News Hong Kong Property & Finance

Landlord Problem

ORIGINAL POST
Posted by sk76 16 yrs ago
Hope someone out there has had same issue or can advise!


Signed a new lease just before the prices of flats decreased (bummer but oh well!)...now our front dr won't lock at all and I have to leave it ajar with just the security dr locked but obviously don't feel comfortable with this.


I cannot spk to landlord as he lives in mainland China and spks no Cantonese or Eng. so contacted the agency we used and although the agency guy said he would come round to assess??(does he think I would make this up?) I haven't heard anything since.


What to do...I have already decided not to pay rent this month but really feel very bad about this.


Anyone had a similar prob and how did you sort it?


Thankx

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COMMENTS
bing2 16 yrs ago
you can also ask your landlord to reduce your rent because the market is bad now. you can do this although you had signed the contract. i know many people who got thier rent reduced these last two months because the landlords are afraid of losing their tenants.

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kasianoske 16 yrs ago
k

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sk76 16 yrs ago
Love the way it is assumed you are answering to a male.


Anyway, as stated in my original post I do not have any probs with paying the rent I initially agreed to (its hard-cheese that rentals have gone down and I accept that).


What I do not accept is having to live in a place where the door doesnot function as it is supposed to & it isn't a question of a $300 doorlock replacement...if it was I would do that myself!


I have had a few locksmiths come look and all have said the whole frame has to be replaced - don't see why that should come out of my pocket, after all I don't own the property.


My problem with carrying out the work myself is how can I be sure the landlord will reinburse my costs???

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xmauix 16 yrs ago
you just have to tell the agency that you'll pay the rent for this month but will have to deduct the cost you spent in replacing the door frame. That's what I did with my landlady. She doesn't speak English and we only communicate through the agency.


I've requested before we even moved in to put curtain rails in the bathroom for the shower curtain as the floor will get wet once we shower. My landlady hasn't done that until now. Same goes with the sofa which was there before we move. I asked the agency to get rid of it as I have a couch of my own that I prefer. Hence, we've moved in already only to find it there.


I told the agency that I have asked someone to take the couch for me and it costs me $200. The landlady thought it was too expensive but I told her I had no choice because no one's to help me out. I deducted $200 from my current rent.


Now, I clearly told her that if she doesn't do anything with the bathroom curtain rails, I'll ask someone to do it and she might find it expensive again. Agent told me that a guy will come in anytime this week to fix it. I told the agent that if no one comes in before Friday next week, then I'll have it fixed and give her the quote.

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sk76 16 yrs ago
Thank you xmauix.


Guess I'll pay this months rent and deduct the cost of repair from next month.

Hate doing this as have never been late/not paid rent in my life but cannot go on without locking my front door.


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sk76 16 yrs ago
Thanks Huggy for the great advice,


Will do this first thing tomorrow morning soon as their offices open.

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sk76 16 yrs ago
Hey everyone


Just wanted to say huge thanx to all who gave great advice (esp Huggy).

The problem is on the way to being fixed, but due to NY hols will be done later this wk. It wasn't just the lock and the whole door&frame had to be removed/refixed.


Anyway just wanted to note my thanks to all as most posters don't reveal the outcome.

Happy New Yr!

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tnb1975 16 yrs ago
DON"T PAY RENT, IT ALWAYS FIXES PROBLEMS WHETHER THEY ARE BASED IN HK OR NOT. THATS WHAT EVERYONE THAT I KNOW DOES, WITHOUT PAYING RENT...OWNERS ARE VERY RELUCTANT TO HELP OUT!

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initialitaly 16 yrs ago
IMO, no matter the lock is working or not, you should change the lock. This is because the agency or previous occupants may got the keys. Changing the lock will best protect your assets.

Of course, the fee for changing the lock is needed to be paid by yourself.

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associates 16 yrs ago
It depends on the terms and conditions of the tenancy agreement entered into between you and the Landlord. In usual circumstances, the Landlord will be responsible for the structural repairs of the premises. You should ask the Landlord to repair if the lease states that the Landlord will be responsible for that. However, the Landlord may argue that the lock does not work due to your negligence or fair wear and tear of usage.


In any event, the obligation to pay rent is en entirely separate issue and even though it is often done you have no doubt agreed not to deduct rent or refuse to pay rental because of the above matter.


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