venom
I'M FUCKING SEETHING WITH ANGER!
It's all landlord related. I'm sure I've bitched about some of this before, but allow me to recap.
My lease expired months and months ago, and I didn't raise the issue knowing I was likely to move out. So technically, I could have bolted at any time. And in retrospect I fucking should have! I should have withheld my last month's rent. But noooo. I'm a good girl. I gave them fucking FIVE WEEKS NOTICE that I was moving out. I phoned them 10 times to arrange the final inspection. The twat agent never returned a single phone call, and the inspection wasn't actually arranged until the day before I was to move. And it wasn't until then that he decided to tell me my deposit would be withheld until he received proof that all my utility and tax bills were paid. ARGH!
Okay, so that's old news. It's taken weeks to arrange all the bills, and I sent the receipts off last week. Today I receive a letter from the BASTARD that says he's calling in a contractor to assess water damage from a leak to the bathroom sink, and to clean the carpet on the outside stairwell, and that the costs will be deducted from my deposit. WHAT????????
First of all, the outside stairwell??? Dirty? Eh? I have no idea what he's talking about. Didn't seem especially dirty to me. And if so, why am I liable for cleaning it? Surely that's wear and tear?
Secondly, the bathroom sink leaked? I had no idea. And again, is that my responsibility? He's responsible for maintenance. And obviously it couldn't have been that bad if I never even noticed a problem. If I knew about it and failed to mention it or something, maybe... but if I did mention it and he came over to fix it before I moved out, surely he would not have charged me for it as it's HIS RESPONSIBILITY. Why does this suddenly change when I move out? And did I mention that there was NO BINDING LEASE? Fucking twat!
What kills me is that I took photos of the flat, suspecting he might try to dick me over. But I didn't fucking photograph the outside landing. Argh.
Also, the agent is a lawyer. So he is probably well versed in how to fuck me over following the letter of the law. And I have no clue how to work the system out here. It's so unfair!
I'm biding time until I can call my mother - a real estate agent and former landlord - for advice. But once again, there's no small claims court in this country. Although I can navigate the criminal courts, civil cases are a mystery to me. And if I fight it, it's likely to cost me. And take ages. I don't have ages. As the agent very well knows, I need the money NOW.
ARRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I'm so angry I'm shaking. And since it's a Saturday I can't even call him to bitch. Not like it would help. But to at least let him know I'm not simply going to accept this. I am the least confrontational person ever, but I hate this guy so much that I don't care.
Anyone have any insight?
On a nicer note, I'm one of two finalists for that law society job! Woo hoo! It was such a nerve-racking day Friday. I unknowingly left my phone on silent, and missed the phone call at 12.30pm to let me know. She left a message with the wrong number and I spent three hours phoning her back on it every 10 minutes. It was constantly busy. Eventually I went online to track down the main switchboard number, and by that time she was in a meeting that was to last the rest of the day. So it wasn't until after 5 that I finally found out. Ack! The plan now is for me to go to the offices on Tuesday afternoon and sort of hang out with them for awhile. Hmmm. It's not a second interview, it's not a trial per se. It's... I don't know what. A tour? With further questioning? I don't think they even know entirely. I'm just a bit nervous. But what can I do really? Nothing. We'll just have to wait and see. If they like me, so be it. If not, at least I have another prospect. Yeah.
My feet are cold and I'm smelly. I'm in desperate need of a shower. And a punching bag. My mom better be home when I call. Wow, never thought I'd say that.. Hope you all are well.
