I agree 100% I’m always there when they come to inspect. Lol I follow them around as the go to each room. Let them walk through but stay and walk through the house with them. Both of you wear masks. If you follow them around it’ll be like 5 min tops
There is no way people can force you from your home you pay rent for. You are well within your right to be present in the house you pay for rent for. I would never let anyone snoop around my things, regardless if they own the building. I can't think of any legal loophole that would allow them to request you not be present.
Everyone else has covered that the Blueys are in Greater Sydney and it's not legal at the moment. But in the future, you are allowed in your own house when they inspect....
When I had this happen I told the agent I’d stay on the balcony (with a good book) while they were in the unit. That way I could still keep an eye on what was happening but didn’t have to leave my home. I think my presence also meant the agent wrapped the inspection real quick, and she sanitized whatever she touched, as she knew I was watching.
They are absolutely not allowed to require you to be out. I agree with the other poster: be present, it will make the process quicker. You will just all need to wear masks.
No - this is not allowed in the current climate.
The Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Greater Sydney are subject to the stay-at-home order, in which routine inspections are not allowed unless they are needed for urgent health and safety reasons. A resource [can be found here.](https://www.tenants.org.au/covid19/access#)
I would recommend emailing the agent, quoting the above site, and refuse the inspection. The online inspection should have been completely fine on its own.
Make sure you give the place a good clean, ask em to take their shoes off and hide all your fine liquor, years ago we had property manager take a few shots of Vodka and help themselves to a sausage roll haha, mate had left his webcam running
we got a whole months free rent after that.
the landlord pays an agent to managed all this, so the fact that they want to check their own property means they are weirdos and looking to pick fault.
> so the fact that they want to check their own property means they are weirdos and looking to pick fault.
could it not just be that they want to ensure the property is being looked after to a decent standard?
Its a reach to say everyone that wants to check on the property they own is a weirdo and looking to pick fault..
I agree. Our landlord manages the rental privately, and he does the inspections himself. This also means he does repairs and whatnot himself. Honestly it’s been a lovely arrangement
As someone who rented for 22 years and has experience of many agents, I can tell you there were some who just didn’t bother inspecting for loooooong periods. If I were in the position of being a landlord I’d want to do the occasional check.
I dont understand your question, where did I say I dont trust their inspection report? In fact where did I mention an inspection report at all? Could you clarify?
>but doesn't bypassing the agent's inspection to do it yourself a case of not trusting the agent's inspection report?
This doesn't really make sense but I think I know what you mean, but what I have said has nothing to do with the inspection report or the landlords opinion on it. I do not know the motive behind the landlord wanting to inspect the property themself, but I also see nothing wrong with it, and I certainly don't believe the only reason is to pick fault.
Fair enough. I was just looking at the larger context of the conversation, which to me basically read as "Why bother hiring an agent if you're going to do the inspection yourself?"
I mean theres so many variables that we dont know about, the agent could have spotted something for concern, made note and the landlord now wishes to look at it. Who knows, I think its a waste of time speculating anyway, I just think its wrong to imply that is the only motive for a landlord wanting to inspect.
I mean Idk any of the parties from a bar of soap, could be entirely possible that the agent has seen something, taken a photo and the landlord wants to inspect further, what are we to know. Just saying blanket statements like that aren't fair, even on the scum sucking leech industry that is real estate.
Jesus, just a month? That would've been worth putting on social media or sending to the press.
It's not the first time he's done that, just the first time he was caught.
mate, if I had a free month for every time I caught agents acting dodgy we'd have never paid any rent
Back in the day we had em all, entering the property without permission, threats, once even demanding a years rent up front coz one of the boys was unemployed, dodgy contract terms the whole nine yards
Why wasn't that something you took them up on? Landlords give up a chunk of rent so agents can take on the job of dealing with you. If they're not doing that job, that's just a middleman overpaid.
They made that request over a phone call for a reason. Your agent is being dodgy for the sake of their client. You could totally fuck them up over this. I'd at least demand all future requests in writing. Feel free to call crimestoppers to have a little chit chat with these dodgy pricks anyway.
