Yvonne072

Hi everybody, I'm afraid another moaning post about landlords and real estates. We (myself, my hubby and our little girl) moved into our rental property in Sydney Northshore area end of March 2013 (when it was lovely and warm). Our rental lease is for 18 months. We soon realised many "hidden issues" with the property - mainly unbelievable draught coming through our kitchen window and french balcony doors (in all rooms). The unfortunate thing is that we have 2 bathrooms and 1 utility room which have very powerful exhaust fans which run 24/7 and can not be turned off. I know I didn't even think something like this was possible but in here anything is possible... (as we have learnt hard way). We have already spoken to the management company which owns this block of departments and they have confirmed nothing can be done about them as one fan serves 4 apartments and if you install switch for one apartment it will also turn off other ones. Exhaust fans are big problem as they create a vacuum inside the property forcing air from outside leak inside through very badly insulated single glazed windows. Therefore management company advised Real Estate/Landlord to either install reverse cycle air con or put another window layer (so it becomes double glazed). Of course reply from the landlord was no. So since 22nd of April we have been requesting and requesting real estate/landlord to do something about draught as winter is approaching and we have 20 months old little girl who keeps waking up during the night as it's so cold. No success. Until this week (after speaking to the Fair Trading) we have sent another e-mail to the Real estate requesting work to be done by Friday 21st of June 2013 otherwise we will have no choice but taking the matter to the Tribunal to order Landlord for work to be done. Needless to say for the first time they replied 24hrs later, calling us liars and dishonest people and saying that landlord doesn't have money to carry out any work but as a goodwill gesture they would buy us little portable heater for our daughter's room. We have been using of course fan heater but after leaving it on all the time we are only able to keep temperature around 17C (and this is not a proper winter yet, it's still coming). We are wearing so many layers/hot water bottles (which of course I can't give to my little girl)/blankets and really not enjoying our property. This is not life how we imagined it to be... So we need to decide by the weekend if we are applying to the Tribunal to force Landlord to carry out work to resolve draught issues. This though might take 3-4 weeks for the Tribunal case and even if Landlord is ordered to do works that might not be done until sometimes in August (if we are lucky) which would be end of winter. I would appreciate any advices you might have what to do. Has anybody been in the similar situation with the Landlord? Has anybody taken issues to be resolved into the Tribunal? Many thanks in advance Yvonne

Hi everybody, I'd like to join this lovely group. Juliet - I have sent a Facebook request. We've been in Sydney now for 5 weeks - living in St Leonards (north Sydney). We've got 18months old little girl. It would be lovely to meet up. Any plans for meeting up? Yvonne

Thank you Alaska. Yes it is a horrible situation to be in, as we were trying so desperately to avoid it. We need now to start applying for anything and everything and hope for the best...

I just wanted to share our first unfortunately bad experience with one of the Australian employers and make us "newbies" aware. Before I start our story - we have arrived on 175 permanent visa on my husband's profession as a Quantity Surveyor. We have one 16months old little girl. Prior to our arrival to Sydney last Saturday 23rd of February 2013 my husband applied for many jobs as Quantity Surveyor and only had luck with one Consultancy company in Sydney. He used his own initiative and contacted them trying to sell his experience in construction field they do the business. They (HR department) contacted him via e-mail saying that at present they don't have position suitable for him but they would be really interested in speaking to him. After telephone interview with HR followed another telephone interview with the manager of that department and final feedback from HR week before our arrival was "we are interested in employing you initially for 3 months which could turn into permanent position". They confirmed once again that they didn't have position available for him but they have restructured department to make position for him. As we were arriving to Sydney in such short time they decided not to e-mail employment contract but to set up face to face meeting for Wednesday 27th of February to discuss contract (as HR told him on the phone). She said it was "done deal". My husband, of course dressed up in his suit and off he went to meet his future employer. When he came back he was little bit confused but happy with his "performance". He was confused as he just attended full blown interview with 3 different directors and was told at the end of it we will contact you by the end of the week to let you know. He of course believed this to be just a formality. Until yesterday - Thursday when the same HR person rang him to give him a bad news and the reason he was given he didn't have "estimators" experience (for all of you who do not understand quantity surveying, in the UK constructions employs employees for surveying and seperately for estimating). Though they knew that right from the beginning from the first e-mail and all telephone conversations. My husband decided to send HR "constructive feedback", it was very professional and factual. No nasty comments or even wrong suggestions. We couldn't believe e-mail she sent back this morning, she said she never said those things to my husband on the phone promising him a job or that the meeting was to sign the contract, apparently surely he must have known he was coming for an interview as he was dressed in his suit and they would never employ anybody without face to face interview. She literally denied anything everything she told him on the phone. We are just about getting over shock, anger, upset and questions: "What are we going to do now?... Unfortunately one lesson learnt hard way - do not put all your eggs in one basket. We have lost precious time (last few weeks) making contacts in Sydney for setting up potential interviews, meetings with agencies as soon as we land. Now we have nothing... We have only got enough savings for next 4-5 weeks, family with 1 toddler. I'm sorry guys for sad and "crying" post. I just wanted to get it out of my chest and share our experience. We really believed we were arriving with my husband going straight into employment. She even discussed with him over the phone (when we were still in the UK) starting date and salary. We still don't understand... Please somebody re-assure us this is not normal practice in Oz. Thank you in advance for your responses.

