ive, 2nd Feb, 2016
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  19. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

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    $10-15 every week?
     
    Scott No Mates, 2nd Feb, 2016
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  20. DaveM

    DaveM Adelaide Buyers Agent & KFC Strategist Business Member

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    Whats next, charging them for windows that can open or a garden tap they can turn on?
     
    DaveM, 2nd Feb, 2016
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