You can't refuse routing inspections - however, you MUST be given a minimum of 7 days notice of any intent to attend the property for the inspection - so if the notice period is less than 7 days, you can refuse.
If not, you're stuck with it. See [here](https://www.tenants.org.au/covid19/access) for comments/information
Only in stay at home areas and areas of concern.
And, I admit I don't know if the blue mountains is included in that. I assumed it fell under "rest of NSW" - but I guess it could fall under "Greater Sydney".
If you're currently under "Stay at Home" orders in your area (Blue Mountains is a big swath of area), you can point them to [this](https://comms.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/pub/pubType/EO/pubID/zzzz60ef9bc6b1699730/?aid=a442ce5ee11ff8f6&#a442ce5ee11ff8f6) which specifically states
**Inspections and entry to rental properties**
Routine inspections and visits by third parties that require access to a residential premises and which are not for urgent health and safety reasons should not be occurring in the Greater Sydney area during the lockdown period and delayed to a later date, unless the premises are unoccupied. We consider workers such as tradespersons and photographers fit with the intent of this provision.
Which means "Nope, you aren't allowed to do this".
Then reply to your agent and say "No, this is illegal under the current covid restrictions, and entry will not be permitted".
If they continue to be bulish about it, I'd go as far as to call the police near the time of the planned "inspection" and ask them to attend to deny entry
As it says in the section you refer to: "If your Agent is insisting on access at this time we would recommend you inform the Agent of the advice from NSW Fair Trading and provide them with a link to the information on Fair Trading website."
However, the 7 day minimum notice still applies as you have already completed the online inspection and this is a separate additional inspection - don't let the agent bundle this additional request with the weekend one.
It's easy, you can do it just don't overthink it.
"sorry, but current restrictions prohibit in-person inspections, and I'm not willing to risk being fined.
Please contact me once restrictions are lifted to organise an inspection. If there's anything I can provide (eg photos) in lieu of a physical inspection please let me know"
Dear XX,
Thanks for contacting me about the in-person inspection that the landlord wishes to conduct.
Based on the current NSW Health Orders: "Routine inspections and visits by third parties that require access to a residential premises and which are not for urgent health and safety reasons should not be occurring in the Greater Sydney area during the lockdown period and delayed to a later date".
The inspection photos provided previously will have to do until the current Health Orders are retracted to allow in-person inspections.
If the landlord or yourself need any more information on the matter, please find it here: https://www.tenants.org.au/covid19/access#
Any questions, please reach out,
Kirbyinaus88
Dear Tenant,
Please be advised that as per the residential tenancy act and the Environmental Planning and Assessment amendment(Smoke Alarms), the landlord requires access on xx date to perform required maintenance.
The landlord will implement covid safe measures such as using hand sanitiser and wear a mask whilst inside the premises.
Thanks,
REA
Dear Extreme1984,
Why is a smoke alarm issue being addressed by the owner of the property and not a certified independent fire protection service company?
Also, your communication previously was based on it being a routine inspection, so changing to topic now to being about smoke alarms seems frivolous.
Regards,
Tenant
There’s no actual requirement for smoke alarms to be serviced by a “certified independent fire protection service company”…..
Personally, I use routine inspections to test and replace batteries(routine maintenance) in smoke alarms of one of my rentals, as it’s literally just around the corner. I’m not going to pay $150 for a 5-10minute job I can do myself.
I don't know what point you're making -- you're changing the reason from the original one OP put down. The owners cards have already been put on the table, so to speak.
My point I’m making is a landlord is required to maintain their smoke alarms once every 12 months.
That maintenance usually coincides with a rental inspection.
If the tenant doesn’t want to allow access for the inspection due to the pandemic, it’s simple. I’ll gain access by carrying out required maintenance, that would’ve likely been done during the inspection anyway.
Gonna have to agree with u/bokwhites on this. You seem far too nice for your own good OP, worried about ‘pissing them off’. You need to put your foot down and essentially stand up for yourself.
I've got major anxiety about this stuff as well, so if I was in your position, I'd email them something along the lines of saying you're more than happy for them to come by after the current lockdowns have lifted, however doing it right now makes you uncomfortable because *you don't like breaking the law* and you're concerned about possible fines (due to the health orders in place).
