u/Babushkabot

Hello folks - well, I got one VCAT hearing for compensation finished this morning.

The member ruled that the rental provider was still in breach for all of the three items I claimed. Unfortunately, the member only gave me a quarter of the compensation I calculated using the Tenants Victoria compensation template, which was around $1400 from the rent special account. Better than nothing!

The LL and REA lied so much - they said a mould report had been done before I moved in or at the time I moved in. I found out the day I got the keys in March 2025 there was water damage as a plumber sent by body corporate knocked on my door to do thermal scanning. When they couldn’t supply any evidence, the agent conceded that the only report was made in October by the builder they sent to fix the wall.

The LL uploaded videos of evidence at 9.28am for a 9.30am hearing and the member ruled it inadmissible.

He continued to claim I had made it all up, even after the member made his ruling to say he was in breach for all three items. I asked if he will be listed as non compliant on the CAV website - the LL again tried to say I made it all up. Member came back and said he will automatically be listed and he will have to take it up with CAV if he wants it removed.

That was the best thing I got out of this whole process! After being gaslit for over 12 months all I have to say is sucked in dickhead!!

EDIT: The REA was a not for profit who specialise in helping women escape violence. I was paying $330 a week rent. When I moved in the property had a gas leak, vermin, water damage, no proper window coverings and more. It failed both the gas and electrical compliance checks and they should have been done before I was allowed to move in. You are not doing a victim of violence any favours by providing a property that causes this amount of stress on top of what they have already been through! It was unbelievable.

Please kill me.

I have a new rental and multiple serious breaches since I picked up the keys. The main issue is the REA & LL refuse to accept that minimum standards are the law. After a shouting argument over dangerous illegal electrical work, I had to get Energy Safe VIC involved and now Consumer Affairs. I now have a case manager from CAV but I am finding it difficult to understand how they are not relaying to the REA & LL that it is an offence not to follow the law.

Found out on first day of lease:
(REA even wrote a document to point the windows out)

- Property report completed the afternoon of my lease start date on a CAV form from 2009. I did not complain about loosing the first day of my tenancy. I then offered to help the REA by transferring their info over to the required form. They have refused to sign unless I remove comments that say things aren’t meeting minimal standards or that they don’t like.
- Windows were glued shut - I was told the LL would prefer not to supply a screen and that I should just use the security door for fresh air. When I said that’s not ok, I got “Maybe this apartment isn’t right for you”. REA has also said this directly to CAV and tried to get me to move out instead of doing what the law tells them to do to get the property up to minimal standards.
- Windows did not open/close properly or have locks
- Windows are steel and they have tried to claim multiple times that they don’t have to comply with the law because they are old (not heritage and the LL has not maintained them so it’s their own fault they are in such bad condition).
- Falsified electrical and blind compliance report - failed the second compliance report with multiple breaches including illegal wiring, switchboard mains exposed, stove wiring and oven not installed properly. Multiple works are yet to be undertaken.
- Illegal electrical repairs conducted by unlicensed handyman.
- Bath reported in property report as being unstable, has since cracked and has to be replaced (has been quoted by licensed plumbers).
- Rising damp issues related to windows being glued shut, leaking hot water system and bath.
- Blinds that did not meet minimal standards and was mouldy and blockout curtains that were so deteriorated that the LL agreed to me throwing them in the bin. I hung my own blockout curtains. LL tried to say they only wanted to replace the blind with sheer curtains. I insisted on like for like and now have a window with only my curtains and no idea of if/when they will be replaced.
- Unfinished repairs to curtains in lounge room.
- LL turning up unannounced multiple times and no intention of entry issued for any repairs.
- Finally gave me one intention of entry on Friday, dated for the Monday public holiday with the reasons being “Fix, repair, paint”. This is AFTER CAV detailed that she had to be doing proper forms.
- Repairs by their handyman (who did the illegal electrical work) continue to be substandard and a panel they tried to glue on to cover the oven not being installed properly fell off in a week.

We are now heading into a month of my tenancy and I am loosing my patience. I didn’t complain about delaying my removalist and I am constantly met with threats and statements like “the law is just a set of guidelines”.

My application very clearly stated that I wanted a long term rental. It also very clearly stated that I have a chronic illness and I am immunocompromised. I cannot live with rising damp and mould. We are in a rental crisis and I cannot afford to spend another five months trying to find a rental. I just spent $170 to buy a dehumidifier.

I have been trying to avoid applying to VCAT as I want to try and salvage the relationship but it’s getting out of control. If the REA can’t even listen to CAV in terms of writing a form, how am I supposed to have confidence that they will be able to manage the property in the future?

Why aren’t CAV enforcing the law?

Hello! I’m a regular sitter and I have a few dogs who get very upset when I leave (they do it with their owners too). I know it’s nice because we are bonded but it also makes me sad 😂 I do lots of little tricks to try and do a shady bail but they are smart and know I have been packing up. It’s always only a few hours before their owner gets home but it kills me driving away and hearing them cry 🥲
How do you deal with puppers who get sad when you leave?

ESV called the sparky when he got here so that helped a lot. Sparky was a legend and very thorough. Agent tried to question the call.

Multiple failures including the switchboard with an exposed mains and no fireproofing, range hood situation (obviously), stove/oven wiring, multiple power points to be replaced, a light switch.

The look on the agents face when he told her the range hood had to have it’s own power point put in and that the cabling was dangerous and had to be isolated immediately - 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
She STILL kept trying to argue with him that the extension cable was fine.

I know I won’t get an apology but it was satisfying to have that confirmed in front of her after the shouting match I was subjected to.

Unfortunately, ESV told me that if they don’t complete the works I will have to vacate. Now I have to wait and see if the owner will pay for them or I have to find another rental somehow.

EDIT: Haha the sparky just came back to check the outside switchboard because the agent was still trying to argue and told him “I don’t know why she’s being like this” and was trying to ask how much it was going to cost.

He saw the falsified report and agreed it looks like an old report they edited.

He was said yea they just don’t want to spend any money - either they pay to fix it or they won’t be able to rent it out permanently. He really understood what I have been put through as he is also renter - he said provide a minimal standard or don’t be a landlord. So nice to be validated after all this stress! Great company - they are one of the bigger compliance agencies.