'Penicillin factory' makes mum sick

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'Penicillin factory' makes mum sick

Monday, April 28, 2008

cairns.com.au - Cairns,QLD,Australia*

Kylie Reghenzani

© The Cairns Post

http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2008/04/28/3424_local-news.html

AN Edmonton tenant is sick of sending letters to her real estate

agent to fix the house she rents.

Tenant Mackenzie has dubbed the house in Akbar Close,

Edmonton, a " penicillin factory " because of its mould problem and

said the three-bedroom house with pool had been full of problems for

the past six years.

Miss Mackenzie, who lives with her daughters Aimee, 8, and ,

13, said she paid $250 a week to live in the house which is making

her sick – literally.

She said the ceiling in her daughter's bedroom was collapsing; the

roof was covered in mould and the only attempt from Croft Realty to

fix the house had been to replace the roof's sheeting two weeks ago.

The single mum has been sick for the past three months and said her

doctor agreed it was likely the house's condition contributed to her

poor health.

" I've had allergies and been on antibiotics for the past four

months, " she said. " I didn't sign up for this.

" The house has to be repaired whether I live here or someone else is

in here. "

She used to rent the house privately through the landlord but in

December the house became the property of the agent. Miss Mackenzie

said letter after letter had got her nowhere.

" Last year I breached them on not having a hotplate but the roof

problems started in January, " Miss Mackenzie said.

" When we had the heavy rains the whole house leaked, and I'm not

just talking about a drop. "

She said the landlord had attempted to fix the roof to save money,

creating a dam in the roof.

" The roof collapsed in Aimee's room and with that rain the roof

split, " she said.

" Water was just pouring in. "

She said the trio had to move their beds to dodge the water from the

roof and were forced to sleep in other parts of the house.

" My rent has never missed a beat and we're good tenants, " she said,

Residential Tenancy Authority general manager Fergus said all

tenants had the right to a clean and liveable premises.

" Should a tenant find a fault that is in need of repair, they must

inform the lessor or agent in writing or lodge a Notice to Remedy

Breach, " Mr said.

" That then becomes the communication tool between both parties. "

Mr said if the agent or lessor failed to remedy the matter

within a reasonable timeframe, application could be made to the

dispute resolution service.

Croft Realty declined to comment.