Ah, real estate – it's something of a hot topic these days. Whether you're a renter, a landlord, or a homeowner, chances are it can cause some stress.

Renters especially have had to deal with a lot over the years – high rent prices, landlords not upkeeping their properties and now, adding insult to injury, a lot of agents asking for ridiculous fees for the smallest of things.

That's exactly what happened to one tenant in Australia recently, who was shocked when their real estate agent asked for over $1,000 to replace items at their rental property.

An Australian real estate agent's request for a tenant to pay a whopping $1,040 to replace two items in a rental property has got the online world up in arms, sparking a fiery debate.

‘My REA (real estate agent) is charging me $140 to change this outdoor light bulb and $900 to replace the entire wash basin,’ the renter disclosed on a Facebook group. The renter also uploaded images showing the light bulb and the tiny crack in the wash basin.

The outrageous demand sparked a discussion online. Credit: Oleksandr Pidvalnyi/Pexels

As the renter explained, the $140 charge for the lightbulb was due to the need to hire a labourer.

The tenant then posed a query to the online community: ‘Am I wrong in assuming that shouldn't be something I have to pay for?’

Furthermore, the renter added their two cents about the wash basin, admitting that they had never really noticed the minuscule crack and that it hadn't caused any leaks.

‘Is this fair for them to charge me to replace the entire thing?’ they asked.

The post sparked an intense debate among commenters, with many finding the charges utterly ludicrous.

These photos were uploaded online. Credit: Facebook

‘They cannot charge you to change a light bulb,’ one person asserted, while another added, ‘These people have absolutely no morals.’

A third internet user chimed in with: ‘What a joke.’

‘How old is the basin? Aside from a crack likely being fair wear and tear, landlords think they can replace old for new and have the tenants wear the cost, but fixtures depreciate,’ another claimed.

However, others defended the agent's actions, arguing that light bulbs are indeed a tenant's responsibility, assuming they were functional when initially provided.

A real estate agent also weighed in.

‘If the tenant has dropped something on it (referring to the wash basin), causing the crack, then yes. They are responsible,’ said Tam Leslie, Director for Ray White Albany.

‘If the sink was in new condition with no damage prior, then yes. they could charge full replacement as this wouldn't be normal wear,’ she continued.

‘If it was aged, then you couldn't charge full replacement as you would need to depreciate.’

Let's dive into what the official regulations say.

In NSW, according to Fair Trading NSW, tenants are responsible for minor maintenance tasks, such as replacing light bulbs, dusting, cleaning windows, removing cobwebs, and routine gardening jobs like watering, weeding, and mowing.

However, landlords have a responsibility to ensure the property is in a reasonable state of repair, taking into consideration factors like the property's age, rent amount, and prospective life.

Nonetheless, this does not necessarily mean the rental property must be in perfect, pristine condition.

Take note of these points. Image credit: The Seniors Discount Club

Fair Trading NSW also emphasised that tenants who believe a rent increase is unreasonable or a charge is unjust can bring their concerns to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Our recommendation for all you renters out there is to always know your rights and responsibilities as a tenant and make sure to consult official sources before taking any action.

That way, you'll have the confidence to stand up to real estate agents if they make any outrageous demands.

Key Takeaways

• An Australian real estate agent's request for a tenant to pay over $1,000 to replace two items at a rental property has caused controversy online.
• The tenant was asked to pay $140 to change an outdoor light bulb and $900 to replace a cracked wash basin.
• Many commenters on the tenant's Facebook post argued that the charges were excessive and unfair.
• According to Fair Trading NSW, tenants are responsible for minor maintenance, while landlords are responsible for repairing and maintaining the property in a reasonable state of repair, considering its age and rent.

So, members, we’ll leave it up to you–what do you make of this tenant’s predicament? Let us know in the comments.

 

[POG]

That’s not what I said. I said the measure of cost to the tenant is the depreciated value of the item, not the replacement value. We’ve been landlords. Why would I want to excuse deliberate damage?

Difficult to prove that it was deliberate, more likely it was accidental damage.

 

[Joydie]

Difficult to prove that it was deliberate, more likely it was accidental damage.

I agree.