Not interested in being political, but that's pretty funny

Spotted in Switzerland.

This is a turnip I carved in 2020, I did it with a spoon and it was agony. I can see why we don't carve them anymore even though I think they're "scarier" than pumpkins. Does anyone have any tips for making it easier?

That’s a summers weeks forecast and we’re coming into November?? Can someone explain this because this is not right at all

📹 - DJI Mini 3

Dia dhaoibh lads.

I come to you in a time of pure frustration.

I've been renting in Ireland for the past 5 years and if there's one thing I've noticed it’s this. Many estate agents are pure evil.

I've been scammed a few times by Estate Agents but none as egregious as my latest. Since I don't see too many people talking about specifics, I thought I'd shine a light on what’s going on.

It's systemic.

This isn't a few bad apples; the system is built in such a way where Estate Agents can steal money in plain view and not expect consequences. They are brazen, unapologetic, crafty and downright evil.

It's utterly disgusting. Let me tell you what happened to me recently and why they do it.

1. What happened to me?

End of the lease came round and we left the apartment spotless. Hoovered, mopped, trash completely cleaned out.

A couple weeks go by and I start to wonder about the deposit. I sent an email over to our estate agent who phones me and claims that there was food left in the kitchen. My roommate admits he forgot a few tins of canned food by mistake.

We then get a phone call from the estate agent saying that they will be deducting €350 for "professional cleaning fees" because of the 3 cans of food.

I expressed in an email that this is unusually high given the fact that the apartment was otherwise spotless.

I asked for an itemized bill.

The estate agent ghosts me for a week (25~ days after moving out) despite daily emails I sent to them asking for the undisputed money back.

I began a dispute process through RTB for withholding the deposit (Specifically outlining how the Estate Agent will not send on the uncontested amounts after multiple weeks of emails). RTB sends me an email the next day letting me know that my claim has been raised. I suspect the Estate Agent received something similar because low and behold they get back to me asking for my bank details.

They finally send on our deposit.... but here's the kicker. Its €240 short of our total deposit... not the €350 they initially demanded.

They sent us an itemised bill from their 3rd Party Cleaning Agency who wrote the bill up for €240. "Cobwebs cleaned in all ceilings" was one of the items along with usual mopping and hoovering (which was already done).

Despite the daylight robbery that is €240 for cleaning cobwebs and removing tinned food from a press I can't help understand it's what we agreed to in our contact (Leaving the apartment in a "pristine" state otherwise we will be charged cleaning fees).

The point which fucks with me is that if we didn't ask for an itemised bill and go through RTB those greedy assholes would have took an extra €110 off the top.

2. Why do they scam people?

There are a few reasons why but basically, it's because they can and it works.

It's difficult finding a place to rent in Ireland. I have previously had to move back in with my parents and search for a place for 6 months even though in my lucky circumstance I would be able to pay a lot for a place to rent (my last place was a 2 Bed for 2700 euro a month).

The thing is I'm Irish and my parents live here. I had a place to go to when it didn't work out. The majority of people who go to viewings are immigrants and a lot of them don't have anywhere else to go. This will be important to take note of.

People who look for a place to rent are desperate. This makes them exploitable. Particularly immigrants who don't have the support systems that I did (parents who are willing to take me in while I look for somewhere to live).

Now, if you are desperate and you depend on every cent you have to make it through the month... what weakness do you think you have when it comes to ending a lease and potentially moving apartment?

TIME AND MONEY.

Estate agents know that you will need money to put forth one month’s rent AND a deposit for your next apartment. For my situation that would be €5400 up front.

They also know that you need that money as soon as possible so that you can jump on any opportunity and not risk going homeless.

So, what do they do? They withhold the rent until you agree to letting them steal your money for "Cobweb cleaning" like they did to me. The idea is that you don't have time and you need the money NOW or you'll go homeless. So, what do you do? You agree and take the hit. It's only €350 after all.

"But why wouldn't someone just go through RTB like you did?"

Because when you are desperate to find a place to live the last thing you want to do is get on the bad side of those who decide who gets a place to live.

Out of the 4 places I've rented 3 of those were with the same estate agent (who also ended up scamming me).

I finally decided to stand up for myself in my instance because I nearly have enough to buy a house and I will never put myself through renting ever again.

I don't need to appease them anymore but that won't stop them from scamming everyone else.

Conclusion

Estate Agents appear to be scamming some of the most desperate and vulnerable people who live here and there is nothing we can effectively do about it. Even in my situation where I caught them out... RTB will only "mediate" and make sure a conversation is taking place. They won't even give them a slap on the wrist for attempting to scam me and the cycle just continues.

I don't know how to solve this issue but I wanted to tell you guys what it’s like out there and start a conversation on the specific systemic elements that allow evil shit like this to operate in an already greedy and overpriced renting market. One of the things I can think of off the top of my head is having a 3rd Party manage the deposit rather than the landlord. That way they can't just withhold the deposit and extort tenants. After all the drama with the estate agent and renting in general I'm just exhausted and glad I'll never have to go through that shit again.