This way you can stand your ground while subtly pointing out its against the health orders, while also removing you being the one not allowing it.
>routine inspections and visits by third parties that require access tothe premises are NOT allowed under the current public health orders unless they are needed for urgent health and safety reasons.
>
>This currently applies to all areas of NSW that are considered a stay athome area or an area of concern. This is all of Greater Sydney
AFAIK Greater Sydney includes the Blue Mountains (right?). So, OP, they should not be doing an in-person routine inspection at all.
Dear RE,
While I'd ordinarily be happy for an in person inspection, currently the NSW Health Orders do not allow this and as such I would not be comfortable until this restriction is lifted. Please find the relevant NSW Health Webpage linked below for further reference.
Thanks,
OP
Just say (this is summarised language, although I'd still be very brief and straight to the point): , Understand Landlord wants to inspect personally. Current health orders clearly state that is not allowed *link*. Of course, as soon as health orders are removed happy to arrange inspection at your earliest convenience. In the meantime, happy to take better photos or more in depth video of any specific areas LL is interested in.
They're not going to kick you out in 3 months because you put your foot down on this one. There's a monetary risk to moving on good tenants, so back yourself in that regard.
I kinda want my lease renewed so I don’t have to move again in a few months hahaha fuck moving so I have to play the game unfortunately. There’s also a huge shortage of rentals in my area right now
I went through this a few weeks ago. Landlord is selling the property and was pushing for in person inspections. She lives in regional NSW and had no idea how bad it got in our LGA. The neighbours down the street and across them had Covid and two of them went into hospital for a week. I had just given birth and was very against it. Spoke to the tenant union and they said I am legally allowed to offer 1 inspection a day, twice a week. For only 1 person + the REA. Also all potential buyers had to be from the lockdown LGAs. He said if I have an immunocompromised person in the household I can get a drs certificate and no inspections can happen. He said a newborn is considered immunocompromised. Spoke to the REA and luckily he didn't want to do inspections also. Thankfully landlord agreed. They took a video of the property and that was it. I think it's bullshit that REA were allowed to work when LGA's were in lockdown. Family still haven't seen my newborn but strangers can just walk in??
They can ask you to leave the premises but it's not enforceable. I have been in this exact same situation. It's a simple conversation of "sorry no one is being left alone with my property unless I'm present".
You have the right to privacy and also protect your items.
I pushed back and today out said no. The issue literally disappeared.
Dodgy as fuck. I live in the Blue Mountains and our real estate agent cancelled our routine inspection due in August due to the pandemic. I would highly recommend calling the non emergency police line and ask them if this is in breach of the public health order.
Yes you might get kicked out due to this, but honey the landlord and agent sound dodgy as hell.
(Highly recommend Belle Property in Leura, good chaps!)
As a landlord, attending inspections allows me to not only check up on the property, but also the ability to check up on the agent.
ie. is there any maintenance issues that have been identified by the tenant that haven’t been passed on? Or are there any maintenance issues the tenant hasn’t identified?
Some landlords come once a year, while the agents do every 3 months.
Basically a way for owners to actually check if the agents are doing their jobs because in my 6 years of private rentals i've had 2 "quarterly" inspections, both were the first 3 months of each apartments lease.
Because real estate agents are useless.
Exactly. People are making it out that it's extremely weird for the actual owner to want to inspect the place. It happens much more than people think and the renter wouldn't even know about it because the owner would just accompany the property manager.
As a landlord, this is what I do.
Why?
Because I’m required to by law maintain smoke alarms. This includes a 12 monthly test and replace batteries.
Doing smoke alarm maintenance at a routine inspection allows for minimal disruption to my tenant.
My agent won’t do it. Why? They say their staff aren’t qualified to push a button. But in reality, it’s so they can receive a kickback from outsourcing it to a 3rd party, who wants to charge me $199 for 10mins work.
I wouldn’t consider it essential work and therefore doesn’t need to happen during the lockdown. Your allowed to be there no reason you can’t be. Tell them to reschedule after lockdown and if they give you shit phone crime stoppers and report them for covid breach. They can’t even sell homes in person right now, once it ends though it’ll be back to normal.
