I live on an agricultural property in Central Queensland with my partner. He is the farm manager here. The property is leased by his boss from the owner who lives in another house at the front of the property. We live in an older home at the back of the property.
The owner has been coming down at an irregular rate to do "inspections" of our home. Usually she rings my partner or my partner's boss to alert us of an impending visit and then just turns up.
I have brought issues up with her each time she comes, and each time she says she is not sure who's responsibility it is. She always says, "I'll have to check with my lawyer". The owner has never mentioned any major issues during inspection. The issues I have raised include: no working fire alarms installed in the home, water leaking from an unknown point around the water tank which is severely disturbing the foundations of the home.
At the last inspection, the owner complained that she could smell smoke in the home. My partner has smoked in the home on occasion as he has done on all the other farms he has worked on. His boss is aware of this and has had no problem with it. I personally would like him not to, but his response is, "his job, his house". I have several scent warmers going 24/7. I have asked all other visitors to the home and none have identified a smoke smell. The house is very large and open and apart from the regular dirt, dust and insect issues all farm houses have, it is kept tidy.
After this event, it was indicated to my partner that there where "problems" with the living arrangements at the owner's home on the property. The owner's daughter has been living with her mother (the owner) and has recently married. Her husband has now also moved in. It was the husband who had mentioned issues with the living arrangements there. Shortly after these last two events, my partner's boss contacted him and said that the owner had asked if we could moved out, so her daughter and husband can move into the house. The boss declined her request. However, since then the owner has regularly complained to the boss about smoking in the house.
Just now, the owner has arrived at our home without warning. It is a public holiday here today so I was still in my pyjamas having breakfast in front of the TV. My partner went outside as she pulled up in our garage. He has a table and ashtray outside that he uses occasionally. He lit up a cigarette as he greeted her outside. I heard her say, "you're not smoking inside are you". I did not hear my partner's response to her. I then heard her say she was going away and wanted to do an inspection. At this point, I got up from the lounge chair. As I walked toward the door, the owner entered the kitchen door. She just walked in. She said she wanted to do an inspection as she was going away next week. I started to respond that "it is highly inappropriate"... But I then asked, "are you here to do it now?" She then faltered and said, "no, no, I can come back next week". She then stepped very close to me and said, "I'm just wanting to make sure there's no smoking in the house. Is there?" At this point, I was feeling very annoyed and intimidated. I said next week would be okay. She then turned and walked back out the door.
After the owner left, I asked my partner if he had invited her to come in. He said, "no, she just walked straight past me".
My partner has suggested that I not, "rattle any cages", but I have become increasingly distressed by the situation. I do not feel secure in my home. Can you direct me to where I can find what my legal property rights and responsibilities are?
The owner has been coming down at an irregular rate to do "inspections" of our home. Usually she rings my partner or my partner's boss to alert us of an impending visit and then just turns up.
I have brought issues up with her each time she comes, and each time she says she is not sure who's responsibility it is. She always says, "I'll have to check with my lawyer". The owner has never mentioned any major issues during inspection. The issues I have raised include: no working fire alarms installed in the home, water leaking from an unknown point around the water tank which is severely disturbing the foundations of the home.
At the last inspection, the owner complained that she could smell smoke in the home. My partner has smoked in the home on occasion as he has done on all the other farms he has worked on. His boss is aware of this and has had no problem with it. I personally would like him not to, but his response is, "his job, his house". I have several scent warmers going 24/7. I have asked all other visitors to the home and none have identified a smoke smell. The house is very large and open and apart from the regular dirt, dust and insect issues all farm houses have, it is kept tidy.
After this event, it was indicated to my partner that there where "problems" with the living arrangements at the owner's home on the property. The owner's daughter has been living with her mother (the owner) and has recently married. Her husband has now also moved in. It was the husband who had mentioned issues with the living arrangements there. Shortly after these last two events, my partner's boss contacted him and said that the owner had asked if we could moved out, so her daughter and husband can move into the house. The boss declined her request. However, since then the owner has regularly complained to the boss about smoking in the house.
Just now, the owner has arrived at our home without warning. It is a public holiday here today so I was still in my pyjamas having breakfast in front of the TV. My partner went outside as she pulled up in our garage. He has a table and ashtray outside that he uses occasionally. He lit up a cigarette as he greeted her outside. I heard her say, "you're not smoking inside are you". I did not hear my partner's response to her. I then heard her say she was going away and wanted to do an inspection. At this point, I got up from the lounge chair. As I walked toward the door, the owner entered the kitchen door. She just walked in. She said she wanted to do an inspection as she was going away next week. I started to respond that "it is highly inappropriate"... But I then asked, "are you here to do it now?" She then faltered and said, "no, no, I can come back next week". She then stepped very close to me and said, "I'm just wanting to make sure there's no smoking in the house. Is there?" At this point, I was feeling very annoyed and intimidated. I said next week would be okay. She then turned and walked back out the door.
After the owner left, I asked my partner if he had invited her to come in. He said, "no, she just walked straight past me".
My partner has suggested that I not, "rattle any cages", but I have become increasingly distressed by the situation. I do not feel secure in my home. Can you direct me to where I can find what my legal property rights and responsibilities are?
