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Unethical landlords claiming fake damages to apartment.
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some waygug-in



Joined: 25 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 1:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's why I think it's the school that's doing the scamming.

The deposit would have nothing to do with the rental contract.

The deposit is part of the teacher agreement with the education office.
(if it's a PS job)

If it's a hagwon job, it's pretty much the school's baby.


Either way, I'd guess your former landlord had nothing to do with it.
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12ax7



Joined: 07 Nov 2009

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 5:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dude, that's probably for utility bills.
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andrewchon



Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Location: Back in Oz. Living in ISIS Aust.

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 5:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Take advice from a wise man:

Take 90%, leave 10%.
- N. Rothschilds

My life became so much easier ever since I put that advice into practice.

Put it bluntly, you're wasting too much time fighting for that 10%.

You can put the time you are using for 10% to much better use.

Note: this is the kind of question moneymen asks to see if their client will amount to much. What do you think?
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Julius



Joined: 27 Jul 2006

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

dairyairy wrote:
One of the worst things a school can do is tell one of those sleazy landlords is "There's a 900,000 deposit so if you can think of any damages done by the evil foreigner please let us know."



Schools tend to want to keep the landlord sweet because they're too lazy to find a new one.
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Smithington



Joined: 14 Dec 2011

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

12ax7 wrote:
Dude, that's probably for utility bills.


No, all the bills are paid. This is claim for 'damage' to the property. Absolutely nothing to due with unpaid bills. I understand that another small utility bill might come in, but that is not what the landlord is going on about.
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Smithington



Joined: 14 Dec 2011

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

andrewchon wrote:
Take advice from a wise man:

Take 90%, leave 10%.
- N. Rothschilds

My life became so much easier ever since I put that advice into practice.

Put it bluntly, you're wasting too much time fighting for that 10%.

You can put the time you are using for 10% to much better use.

Note: this is the kind of question moneymen asks to see if their client will amount to much. What do you think?


Wise men don't let unethical landlords / employers screw you over at every turn. When there's no use fighting it, and you can' win, cut your losses and walk away. I agree. But don't go through life as a patsy letting every unethical ajoshie take advantage of you at every turn. I don't think that is what Mr. Rothchild was talking about.
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byrddogs



Joined: 19 Jun 2009
Location: Shanghai

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 7:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Smithington wrote:
12ax7 wrote:
Dude, that's probably for utility bills.


No, all the bills are paid. This is claim for 'damage' to the property. Absolutely nothing to due with unpaid bills. I understand that another small utility bill might come in, but that is not what the landlord is going on about.


And I'm sure that you got stuck with the bills for the month prior to you moving in, so that thinking is whack.
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Seoulman69



Joined: 14 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 9:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Could you get a friend to go and see what they are referring to as structural damage?
I had a landlord claim that I hadn't paid my rent and bills properly so I couldn't get the companies key money back. My boss was very stressed but I told her that I had a note of all the payments I had made and that they would be proven wrong very soon. A couple of hours later they paid the company the key money back without me having to get bank statements.
My point is that a lot of landlords will try to rip you off. Taking photos, and keeping all your payments in a file is a couple of small ways to protect yourself.
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andrewchon



Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Location: Back in Oz. Living in ISIS Aust.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 12:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Smithington wrote:
andrewchon wrote:
Take advice from a wise man:

Take 90%, leave 10%.
- N. Rothschilds

My life became so much easier ever since I put that advice into practice.

Put it bluntly, you're wasting too much time fighting for that 10%.

You can put the time you are using for 10% to much better use.

Note: this is the kind of question moneymen asks to see if their client will amount to much. What do you think?


Wise men don't let unethical landlords / employers screw you over at every turn. When there's no use fighting it, and you can' win, cut your losses and walk away. I agree. But don't go through life as a patsy letting every unethical ajoshie take advantage of you at every turn. I don't think that is what Mr. Rothchild was talking about.


You might understand later. I wish peace unto thee.
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12ax7



Joined: 07 Nov 2009

PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 3:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Smithington wrote:
andrewchon wrote:
Take advice from a wise man:

Take 90%, leave 10%.
- N. Rothschilds

My life became so much easier ever since I put that advice into practice.