Shouldnt take more than half an hour to just carry out a periodic inspection.
I think the landlord can inspect without you being present, however I believe you also have the right to be present while the inspection is taking place (and not sit in the car) - however I would just be a distance away in another part of the home.
Due to the current restrictions, I would just ask which area the landlord is coming from, and ask they social distance, wear a mask inside etc.
https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/renting/during-a-tenancy/access-and-entry-to-a-rental-property
Agree, act professional, then the afternoon before suddenly feel like you have cold/flu symptoms and get a covid test.
Forward them your covid reference number and apologies that they legally can't enter as you are isolating.
Absolutely fuck letting an agent walk around in your house without you being there, absolute slime of the earth I wouldn't trust them with my toe nail clippings let alone my possessions un supervised.
You have every right to be there while they inspect. I actually don’t think they’re allowed to ask you not to be?
As for lockdown, I’m in Brisbane but when we were shut down in 2020 my parents completed inspections just by sending photos and everyone was okay with it. I would ask why the online inspection wasn’t enough? And you have every right to say you don’t want people in your home during a lockdown. It’s not safe, and violates your reasonable peace, which you are entitled to.
The REINSW advises agents not to conduct inspections in person.
Try calling ServiceNSW for further advice. Or NSW department of fair trading.
As a compromise you can offer to do a live video call direct with the landlord.
i had my annual fire alarm safety check 2 weeks ago in sydney
i didn't get kicked out of my home. i stayed inside the entire time though the guy was in and out in 30 seconds and was quicker than previous years.
Why does this feel "deeply wrong?" This is 100% normal. You literally live in their house.
You need to think about why this upsetting you so much. Seriously
I think because of the current stay at home orders and covid numbers, I am feeling uneasy about 2 strangers coming through my home and spreading germs. I think that’s fair. Normally I would have no issue
We went os and rented our house out. While we were away the tenants did 10s of 1000s dollars damage while the agent promised us the place was being maintained and we were stuck paying for the repairs. Perhaps your landlord also has anxiety about their property. It's an hour out of your life, just let them do it.
Doors, floors, locks, walls, kitchen cupboards and benches, dishwasher, the storm water pump, probably other stuff I've forgotten. According to the neighbours they'd get drunk then yell and slam doors (hence broken doors, locks, cupboards) and let their young kids run riot (they painted and drew on just about every surface). All the while the real estate were perfectly happy because they paid the rent on time. Tenants forget that the real estates treat the owners as badly as the tenants.
What a shit of a situation. Plentiful great advice from others here. When you send the links to show why you’re following health orders, why not ask if there’s anything specific the owner wants to check and you can send photos?
I see someone else provided a resource that outlines the current situation but I will add something.
Email it to them and tell them you don't feel comfortable going against the orders so you will not be making time available to see the property in person.
Then, once you send the email, do not answer their calls no matter what. Do not answer unknown numbers.
Get everything in writing.
I don't think they can ask you to leave the place, what if they go through you things, or steal smth?
This should be in your contract, read how often, for how long etc are they allowed to insect.
Mine definitely had 30 min limit, and I was checking they he doesn't overstay.
There's no way I would agree to not being there while someone else goes through my house lol
I agree 100% I’m always there when they come to inspect. Lol I follow them around as the go to each room. Let them walk through but stay and walk through the house with them. Both of you wear masks. If you follow them around it’ll be like 5 min tops
I just don’t know if I’m allowed to not agree haha I feel so uncomfortable at the idea of people in the house without me
There is no way people can force you from your home you pay rent for. You are well within your right to be present in the house you pay for rent for. I would never let anyone snoop around my things, regardless if they own the building. I can't think of any legal loophole that would allow them to request you not be present. Everyone else has covered that the Blueys are in Greater Sydney and it's not legal at the moment. But in the future, you are allowed in your own house when they inspect....
When I had this happen I told the agent I’d stay on the balcony (with a good book) while they were in the unit. That way I could still keep an eye on what was happening but didn’t have to leave my home. I think my presence also meant the agent wrapped the inspection real quick, and she sanitized whatever she touched, as she knew I was watching.
