Saturday, 19 July 2014

Hey Jason

I'm Sahdique - the guy who had issues with moving out! I was wondering when can I come by on Monday to have a chat with you? My apologies if this is very long winded, I just want to fill you in on the details.


TL:DR : Room mates giving me a hard time moving out, wants to hold onto my bond money till weeks after end of August. I intend to move out way before - Never signed any contract or made any agreement on this at all. Dilemma  as what to do right now because it's not easy getting a flat under $200 for me within the time period. 

So, I feel like my current room mates are taking advantage of me because I'm an international student and I am not familiar with all the laws that apply here. I'm currently living in the Voltz Apartments at Queen Street and am paying $200/ week which I agreed to make payment every 2 weeks on Tuesdays - Wednesdays. I found these guys on TradeMe and in their ad I was told that 2 weeks notice is needed before moving out and I have to put in a bond of 2 weeks - $400.

About a month ago or maybe more than that I was informed that they are moving to Napier to work so I have either the option of moving our or transferring their tenancy to my name and that I have till the end of August to decide. At this point I decided to begin searching for a flat to move to - I sent a message on Facebook saying : " 
  • 4 July
  • Dique Dik
    Dique Dik
    Hey Abhi, if I were to find a place to move in say this week or next week. Would that be okay with you?
    Most of the flats on trademe are move in asap. Do let me know so I can arrange accordingly! ^-^
  • Dique Dik
    Dique Dik
    Actually nevermind.. I'll just keep looking, not much rooms are up on trade me at the moment.
  • 8 July
  • Dique Dik
    Dique Dik
    Hey so just to confirm the moment I can find a place to stay I'll be moving out ya!?
  • 9 July
  • Abhishek Ketkar
    Abhishek Ketkar
    Hi Shadique.. I do need a 4 weeks notice as I will need to find someone.. it was same for the prevvious guy as well..
  • 9 July
  • Dique Dik
    Dique Dik
    what,.. you guys told me 2 weeks advanced notice now it's 4 weeks? Also do you know how ridiculous 4 weekssounds like for a student? How am I suppose to find a flat 4 weeks in advanced and someone who will only accept me from august - november. When you told me that I have up till end of august to find a new place, that would already be considered a notice for me to make my decision.
    I will have to talk to my tenancy counsellors at school and get back with you.
  • Dique Dik
    Dique Dik
    i have to move preferably before next term starts so i dont have to inconvenience myself.

They talked to me at home and told me that there was no need for me to rush out to move and I was like oh okay.. because I didn't know what to say. Basically at this point I was pretty lost as to what I have to do to move out because they kept pressuring me to stay. The second room mate spoke to me a couple days later telling me that I HAVE to pay till the 7th of August because it's part of their contract. But I argued that their contract should have nothing to do with me since I am liasing directly with them and not their land lord. I told him that I have to take care of my own interest as well, what would happen to me if I can't find a flat in time? I would be stranded here in Auckland with no home, I don't really know anyone.  He simply shrugged his head and asked me to speak to the first room mate - Abhi. I also argued that as long as I gave you 2 weeks notice that should suffice - He said well okay let's start from today: 29th July will be 2 weeks. So this week what I did was I paid only $200 instead of $400 because I wanted to secure my money just in case I find a flat on TradeMe that I could move out of. I was emailed by the first room mate: 


 Fri, Jul 18, 2014 at 2:58 PM
 
Hi Shadique,
Just wanted to request you to put the full anount of 2 weeks rent as you have only deposited $200 this week.
I know you have given bond but bond money is only back once the property manager checks the property and is ok with the cleanliness, maintenance etc.
It does take 2 to 3 weeks for bond ti come into my account after leaving the house,  which comes from Dept of Building and Housing,  New Zealand. And this happens in each case.
So as soon as the bond is returned I will transfer your amount to your account but you do need to pay rent until your last day. As the property manager needs some kind of money in hand till he completes the check.
Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the same.
Abhishek Ketkar


I started worrying because I don't understand why my bond is with the Dept of Building and Housing when I never signed anything that mentioned me handing my money to them in fact should my money not be with him instead of them? He is the main tenant not me and I'm a student I need my bond to be able to make a deposit for the next house, how do things work exactly?

I replied: 
  • Today
  • Abhishek Ketkar
    Abhishek Ketkar
    Hi Shadique, please check your gmail and reply.
  • Dique Dik
    Dique Dik
    ill.reply.after.monday.i.need.to.talk.to.some.people.first
  • Abhishek Ketkar
    Abhishek Ketkar
    Ok please do I asap, as I have paid for your half of rent.. coz as I said the bond is only back once they inspect the room.
  • Dique Dik
    Dique Dik
    I need to talk to the accommodation officer at uni with regards to the bond as from what I'm aware I am to get my bond upon your inspection of my room as I made a deal with you not the landlord. Furthermore I need that bond to pay for my next place I can't let you keep it till god knows when.
    I will let you know what I'm entitled to and double confirm with you after I've checked with accommodation services. I don't get why you're transferring your agreement with your landlord to me, I never signed anything saying that the department of building will be keeping my bond. And I know your agreement with your land lord does not apply to me since i did not sign anything with the land lord or put my name anywhere in your contract with him.
  • Abhishek Ketkar
    Abhishek Ketkar
    Dude once you stay in the house you become part of the contract.. contract isn't signed by all the residents and it is signed by only one person. you can talk to whoever you like..
    what if they cut some money for some reason? are you gna pay me as these costs are shared by everyone. also, as you need money for your next place, so do I.. I need to pay for my next place..
  • Dique Dik
    Dique Dik
    That's your responsibility you're the main tenant. You will inspect my room and it will be returned in the same condition as it is when you gave it to me.
    Anyway I'll get back to you by Monday Kay afternoon
  • Abhishek Ketkar
    Abhishek Ketkar
    I definitely want your room to be clean. And of course you must do some cleaning of the house before leaving.. as this was agreed that we would clean the house but probably you've done that only once...
  • Dique Dik
    Dique Dik
    No worries, my rooms cleanliness won't be an issue. I'll help around the house if needed even though I don't really create much of a mess outside.
  • Abhishek Ketkar
    Abhishek Ketkar
    Its not abt making mess.. common area are to be cleaned by any and everyone.. so I will need help in cleaning kitchen, toilet..

So now I'm basically stuck and confused and don't know what to do - I just want a new place but it seems that they're making their problem, my problem. I have absolutely nothing to do with the land lord and I'm pretty sure they didn't subject the previous occupant of my room to these unreasonable requirements. Please help me, I need some advice ><! Kind Regards Sahdique Mohamed ID: 6872002
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