Put it bluntly, you're wasting too much time fighting for that 10%.

You can put the time you are using for 10% to much better use.

Note: this is the kind of question moneymen asks to see if their client will amount to much. What do you think?


Wise men don't let unethical landlords / employers screw you over at every turn. When there's no use fighting it, and you can' win, cut your losses and walk away. I agree. But don't go through life as a patsy letting every unethical ajoshie take advantage of you at every turn. I don't think that is what Mr. Rothchild was talking about.


You need to realize that those of us who've been here long enough to be able to offer you any useful advice are middle-aged. When you throw that word around like that, you're insulting our friends.

Smithington wrote:
12ax7 wrote:
Dude, that's probably for utility bills.


No, all the bills are paid. This is claim for 'damage' to the property. Absolutely nothing to due with unpaid bills. I understand that another small utility bill might come in, but that is not what the landlord is going on about.


Then find out what the damages are supposed to be and talk it over with the real estate agent. It's that simple. If you can't be bothered to do it, then you have to accept that the landlord may have been right and move on.
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Weigookin74



Joined: 26 Oct 2009

PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Julius wrote:
dairyairy wrote:
One of the worst things a school can do is tell one of those sleazy landlords is "There's a 900,000 deposit so if you can think of any damages done by the evil foreigner please let us know."



Schools tend to want to keep the landlord sweet because they're too lazy to find a new one.


and because they're too cheap to pay key money.
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wylies99



Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!

PostPosted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 6:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Keep an eye on the phone bills, too. I've had two friends in Korea who've had issues with the landlord entering the apartments and using the landline phone to make overseas calls. If the phone bill seems high have your school check the numbers called, and the times the calls were made, through the phone company.
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12ax7



Joined: 07 Nov 2009

PostPosted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 6:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Weigookin74 wrote:
Julius wrote:
dairyairy wrote:
One of the worst things a school can do is tell one of those sleazy landlords is "There's a 900,000 deposit so if you can think of any damages done by the evil foreigner please let us know."



Schools tend to want to keep the landlord sweet because they're too lazy to find a new one.


and because they're too cheap to pay key money.


I don't think you get how the system works. The terms of a lease are almost always negotiable. That's why you can have a tenant who's only paid 10 million won in deposit living on the same floor as one who's paid 45 million (the former will pay higher rent than the latter). The reason for this is that the deposits are not invested, they are deposited in the landlord's account linked to his or her mortgage in order to reduce the interest due. Same goes with the rent. Since these accounts are essentially credit lines, many landlords will accept a lower deposit in exchange for higher rent. He or she will refund the higher deposit to the previous tenant and take your smaller deposit and rent. The numbers are crunched by the real estate agent.

Of course, some landlord aren't wise with their money. That's why you should always check the records to see how much is owed and the estimated value of the building. That should give you an idea of whether your money is safe. Same goes with apartments in an apartment complex.
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sirius black



Joined: 04 Jun 2010

PostPosted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 4:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I started taking pictures back in the states from dealing with unethical landlords there and carried that practice to Korea.

Since the OP does not have pics I would threaten the school possibly. Tell them that if someone asks them about the job that they will tell them about the unethical apartment. Make the school get your money. I assume the OP has built up some friendships/allies in the school. Ask them to intervene to the landlord personally.

All apartments are listed or should be listed with the local community center which has a copy of the lease agreement contract. Perhaps they can do something?

This story may also be a warning to us all that when you are doing your due dilligence about a school and talk to a present/past teacher ask about the apartment and ask the school directly if you will get back ALL your deposit and what situations where you won't.
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NQ



Joined: 16 Feb 2012

PostPosted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 9:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

What about warped floors due to the ondul system? My floors were fine before moving in, but then some of the floor boards warped a bit where my kitchen is, due to the heat from the ondul system. I'm finishing my contract this month, so I'm kinda worried they might screw me for this, but apparently a lot of floor boards in Korea are warped due to the ondul system.

My landlord did say something about keeping it below 18 degrees but that's too cold, so I had to keep it higher. Will this mess me?

EDIT: Now that I think about it, it might be due to a leaky pipe I had, when I turned on the ondal. The water went under some of the floorboards... arrgh
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