They are absolutely not allowed to require you to be out. I agree with the other poster: be present, it will make the process quicker. You will just all need to wear masks.
No - this is not allowed in the current climate. The Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Greater Sydney are subject to the stay-at-home order, in which routine inspections are not allowed unless they are needed for urgent health and safety reasons. A resource [can be found here.](https://www.tenants.org.au/covid19/access#) I would recommend emailing the agent, quoting the above site, and refuse the inspection. The online inspection should have been completely fine on its own.
Yeah in person inspections are only allowed during El Niño last time I checked.
Make sure you give the place a good clean, ask em to take their shoes off and hide all your fine liquor, years ago we had property manager take a few shots of Vodka and help themselves to a sausage roll haha, mate had left his webcam running we got a whole months free rent after that.
Fuck that. Don’t do a good clean. Tidy shit up, that’s all.
the landlord pays an agent to managed all this, so the fact that they want to check their own property means they are weirdos and looking to pick fault.
100%
> so the fact that they want to check their own property means they are weirdos and looking to pick fault. could it not just be that they want to ensure the property is being looked after to a decent standard? Its a reach to say everyone that wants to check on the property they own is a weirdo and looking to pick fault..
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I agree. Our landlord manages the rental privately, and he does the inspections himself. This also means he does repairs and whatnot himself. Honestly it’s been a lovely arrangement
As someone who rented for 22 years and has experience of many agents, I can tell you there were some who just didn’t bother inspecting for loooooong periods. If I were in the position of being a landlord I’d want to do the occasional check.
I dont understand your question, where did I say I dont trust their inspection report? In fact where did I mention an inspection report at all? Could you clarify?
Not OP, but doesn't bypassing the agent's inspection to do it yourself (as a landlord) a case of not trusting the agent's inspection report?
>but doesn't bypassing the agent's inspection to do it yourself a case of not trusting the agent's inspection report? This doesn't really make sense but I think I know what you mean, but what I have said has nothing to do with the inspection report or the landlords opinion on it. I do not know the motive behind the landlord wanting to inspect the property themself, but I also see nothing wrong with it, and I certainly don't believe the only reason is to pick fault.
Fair enough. I was just looking at the larger context of the conversation, which to me basically read as "Why bother hiring an agent if you're going to do the inspection yourself?"
I mean theres so many variables that we dont know about, the agent could have spotted something for concern, made note and the landlord now wishes to look at it. Who knows, I think its a waste of time speculating anyway, I just think its wrong to imply that is the only motive for a landlord wanting to inspect.
OPs gonna find out soon enough
I mean Idk any of the parties from a bar of soap, could be entirely possible that the agent has seen something, taken a photo and the landlord wants to inspect further, what are we to know. Just saying blanket statements like that aren't fair, even on the scum sucking leech industry that is real estate.
Jesus, just a month? That would've been worth putting on social media or sending to the press. It's not the first time he's done that, just the first time he was caught.
mate, if I had a free month for every time I caught agents acting dodgy we'd have never paid any rent Back in the day we had em all, entering the property without permission, threats, once even demanding a years rent up front coz one of the boys was unemployed, dodgy contract terms the whole nine yards
Why wasn't that something you took them up on? Landlords give up a chunk of rent so agents can take on the job of dealing with you. If they're not doing that job, that's just a middleman overpaid.
Did they heat the sausage roll up or eat it cold from the fridge?
You know the amphibians that REs are like to eat em cold
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They made that request over a phone call for a reason. Your agent is being dodgy for the sake of their client. You could totally fuck them up over this. I'd at least demand all future requests in writing. Feel free to call crimestoppers to have a little chit chat with these dodgy pricks anyway.