Hi everybody, Has anybody got any tips on finding holiday rentals in Sydney for mid to end of February 2013 for 4 weeks (while we find long term rental) for family of 4? I appreciate Sydney is large city but we don't really mind where that would be - more important that it's for reasonable price, has kitchen and has facility to do washing. Any tips would be much appreciated. Thank you Yvonne

Thank you Northshorepom. He works in Civil Engineering sector. My OH spoke to another agency this morning and they were a bit more positive. So early morning calls to Oz will carry on...

Hi everybody, We are slightly concerned after my OH made phonecall inquiry to one of the employment agencies in Oz this morning when he was told that recession has hit Oz really hard now (especially construction industry) and many construction workers are getting made redundant therefore if he sees any CV's from UK (that hasn't moved to Oz yet) he puts them straight to the bin as he has got many CV's to choose from who are already in Oz and got Oz working experience. My OH is Quantity Surveyor with 10 years experience. He also told my OH to think really hard before moving to Oz. Our 175 permanent visa was granted in May 2012 and currently we are living with my mother-in-law (after selling our house). Most of our staff is in the storage so now just trying to secure employment for my OH before we make a big move (hopefully somewhere on East coast). Is it really getting that bad in Oz? How are your current experiencies with construction employment market in Oz? Has anybody out there (of all you good people) managed to secure construction job in Oz (still based in UK before making big move)? Yvonne

Hi Rachaelm0, Could you please PM me details for IOM? We have opened up a bank account with ANZ so if we book flights with Emirates we would get 50kg allowance. Do those rules (travel cot free of charge) apply in this instance? If you book flights with IOM what is the baggage allowance for PR visa for your first visit? Thank you and good luck. Yvonne

Please turn us PURPLE!!! I've had nearly all day to get over the shock but it still hasn't sunk in. Just after 7am this morning our agent sent us e-mail saying that she will upload our PCCs tomorrow now (I'm pressuming she was finishing her day) so I didn't expect to see anything today. At 9am my husband rang me from work asking if I've seen e-mails recently because I should. So I had look and I couldn't believe it - our agent saying in e-mail that she uploaded PCCs afterall and our visa was granted at 8.20am our time. And top it all up my birthday is tomorrow - the best ever birthday present. So we'll be celebrating in style tomorrow. Meanwhile I'm just enjoying the feeling (mixed feelings of happiness, excitement but it's also a bit scary, now the "real" work starts...). Thank you everybody for all your posts, it's been a great support reading your posts for many months now. Just don't stop! Good luck for everybody - hang in there, it will happen. x

Congratulations Jambos. Well done. SHandGH - could you please update our details on the spreadsheet - our medicals finalised 27th April and our PCCs arrived today so we are in "waiting room". I'll be checking my e-mails every day now, so my turn now to go mad...

Hi Jen, Congratulations for getting CO. We got our CO on 16th April, already had medicals and now waiting for our PCCs. Did you submit anything originally with your visa application from your son's father to move to Oz? We submitted a hand written letter from my son's father (my ex) saying that he would support him in whatever decision he makes. So far we haven't been asked from our CO to submit any additional proof or fill out any form. Mind you my son will be 16 this month (if this makes any difference as in Oz any children under 18 are classed as minors and need both parents permission). Good luck. Yvonne

Congratulations SHandGH. Everyone here's been waiting for this. Enjoy.

We've had our medicals done on Friday 20th April - final stage of getting our 175 visa. It almost starts getting real.... I just wanted to share with PIO members our experience in Bridge clinic in Maidenhead. Family of 4 - 2 adults, 1 15-year old and 6-months old baby. I can't fault their services - very efficient, understanding, answered all my questions (even some stupid ones). We traveled 2.5 hours to get there as they were the cheapest (even traveling to our nearest clinic it still would have worked out more expensive than traveling to Maidenhead and paying their fees). We are very happy that we went there. Hopefully this will help other people.

Please turn us PINK - we've got CO!!!! (19th November applicants). Just had an e-mail from our agent. It's so so exciting. Get on the phone now and book medicals.

Could you please add our info on the spreadsheet? Name: yvonne072 Destination: Brisbane or Sydney Date of Visa application: 19/11/2011 Nationality: British High / Low Risk: Low Trade / Profession: Quantity Surveyor (my husband) Visa Type: 175 Onshore / Offshore: Offshore Processing Priority Group (Category): 4 Date Medicals submitted: Not yet Date Police check submitted: Not yet Date CO assigned: Not yet Date of employment verification (If applicable): N/A Date visa granted: Thank you and good luck to everybody this week.