So rehctub's not really complaining about what these awful ungrateful tenants of substandard housing are demanding, rather, he's imagining how it might work out badly if the tenants (whom he really likes and are good tenants) decided to assert their rights - or something.

It's hard to know what your problem actually is here, rehctub. Have you not heard of negative gearing?

Does this thread have a point? Other than to let us know how well rechtub is doing in the property market?

Oh by the way, thanks for letting the world know how well you're doing there, we really care. We do, really.

From your last post, I am flummoxed what your issue is. Your initial posting I took to be a complaint about demanding tenants.

Tenants, no matter what end of the market, are entitled to a particular standard in housing. The higher end of the market expects better position, larger premises, pool, basically extras. You mentioned screens and flooring. They are basic requirements in my opinion. There didn't seem to be a request for a spa bath for instance. That's an improvement.

I still do not understand why you think you would be entitled to put up the rent after spending some money on maintenance and repairs. Those kind of costs are part and parcel of maintaining a property. Costs are part and parcel in any business for the purpose of making money.

If you took anything I said as personal attacks, that's a shame.

I'm relieved to note your good relationship with your tenants. That's how it should be. Too many landlords are quick to whinge about their tenants, but without a tenant their potentially money making property is a financial nightmare. There is no Real Estate Investment without tenants and landlords should not forget that.

To clear up where I stand. Paying off own house. Have rental property. Have rented for quite a number of years at different times. So have seen it from both sides. Like Pynchme. And let me tell you, some landlords are quite extraordinary in how much they think they can fleece out of tenants for doing less than the absolute minimum, which is done kicking and screaming after endless requests.

It's hard to know what your problem actually is here, rehctub. Have you not heard of negative gearing?
Oh dear, some of you realy should attend those free seminars. Negative gearing offers little relief from repairs, it merely allows you to offset interst payments and non-improvement related expenses. Screens and new floor coverings are capital expenses and are not imediate right offs.

What's this?
Agents and landlords are having a field day picking and choosing who they want and in jacking the prices up regularly, for increasingly substandard property. The last house we lived in - for well over 3 years - was falling down around us, but the rents still went up.

Interesting point you make here, I missed it the first time.

Now the law prevents rents from being unfairly increased, especially if you have a lease in place. So either you are telling porkies to make your point or you have been ill informed.

If a landlord advises that the rent is to increase by a considerable % then tenants have a right to appeal, or didn’t you know that.

Tenants have far more rights than landlords and an unfortunate outcome of all these restrictions having been placed on landlords is they often terminate leases at the end of their term so that they can legally increase the rent to meet the market. Brought about by tenants challenging landlords over what is often moderate rent increases.

The subject of this thread is yet another situation whereby tenants are pushing for more but not wanting to pay for it.

Now there is nothing wrong with wanting to live in a nice comfy home, just don’t expect to pay a low rent then push for more than you agreed on.

As for repairs, what cost $100 five years ago now can cost up to $500. That's if you can find a tradie to do the work. Gone are the days when one could fix it themselves, now it has to be fixed by a qualified person or all hell can break loose.

My heart's still bleeding.

Don't you dare accuse me of telling "porkies" you appalling clod.

http://www.tenants.org.au/publish/rent-increases/index.php

Besides, now you're saying I should have been aware of my 'rights' and 10 minutes ago you were saying that if tenants unreasonably keep pushing for their rights they'll face ominous outcomes.

Each time a lease terminates the landlord can lawfully increase the rent and sometimes that's fair enough (but see link below re: how much beyond inflation that rents have been increasing).

Alternatively, the landlord only need give 60 days notice and unless the tenant can prove that it's excessive the landlord will have the upper hand on that one.

Besides which, you know tenants have a life too. They shouldn't have to constantly guard their rights and appeal to statuatory bodies at every turn.

http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/article/4660204/money/evictees-starting-pension

http://newmatilda.com/2008/07/28/why-are-rents-going-through-roof

Btw I don't think it's reasonable to expect rental income to pay for mortgages. It's an impossible load that low income people; even moderate income people, can't afford. If they could afford it they'd have their own mortgage. It's fair enough for the rent to cover maintenance of a property, rates and the like - because the damned thing is an asset that is accruing value.

Quite apart from all of that, I think renting is such a sad thing. Especially for aged and disabled folk - how are they to constantly negotiate, and every 12 months or less their lease is up and they can be put out or have their rents increased. It's just cruel.