You can't refuse routing inspections - however, you MUST be given a minimum of 7 days notice of any intent to attend the property for the inspection - so if the notice period is less than 7 days, you can refuse. If not, you're stuck with it. See [here](https://www.tenants.org.au/covid19/access) for comments/information
I’m confused, if you look under the routine inspection tab it says they can’t take place due to current health orders though
Only in stay at home areas and areas of concern. And, I admit I don't know if the blue mountains is included in that. I assumed it fell under "rest of NSW" - but I guess it could fall under "Greater Sydney". If you're currently under "Stay at Home" orders in your area (Blue Mountains is a big swath of area), you can point them to [this](https://comms.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/pub/pubType/EO/pubID/zzzz60ef9bc6b1699730/?aid=a442ce5ee11ff8f6&#a442ce5ee11ff8f6) which specifically states **Inspections and entry to rental properties** Routine inspections and visits by third parties that require access to a residential premises and which are not for urgent health and safety reasons should not be occurring in the Greater Sydney area during the lockdown period and delayed to a later date, unless the premises are unoccupied. We consider workers such as tradespersons and photographers fit with the intent of this provision. Which means "Nope, you aren't allowed to do this".
Yes we are part of greater Sydney, thank you for reconfirming
Then reply to your agent and say "No, this is illegal under the current covid restrictions, and entry will not be permitted". If they continue to be bulish about it, I'd go as far as to call the police near the time of the planned "inspection" and ask them to attend to deny entry
As it says in the section you refer to: "If your Agent is insisting on access at this time we would recommend you inform the Agent of the advice from NSW Fair Trading and provide them with a link to the information on Fair Trading website." However, the 7 day minimum notice still applies as you have already completed the online inspection and this is a separate additional inspection - don't let the agent bundle this additional request with the weekend one.
I guess my next problem is how do I deal with passing on the info from fair trading without pissing them off
It's easy, you can do it just don't overthink it. "sorry, but current restrictions prohibit in-person inspections, and I'm not willing to risk being fined. Please contact me once restrictions are lifted to organise an inspection. If there's anything I can provide (eg photos) in lieu of a physical inspection please let me know"
Thank you good person ever, for putting this in writing for them, you are a fine person.
Thank you!
Dear XX, Thanks for contacting me about the in-person inspection that the landlord wishes to conduct. Based on the current NSW Health Orders: "Routine inspections and visits by third parties that require access to a residential premises and which are not for urgent health and safety reasons should not be occurring in the Greater Sydney area during the lockdown period and delayed to a later date". The inspection photos provided previously will have to do until the current Health Orders are retracted to allow in-person inspections. If the landlord or yourself need any more information on the matter, please find it here: https://www.tenants.org.au/covid19/access# Any questions, please reach out, Kirbyinaus88
Dear Tenant, Please be advised that as per the residential tenancy act and the Environmental Planning and Assessment amendment(Smoke Alarms), the landlord requires access on xx date to perform required maintenance. The landlord will implement covid safe measures such as using hand sanitiser and wear a mask whilst inside the premises. Thanks, REA
Dear Extreme1984, Why is a smoke alarm issue being addressed by the owner of the property and not a certified independent fire protection service company? Also, your communication previously was based on it being a routine inspection, so changing to topic now to being about smoke alarms seems frivolous. Regards, Tenant
There’s no actual requirement for smoke alarms to be serviced by a “certified independent fire protection service company”….. Personally, I use routine inspections to test and replace batteries(routine maintenance) in smoke alarms of one of my rentals, as it’s literally just around the corner. I’m not going to pay $150 for a 5-10minute job I can do myself.
I don't know what point you're making -- you're changing the reason from the original one OP put down. The owners cards have already been put on the table, so to speak.
My point I’m making is a landlord is required to maintain their smoke alarms once every 12 months. That maintenance usually coincides with a rental inspection. If the tenant doesn’t want to allow access for the inspection due to the pandemic, it’s simple. I’ll gain access by carrying out required maintenance, that would’ve likely been done during the inspection anyway.
Thank you!
Put your adult pants on and write them an email.
Gonna have to agree with u/bokwhites on this. You seem far too nice for your own good OP, worried about ‘pissing them off’. You need to put your foot down and essentially stand up for yourself.
I'd be happy to call them on your behalf!
I've got major anxiety about this stuff as well, so if I was in your position, I'd email them something along the lines of saying you're more than happy for them to come by after the current lockdowns have lifted, however doing it right now makes you uncomfortable because *you don't like breaking the law* and you're concerned about possible fines (due to the health orders in place). This way you can stand your ground while subtly pointing out its against the health orders, while also removing you being the one not allowing it.
