Cal2

TBH - I'm settled here, BUT every night at first, it's tapering off I 'missed' home, whatever home is, yes, I still miss people and its sort of painful to talk to them, if you know what I mean - it doesnt stop me, but 99.9% of the time, life goes on. Even when I moved around in the UK I had this 'missing' thing, so I think I understood and accepted I would feel that way. I think for me, I kept busy, said Hi, how are you to everyone - so have made mates - and eventually it's all got sorted. But its taken 2 years (and most say give it 5), and I keep busy, busy, busy. Also getting PR was hard so I think that made me view things differently. We're going back at Christmas for the 1st time and I know it wont be easy. Cal2

We moved from the UK to the Gold coast, on a 457, my OH works in Sydney and has a tiny place there, initially we got LAFHA, but it was based on the fact we were living in Queensland and he was working in Sydney. Then when the regulations changed LAFHA stopped, at this time we were still on 547, we now have PR. We thought it was all phased out, but the accountant thinks we may qualify, would like to check that is right before my OH go to his business, who in fairness would pay it if it was due thanks Cal2

popped in to see the tax man, as you do this time of year, and he thinks that my OH company should have carried on with LAFHA as we were claiming on our home in Queensland, he works in Sydney? Tried to figure it out on the Goverment website, but it's quite confusing, any ideas anyone? thanks Cal2:confused:

I just let it go onto ansaphone, plus over here I find most people use mobiles, I tell people to leave a message and genuine ones do, the other useful and funny thing to do is tell them Im emigrating, wherever I feel like that day Cal2

yes you will, there are lots of days out around Brissie so you'll be fine, must do Australia Zoo its brilliant Cal2<object type="cosymantecnisbfw" cotype="cs" id="SILOBFWOBJECTID" style="width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block;"></object>

agree with all the above, it's not impossible, but you will need to be determined, there are a few of us that are here with PR and serious medical conditions, but relatively well, there are many hoops to jump through, and you have to be so very very determined Cal2

I agree, on the beach a couple of weeks ago, with a kite surfer out at sea, moved super fast, including inland, remember keeping an eye on him because they can easily hit the beach hard and fast Cal

went with CBA no problems at all

Fifij - have you got permission to take the children? I'm presuming you have and I would have thought that the flights back etc are part of the agreement to stay in contact. UK law does not apply in Australia, so I dont think he could be forced to pay, likewise although some have tried it to their cost, you wont get child benefit one they leave the UK, some have not informed CB and have been caught out big style, likewise you would need to inform CSA of the change in circumstances I'm sure someone with more experience than me will be able to give you more details Cal2

yep, no problem with CBA, we got our car on credit though to build up our history, mobiles were a little more difficult

who have you tried so far, I know it's a bit of an off chance but what about contacting a firm that exports plants as their vocation maybe someone like that would have a better idea Cal

You need to phone and check with them, I can understand if you haven't checked your UK account since you've been here, but then the money should still be there. Unfortunately some people do try to keep claiming it, especially if they're on a temporary visa, thinking that they're still entitled to it, but as far as I know you're not. There's a real clamp down at the moment in the main due to immigrants coming into the UK and claiming for children not in the country. Hopefully you can work something out with them - and they can check when you left the country good luck getting it sorted Cal

will do, and pass on any information, that we get, RTA are very good though, so far.

Thanks for reading, what could be a long post. We moved out of a rented house into a smaller house offered to us by the agents - Harcourts, as we were good tenants they said, we wanted a smaller property. We fully cleaned the property , carpets cleaned and pest control done as per our agreement as we have 2 small dogs. Property was inspected and 7 things were requested to be remedied, the email thanked us for leaving the property is a good clean condition. 2 of the 7 things related to prior to us moving in and these were accepted by the agents, the other 5 we did, none of which related to the carpets and the only thing relating to the dog hairs was a few noted on the tiled floor downstairs by the door. We requested photos of the things that needed doing, few weeds, oven etc, but no photos of carpets or dog hairs at all. After sorting these things as requested, took 30 mins, we got the agent to meet my OH at the house and all was cleared, or so we thought. A week later, after people had been in the house to remove a pool table belonging to the owners which we had wanted moving and never had been, the new tenants moved in. Right from the off, they complained about the carpets, they had allergies and coudlnt stay there, etc, etc. The agent contacted us and asked who had cleaned the carpets and was there a problem, we stated no and that she had been at least twice and hadnt a problem and she had the invoice from the cleaners. She then unbeknown to us, had our cleaners re do the carpets at no charge. But new tenant still not happy, claiming carpets still very dirty. The the agent sent their cleaners, who rake the carpet and get up lots of dog hair (according to them) and charge $90. Note - the property is classed as pet friendly and the tenants prior to us had an old labrador, we dont know about prior to that. Then the new tenants hit with a massive bill for rent rebate on when they couldnt stay there and also for having to still vac daily, and guess what instead of releasing our bond as they said they would, the agents put in a very quick claim on all our bond over $2k, for carpet cleaning and water (which we hadnt even had the bill for). RTA were not happy and asked the agents to clarify, then we got over half back, still claiming carpet cleaning and water, we have hassled them ever since to release the water money to the lessors, as we had agreed this upon getting the billing. Note - the carpets is clearly old (shagged pile), and even on our moving in report has a number of stains noted on it by the agents. We have now been told that all parties are prepared to go to court ie QCAt, should we get a lawyer involved, if we 'won' could we claim our lawyer fees back? Thanks for reading Cal

