Forum Replies Created
Thanks Scott and Bundy
I put it to my PM that it was little unprofessional to send me the letter without any quotes, with the letter that signs away any fault on their part re smoke alarm legislation. Well she backed off quick smart, said I should not have received the letter and only some clients got the letter. Is this the clients who are not local to their prperties and just usually say yes to anything the PM suggests, therefore being overcharged. The way she backed off quick and said no worries, no need to sign the form and they will continue with current procedure (ie check themselves when tenancy changes) makes me smell a rat. The old kick back for every property that got using the service!
I am getting a can of Smoke Alarm aerosol tester and using it at home now. If Ok i think I will buy four and have them placed in each of my properties by the PM along with a pack of baterries. I am sure is cheaper then $99 a year per property on an ongoing bases. What a rip off!
I see this discussion started way back. But now in July 2009 I have just recieved a letter from my PM asking that I take on a $99 a year maintenance,/service per property for smoke alarms (I have four properties close together in Sydney). I have several issues with the request.
Firstly they have given me no alternatives, no other quotes, no comparisons. For a $400 per annum price I think a few comparisons would be appropriate (Makes me think the old kick-back is going on – ie service provider to PM).
Secondely, legislative requiremnts and the price itself. In one of my properties the tennant has not changed or signed a new lease for 17 years! When the legislation came in 2006 in NSW the smoke alarms were checked. Under lego, I or PM have no futher requiremnt to maintain or check until tennant changes (or new lease signed). So why would I pay $99 a year for something that is not even required. It is the tennants responsibilty from that point forward. Just as it is in my own home. I have an alarm that beeps at me when battery is flat. I change the battery. $99 for that? And only once a year at the most! Even when the tennant changes all the PM has to do is put a new battery in and then press the test button to see if it works! $99??? Why not just contract some one to do this on the one off basis when tennant changes (say $30 to $40) In my case this would be once every 2 to 3 years for three of the properties. A company in Queensland offers a once off annual service of $39. They do not operate in NSW.
Lastly, they have given me an "opt Out Option". So if do not sign a letter declining the service that will just go ahead and start charging me. I am sure this must be illegal!! (Any one know?) The wording of the opt out letter is as follows "I do not wish the smoke alarms in my property/ies (listed below) to be serviced, and I undertake responsibility for ensuring my compliance with smoke alarm legislation". Now this really seems wrong. For a start the legislation says nothing about smoke alarms being "serviced". It is just about them being installed correctly and not interfering with them. And yes I do want them installed correctly with a new battery when a new lease is signed and want this done by my PM at a reasonable price.
No way do I think I should sign this. What do you think?