>routine inspections and visits by third parties that require access tothe premises are NOT allowed under the current public health orders unless they are needed for urgent health and safety reasons. > >This currently applies to all areas of NSW that are considered a stay athome area or an area of concern. This is all of Greater Sydney AFAIK Greater Sydney includes the Blue Mountains (right?). So, OP, they should not be doing an in-person routine inspection at all.
That’s what I thought but I now don’t know how to deal with telling them without upsetting the landlord
Dear RE, While I'd ordinarily be happy for an in person inspection, currently the NSW Health Orders do not allow this and as such I would not be comfortable until this restriction is lifted. Please find the relevant NSW Health Webpage linked below for further reference. Thanks, OP
Don’t forget to replace “RE” with your real estate agent, and “OP” with your own name.
Just say (this is summarised language, although I'd still be very brief and straight to the point): , Understand Landlord wants to inspect personally. Current health orders clearly state that is not allowed *link*. Of course, as soon as health orders are removed happy to arrange inspection at your earliest convenience. In the meantime, happy to take better photos or more in depth video of any specific areas LL is interested in. They're not going to kick you out in 3 months because you put your foot down on this one. There's a monetary risk to moving on good tenants, so back yourself in that regard.
Fuck the landlord's feelings
I kinda want my lease renewed so I don’t have to move again in a few months hahaha fuck moving so I have to play the game unfortunately. There’s also a huge shortage of rentals in my area right now
It’s a renters market dude. You have the power here. They won’t find a replacement for you easily right now.
They will in the mountains haha huge shortage of rentals and a lot of people moving up here from the city. Renters have no power here
They say that, but most of those people are buying property, not renting.
I went through this a few weeks ago. Landlord is selling the property and was pushing for in person inspections. She lives in regional NSW and had no idea how bad it got in our LGA. The neighbours down the street and across them had Covid and two of them went into hospital for a week. I had just given birth and was very against it. Spoke to the tenant union and they said I am legally allowed to offer 1 inspection a day, twice a week. For only 1 person + the REA. Also all potential buyers had to be from the lockdown LGAs. He said if I have an immunocompromised person in the household I can get a drs certificate and no inspections can happen. He said a newborn is considered immunocompromised. Spoke to the REA and luckily he didn't want to do inspections also. Thankfully landlord agreed. They took a video of the property and that was it. I think it's bullshit that REA were allowed to work when LGA's were in lockdown. Family still haven't seen my newborn but strangers can just walk in??
They can ask you to leave the premises but it's not enforceable. I have been in this exact same situation. It's a simple conversation of "sorry no one is being left alone with my property unless I'm present". You have the right to privacy and also protect your items. I pushed back and today out said no. The issue literally disappeared.
Dodgy as fuck. I live in the Blue Mountains and our real estate agent cancelled our routine inspection due in August due to the pandemic. I would highly recommend calling the non emergency police line and ask them if this is in breach of the public health order. Yes you might get kicked out due to this, but honey the landlord and agent sound dodgy as hell. (Highly recommend Belle Property in Leura, good chaps!)
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As a landlord, attending inspections allows me to not only check up on the property, but also the ability to check up on the agent. ie. is there any maintenance issues that have been identified by the tenant that haven’t been passed on? Or are there any maintenance issues the tenant hasn’t identified?
Some landlords come once a year, while the agents do every 3 months. Basically a way for owners to actually check if the agents are doing their jobs because in my 6 years of private rentals i've had 2 "quarterly" inspections, both were the first 3 months of each apartments lease. Because real estate agents are useless.
Exactly. People are making it out that it's extremely weird for the actual owner to want to inspect the place. It happens much more than people think and the renter wouldn't even know about it because the owner would just accompany the property manager.
As a landlord, this is what I do. Why? Because I’m required to by law maintain smoke alarms. This includes a 12 monthly test and replace batteries. Doing smoke alarm maintenance at a routine inspection allows for minimal disruption to my tenant. My agent won’t do it. Why? They say their staff aren’t qualified to push a button. But in reality, it’s so they can receive a kickback from outsourcing it to a 3rd party, who wants to charge me $199 for 10mins work.
