Rental tenant housing rights

A_Iverson_I · Nov 26, 2011

Hey guys..... the hot water system in the house we are currently renting broke down a little while back (it was a solar powered system) and had to be replaced.

Now, from our past experience with the landlord, he is very cheap, and hence when he needed to replace it it seems he went with what was probably the cheapest option and replaced it with a Gas hot water system.

Previously when we got our Gas bills they averaged about $20, now we just got our first full period Gas bill since having this system and it is $200!!!

About 6 weeks after having the system installed though one of the pipes burst, so not sure if that contributed to the excessive cost or not!?

Anyway...... just wondering, since something like the type of water heating system installed could very well affect what the owner could get in rental prices for the house - was he allowed to replace it with that and we just have to cop the extra cost because he is cheap!?

Shouldn't he have to replace it with the same type of system we knew was part of the house when we signed the rental agreement?

I tried looking at this site but couldn't find any answers so was hoping someone here might know.

Thanks!

siladee · Nov 26, 2011

I know it sucks money wise but if this happened to me I would be stoked! No need to preplan for a shower in winter and turn the hot water booster on. I hate solar got water so much.
/off topic mini rant

Maybe you can work something out with him maybe so he gives you cheaper rent? But I don't like your chances. Unless the solar was mentioned in your lease?

A_Iverson_I · Nov 26, 2011

Yeah...... I suppose we need to go over the rental agreement I guess!?

As for Solar...... we used to just always leave the booster button on all winter so we didn't need to "pre-plan"

siladee · Nov 26, 2011

Haha well this winter any money you pay in gas will be waiting there after
You save it on the power bill!

unclesteppy · Nov 26, 2011

yeah mate you have a case if its in your rental agreement that the house has solar panels , check your rental agreement mate

A_Iverson_I · Nov 26, 2011

siladee said:
Haha well this winter any money you pay in gas will be waiting there after
You save it on the power bill!

How do we save on our power bill? Solar gets it's power from the sun no!?

unclesteppy said:
yeah mate you have a case if its in your rental agreement that the house has solar panels , check your rental agreement mate

Thanks Leigh - will definitely have to have a read over it!

Sanctum · Nov 26, 2011

Yeah it is unfortunate but I believe the landlord is within their rights to install what ever system they choose. Like Alex mentioned, unless it's specifically mentioned in your lease that the landlord maintain the exact system you had when you moved in then I think there's nothing you can do.
We recently had our reverse cycle air conditioner replaced and the landlord subsequently put the rent up by ten bucks a week. It's unfortunate but they are within their rights to do so.

I have a pretty nice landlord though who gets anything we ask done pronto and the air con is awesome.

siladee · Nov 26, 2011

A_Iverson_I said:
How do we save on our power bill? Solar gets it's power from the sun no!?

Yeah but not your beloved booster!!!

A_Iverson_I · Nov 26, 2011

Thanks Carl!

siladee said:
A_Iverson_I said:

How do we save on our power bill? Solar gets it's power from the sun no!?

Yeah but not your beloved booster!!!

Click to expand...

Haha oh.....

siladee · Nov 26, 2011

Our booster costs 20 a day if it stays on

A_Iverson_I · Nov 26, 2011

$20 bucks a day!? Damn!!!

ooneil · Nov 26, 2011

If it makes you feel better he wont get a tax deduction for it. If you replace something on a rental property then it needs to be like for like to claim a deduction. (ie tile roof cannot be replaced with colorbond as its classed as an improvement (not deductible) rather than a repair(deductible)).

So if you include what he would have been able to claim as a tax deduction then the idiot probably should have just shelled out for the solar water system.

Any thats everyones tax lesson for the day........

boosta · Nov 28, 2011

It must be a leak - me and missus and a 14 month daughter only uses $90/qtr for gas - this is gas for cooking and the gas hot water system (Rinnai 26). It used to be $70/qtr but now missus loves using hot water to do washing and also the extra water / gas usage.

A_Iverson_I said:
Hey guys..... the hot water system in the house we are currently renting broke down a little while back (it was a solar powered system) and had to be replaced.

Now, from our past experience with the landlord, he is very cheap, and hence when he needed to replace it it seems he went with what was probably the cheapest option and replaced it with a Gas hot water system.

Previously when we got our Gas bills they averaged about $20, now we just got our first full period Gas bill since having this system and it is $200!!!

About 6 weeks after having the system installed though one of the pipes burst, so not sure if that contributed to the excessive cost or not!?

Thanks!

KB. · Nov 28, 2011

While it's been mentioned, what do people find the value is in solar hot water? Me and the missus got a small solar panel system installed 6months ago which is giving a small saving and in another 18month the savings would have paid for the system. We have a small & slightly old water system and were considering the switch to solar hot water and just wondered if anybody had noticed much in regards to saving wise. Bare in mind it's only me and my missus so our hot water use is at a minimum.

Dalbs · Nov 28, 2011

Save up and buy a house too Brett. you'll love it. It's so worthwhile. But good luck anyway.

shaggywest · Dec 5, 2011

heya,

I was a property manager for 4 years,

You inspected the property and agreed to lease the property as is. The land lord must replace the HWS with a similar product or reduce the rent to compensate.
Dont be nice about it, stand firm and threaten to take the real estate and land lord to the tribunal (CTTT), this case will fall in your favor 100% of the time, and as a nice little gift the tribual member will make them reduce the rent and compensate for the extra rent you have been paying since your old system went kaput.
Oh they may even make them pay the difference between your old bills and the new bill.

you may be able to shout yourself a box or 2 of 2010-11 PANINI GOLD STANDARD.

ps my first post, hello all!!!!!

In NSW we have CTTT a trenancy tribunal in WA you will have something simmilar.

Cobretti · Dec 5, 2011

KB. said:
While it's been mentioned, what do people find the value is in solar hot water? Me and the missus got a small solar panel system installed 6months ago which is giving a small saving and in another 18month the savings would have paid for the system. We have a small & slightly old water system and were considering the switch to solar hot water and just wondered if anybody had noticed much in regards to saving wise. Bare in mind it's only me and my missus so our hot water use is at a minimum.

i wouldn't bother. I would either get gas hot water, add more solar panels to reduce your grid consumption or look into a heat pump option for your water. Heat pump option uses 1kW but is equivalent to a 3kW standard heating element inside the water cylinder. Not sure how well the system runs in Qld's humidity though.

Quicksilver · Dec 5, 2011

ooneil said:
I
Any thats everyones tax lesson for the day........

First rule of tax school- The tax office are stooges

drob50 · Dec 5, 2011

Quicksilver said:
First rule of tax school- The tax office are stooges

I thought it was "you don't talk about tax school"?????

A_Iverson_I · Dec 6, 2011

shaggywest said:
heya,

I was a property manager for 4 years,

You inspected the property and agreed to lease the property as is. The land lord must replace the HWS with a similar product or reduce the rent to compensate.
Dont be nice about it, stand firm and threaten to take the real estate and land lord to the tribunal (CTTT), this case will fall in your favor 100% of the time, and as a nice little gift the tribual member will make them reduce the rent and compensate for the extra rent you have been paying since your old system went kaput.
Oh they may even make them pay the difference between your old bills and the new bill.

you may be able to shout yourself a box or 2 of 2010-11 PANINI GOLD STANDARD.

ps my first post, hello all!!!!!

In NSW we have CTTT a trenancy tribunal in WA you will have something simmilar.

Thanks a lot for the info mate! Is this still enforceable even if the Solar hot water system isn't listed in the rental agreement?

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