Jannu Rental Management is a Christchurch based rental management company located at 359 Riccarton road, run by a woman named Debbie who has had over 10 years experience in the field of property management.
On the Jannu rental website they state "Why do you need a property manager?", these questions are aimed at landlords and are designed to show Jannu's expertise in the field of property management. I'd like to go over some of these questions and contrast them with Jannu. (http://www.jannu.co.nz/owners/index.php?id=1)
Are your tenants able to contact you at any time if there is a problem at the property? There may be a burst pipe, or a fire. You need to be available!
You are right tenants should be able to contact you at any time however this is not possible with Jannu, this is caused by a lack of respect of "student" tenants, where they are always in the wrong no matter the situation, treated more like children rather than adults when events like the above occur. This continues on even when you have a simple question for Jannu, instantly they assume you are trying to undermine them or take authority and argue back even at the simplest of questions, they always have the "right" answer.
Do you know how to correctly complete a Tenancy Agreement if there is more than one tenant and the procedure if those tenants change during the term of the tenancy?
I don't doubt Jannu's ability to make these changes in the correct ways, however Jannu does not want them to happen, it causes to much stress and work at their end and after 1 change they basically say that you are now not allowed to change any more members of the given flat.
Do you understand the mediation and Tribunal process including the filing of all necessary documentation and ancillary applications needed?
Debbie understands mediation and Tribunal processes very well indeed. She's well versed on any laws related to Tenancy agreements and uses them as a bargaining mechanism, often making vague references to "The Law" to intimidate residents. If a tenant makes any reference to their rights, Debbie will eagerly assert her vague "background in law" and her "never losing in court". She will use all her rights as a property manager to inconvenience tenants and threaten them with mediation or eviction even if they have done nothing wrong.
A little about the owner of Jannu Rental Management, Debbie:
As a manager of student property, Debbie is stringent to the point of absurdity. Tenants should keep their house reasonably clean - that's understandable. Some of the things Debbie will complain about when inspecting properties are just plain ridiculous. Here's a few hypothetical examples which are vaguely related to actual examples (so as not to reveal facts about my tenancy with Jannu).
- Don't keep items on a certain shelf - it might make the paint flake off.
- Keep your windows open so rooms don't get too damp - a pretty dumb request considering the room in question might be right next to a busy road.
- You must be up out of bed when Jannu inspects your property - despite the fact that you're a student, and it's early morning on a Friday. This is not only farcical, it's completely unreasonable - the Department of Building and Housing say a landlord cannot request a tenant to be doing anything or not doing anything, and they certainly can't inconvenience the tenant by refusing to inspect the house when someone is in bed and inspect again the next week.
Although I've said a lot about Jannu's professional side, I must mention personality. Debbie will threaten a tenancy's continuation if she has a personal bias toward any members of the flat. It's very easy to get on her bad side and very difficult to change her opinion about someone she's set on disliking. In this way, Debbie is rude, immature and unprofessional.
I'm not alone in my dislike of Jannu: http://www.finda.co.nz/business/listing/52lz/jannu-rental-management/#
Or alternatively search "Jannu" under organisation on: http://www.tenancytribunal.govt.nz/
to have a look at Debbie's tenancy tribunal appearances.
Comments and support would be appreciated on your experiences with Jannu Rental Management. Peace.