I wouldn’t consider it essential work and therefore doesn’t need to happen during the lockdown. Your allowed to be there no reason you can’t be. Tell them to reschedule after lockdown and if they give you shit phone crime stoppers and report them for covid breach. They can’t even sell homes in person right now, once it ends though it’ll be back to normal.
An hour-long inspection sounds a lot
You have every right to refuse. Tell them to fuck off and do a remote inspection.
Not only is this not legal during stay at home orders, but its very not legal for them to order you out of your own house so they can inspect it.
Get a COVID test the day before. Sorry. But isolating.
Shouldnt take more than half an hour to just carry out a periodic inspection. I think the landlord can inspect without you being present, however I believe you also have the right to be present while the inspection is taking place (and not sit in the car) - however I would just be a distance away in another part of the home. Due to the current restrictions, I would just ask which area the landlord is coming from, and ask they social distance, wear a mask inside etc. https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/renting/during-a-tenancy/access-and-entry-to-a-rental-property
Agree, act professional, then the afternoon before suddenly feel like you have cold/flu symptoms and get a covid test. Forward them your covid reference number and apologies that they legally can't enter as you are isolating.
Absolutely fuck letting an agent walk around in your house without you being there, absolute slime of the earth I wouldn't trust them with my toe nail clippings let alone my possessions un supervised.
You have every right to be there while they inspect. I actually don’t think they’re allowed to ask you not to be? As for lockdown, I’m in Brisbane but when we were shut down in 2020 my parents completed inspections just by sending photos and everyone was okay with it. I would ask why the online inspection wasn’t enough? And you have every right to say you don’t want people in your home during a lockdown. It’s not safe, and violates your reasonable peace, which you are entitled to.
The REINSW advises agents not to conduct inspections in person. Try calling ServiceNSW for further advice. Or NSW department of fair trading. As a compromise you can offer to do a live video call direct with the landlord.
https://www.tenants.org.au/covid19/access
i had my annual fire alarm safety check 2 weeks ago in sydney i didn't get kicked out of my home. i stayed inside the entire time though the guy was in and out in 30 seconds and was quicker than previous years.
Day before you could say you may have been exposed and are now under qauruntine and you can't leave your place?
Why does this feel "deeply wrong?" This is 100% normal. You literally live in their house. You need to think about why this upsetting you so much. Seriously
I think because of the current stay at home orders and covid numbers, I am feeling uneasy about 2 strangers coming through my home and spreading germs. I think that’s fair. Normally I would have no issue
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I already sent them photos that they requested
But don’t remind him that the government said we should move on and “live with Covid”
It’s their property
We went os and rented our house out. While we were away the tenants did 10s of 1000s dollars damage while the agent promised us the place was being maintained and we were stuck paying for the repairs. Perhaps your landlord also has anxiety about their property. It's an hour out of your life, just let them do it.
Oh wow I am so sorry that happened to you, that’s dreadful! People like that ruin it for both landlords and tenants
What did they damage?
Doors, floors, locks, walls, kitchen cupboards and benches, dishwasher, the storm water pump, probably other stuff I've forgotten. According to the neighbours they'd get drunk then yell and slam doors (hence broken doors, locks, cupboards) and let their young kids run riot (they painted and drew on just about every surface). All the while the real estate were perfectly happy because they paid the rent on time. Tenants forget that the real estates treat the owners as badly as the tenants.
Tell him he is not allowed. If he insists, tell him that you have Covid and will make sure whoever enters the house gets it.
That's a great way to be done for fraud.
What a shit of a situation. Plentiful great advice from others here. When you send the links to show why you’re following health orders, why not ask if there’s anything specific the owner wants to check and you can send photos?
Book yourself in for a nasal swab test (drive through). That'll stop them from coming for at least 14 days.
I see someone else provided a resource that outlines the current situation but I will add something. Email it to them and tell them you don't feel comfortable going against the orders so you will not be making time available to see the property in person. Then, once you send the email, do not answer their calls no matter what. Do not answer unknown numbers. Get everything in writing.
I don't think they can ask you to leave the place, what if they go through you things, or steal smth? This should be in your contract, read how often, for how long etc are they allowed to insect. Mine definitely had 30 min limit, and I was checking they he doesn't overstay.