Hanging Curtains

As I was hanging curtains in my rental property yesterday, in-between tenants, I reflected on the role of both Landlord and Tenant.  Being a member of both camps, I wondered about my experiences.  I own my own property, which has been rented out since I purchased it and I have been a Tenant in the total number of 6 different rental properties over the last 17 years.

As a Landlord I have had many requests, including the ‘immediate’ fixing of a dishwasher.  Which I actioned but it made think, is a dishwasher a necessity, you have a sink – why can’t you wash your dishes in there.  Isn’t a dishwasher a luxury and as a landlord although I am happy to provide a dishwasher maybe as a tenant you could action your own fixing of the dishwasher?

As a Landlord I have also paid for handymen to go in and fix hinges on cupboard doors.  I guess it is my house and I need to monitor the upkeep.  This was highlighted after a recent experience in my rental property, and I am now happy to be in charge of all housing adaptation and change.  After entering my property following the exit of tenants, I discovered a whole new wall erected making the garage smaller and the original wall removed.  This was all actioned and completed, by the tenant, without my knowledge.  It does not have a building consent, and even if I remove the ‘newly’ constructed wall, it will be difficult to replace the original wall.  Annoyed ‘yes’.

So as I complete, the clean up, hanging curtains, removing terrible animal smells from the carpet, cleaning ceilings of cobwebs, re-wallpapering, painting, replacing floor boards under the shower, gardening, cleaning out the mailbox of 2 years paper delivery, removing truck loads of left behinds – I am grateful to my landlords throughout the years, who have provided a safe, clean and liveable house and because of that I will take care of it, fixing what I can fix, keeping it clean and when I leave removing all of my belongings and ensuring it is ready for the next person to move in.