Some kind of bottom dwelling scum loving slug must have lived in the flat I just moved into, cos it is gross. I only saw pictures of it online before I moved in and it looked great. Now I see it in reality it is smaller, dirtier and older than I was expecting. There is hair in the shower drain and pubes on the floor of the bathroom, the kitchen is filthy, including the oven which has crumbs and some kind of yellow liquid on it. I can’t live like this. Nobody should have to live like this.
Ethel says:
Oh dear! I hope you have taken photos of all that filth, those might come in handy if you can’t sort things out in the short term. The condition the flat is in when you move in is the landlord’s responsibility. If you can’t go look at the place yourself, send someone to look for you, because once you have signed up you are committed. The landlord must ‘provide and maintain the premises in a reasonable condition’, which includes it being clean and tidy when you move in. You are entitled to complain if it is not.
Email the property manager, asking for a cleaner to come through the property. Stay professional-sounding in your tone, avoiding emotive words like “disgusting”. If the landlord won’t act you can take it further. Both the Tenancy Services and Student Support Centre can advise you about next steps.
Hyde says:
WTF! Glove up and gather those pubes with as much gunk as possible from the drain and place it in a plastic bag. Leave the bag in a sunny window for at least two days of sun, which could take a couple of weeks in Dunners, this should help the mix to coagulate into a sticky, stinky bundle of stench. You now have an essential ingredient for baking double chocolate muffins to give to your landlord. Make sure to leave them on their doorstep with a card saying ‘Thanks for being a great landlord, from last year’s tenants’.
Sit back and relax in your cleaner house, knowing that the bottom dwelling, scum loving slugs and their landlord can share in the bounty of their year together.
Disclaimer: Student Support advises you to take Ethel’s advice.
Send your questions to:
ethelandhyde@ousa.org.nz