The story:
My partner, myself and her daughter moved into our place in Christchurch around February last year. We moved in knowing one of the 3 bedrooms had been water damaged, but we would have a cheaper rent until it was repaired. It was only cosmetic at this stage (ie missing skirting board) so we accepted, as this was just going to be my office.
About a month ago, the roof got repaired, the room got cosmetically fixed and our rent went up. That's fine, we knew this was going to happen.
All was going well until we had the rain storm just over a week ago. Rain water started dripping from the ceiling across our main bedroom (making it un-usable) as well as leaking in through the floor in my office (we live in a two story, both rooms are upstairs).
First thing on Wednesday morning I rang our property agent, telling them about our issues. At this stage we are sleeping on the floor in my office, since the bedroom is not livable. 1/8th of my office had a completely saturated carpet.
They told me they would ring the builder who did the roof and get him out as soon as possible. After not hearing any word, I rang them back later that afternoon, upon emphasizing the situation we managed to get our property agent and the builder to visit the same day! Finally I thought.
The builder had a very brief look on the roof, couldn't find the issue and said he would have to have another look in the morning. This was understandable as it was late. This is where the fun begins.
No visit from the builder in the morning (as promised), or the day after. I was very busy at this time as I was flying to Melbourne on the Saturday, so I did not have time to chase the property agent's up. We did however get visited by some moisture people, who lifted the carpet in my office and tested the walls. A whole section of the ceiling in our bedroom is completely saturated with water, as well as some of the wall.
I flew off to Melbourne, with my cellphone in case they needed to call me to arrange a visit. They didnt.
Getting back on the following Wednesday (1 week after the initial issue) I rang them up to chase up some progress, as from my point of view none had been made (aside from letting the carpet air out). I also asked for a rent reduction from our usual $350/week to $250/week, which I thought was more than reasonable.
One of the managers from the property company came out to take a look herself, as well as having the moisture people back over and a insurance inspector. The conclusion from the moisture specialists was that the floor in the corner of my office was past getting better (it has gone to wheetbix) and the roof in our main bedroom was a replacement job (for the damaged section) and probably the same for the wall.
I was assured on Wednesday that the manager from our property agents would keep in close touch.
Thursday goes by, no word.
Friday afternoon, still no word, so I call. Apparently the builder has assured them that the issue has fixed (im very skeptical, but I'll cautiously take them at their word), the office is waiting on the insurance inspectors report, but I can apparently "put the carpet back down and push my desk back into the damaged side of the room". The problem is, this issue has not been fixed, next time it rains the carpet is going to be saturated all over again! Not to mention wet anything that is in that corner of the room, contacting the floor.
I also found out they had turned down my request for a rent decrease (until the issues were fixed). They instead offered me a $50, one off reduction.
I'm left a bit annoyed to say the least. I am a realist, some times these things happen, as rubbish as they are, but $50!?!? Could you not at least compensate us for the huge colossal hassle, let alone the fact that we have two damp rooms, one of which I do not feel we can use all of.
In Summary:
- Our rental started leaking a week and a half ago, across our main bedroom (making it unlivable) as well as through the floor in my office.
- Our property agent was informed straight away.
- Moisture specialists have visited and tested our ceiling and a section of the wall in our main bedroom to be saturated with water. This has not been fixed, nor is there any progress in sight.
- The carpet has been lifted in my office, but the section of floor near the back of the room is past drying out, it has gone to wheetbix.
- 1 and a half weeks later they *might* of fixed the roof.
- The problem with water leaking into my office has NOT been fixed.
- I asked for a rent reduction to $250/week ($100) until the problem is resolved. This was declined.
- We have been offered a one off rent reduction of $50 to compensate. NOTHING ongoing, even though we have ongoing issues.
- To top it all off, I have had to hassle every party, multiple times to even get some progress going, not to mention be around to deal with all of these issues. Having to move things our of our room and move around my office to let the carpet air. This has been a huge hassle.
As far as I'm concerned, we had two rooms that weren't up to scratch, one that was not livable and a second that was only partially livable (debatable). I think $50 is a joke considering we pay $350 for a 3 bedroom place and only had 1 fully functioning room. Even if it was just compensation for the 1 week where the roof was gone $50 is still extremely low.
What are your thoughts?
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