Hi, first of all I presume you are not using your real name on here, there are numerous threads on this site regarding this situation, you can use the search option to find them. No situation is cut and dried. Cal

My mates, in Florida, went out for a walk around a wildlife reserve yesterday. Whilst turning round to look and photograph a particularly beautiful butterfly, they turned back round only to see a 7ft gator walking across the path about 20ft ahead, said friend apparently exclaimed holy sh1t!

There seem to be loads of buses that take the children to school, I'd ask when you go, let me know what you think of Robina & Varsity if you go Cal2

I loved that area too, would be interested in peoples opinions too

Robina apparently has a new head and is on the up, it's near the hospital in Robina, my two have moved from a village primary 70 pupils to 900 children here, it's different, advantages & disadvantages but they adjust better than us, being out of the catchment area is not necessarily a bar to gettting in, but I would visit both schools first and get a feel for them Cal

So we know find out that about 200kw of electricity has been used since we moved out and before the meter was read, putting this down to the owner going in and leaving all the lights on overnight or longer only found out as OH went round to sort something out - any chance of us getting it back and what to do about it?

Thanks everyone, we have submitted to get our bond back via RTA, we will only communicate by writing now, theyre very good with phone calls but I shall say that they need to submit it in writing, the carpet wasnt an issue on the list of 7 things that needed doing that they sent us, in fact they stated the property was very clean and tidy and could we see to these minor issues. Cal2

Thanks Eera, we've refused to get another carpet cleaner in, as thats what we thought Cal2

So we leave our rental, have it all cleaned & carpets done as we had dogs (2 small), as did the the renters before us, it was a pet friendly house. Agent checks around it a few minor things which are corrected - 7 in total (they check much more on the outgoing report than the incoming!!), ranging from mark on oven door to 2 security screens dirty (really minor), suffice to say went back agent came and checked whilst OH there all good (note, she had told us to take off the screens and clean them, had to take her words back when she was shown that they are screwed on), agrees verbally to send bond forms No complaints about the carpets, but new tenant moves in and complains bringing some dog hair into the office (alledgedly) over a week later complaining that her child is allergic to animal hair !!! So carpet cleaner agrees to go back and re do and does. Tenant still not happy 2 weeks after we'd left, in between which the owner had been in, left the lights on all night and rubbish in the house. Agent contacts us and says shes contacted RTA, but doesnt say what theyve said and request we pay for another company to clean the carpets (one recommended by them???). We say no and contact RTA (Queensland), who have said if weve cleaned the carpets theres nothing else to be done, if the carpets need replacing it's not up to us (they werent great to be honest). We've completed the forms requesting our bond back via RTA. Anything further we should do? Interestingly the agency offered us another house, when we said we were leaving as we are very good tenants and they wanted to keep us, as such, and it's ok, suffice to say we havent yet sign the incoming report off as there were more issues than they raised, including light bulbs out (one of the issues raised in the previous house was that there was one bulb out, we replaced it), when we pointed this out to the agent, she said she couldnt check as the eletricity was off, shame the photos show it on lol!!!!! Anyway just after any information on any other steps to take thanks Cal2

We were in the same position, it's a reciprocal agreement, meaning for example it does cover GP visits etc, anything an Australian would be entitled to in the UK you will be entitled to here, so GP visits are covered unless they dont bulk billed as are hospital appointments etc

so sorry for your loss, I know we will get a call one day, as you say just dont know when