I think during the earthquake our condo suffered a few tiny little crack to the walls … all superficial and he covered it up with wallpaper !!! lol these are mostly in kitchen area and would mean removing the kitchen fittings and then re-drilling them Back in.

Honestly it’s only a few very tiny little cracks that we are told are superficial.

However apparently the condo themselves are doing the repairs around the condo and have set a deadline to have the work done by early May.

Now this would Involve removing kitchen cupboards and then carrying out repairs. It’s going to be dust, and just general annoyance.

We have already had many things go wrong in this condo that we are just sick of workmen coming in and out. And just when we think we can relax (in a condo that we really like) we now have more upheaval.

I have seen in other rooms they have 4/5 work even in there, plenty of dust.

My agreement says I have rite to peace and no alterations, but is ambivalent regarding insurance repairs that were needed before we moved in.

We don’t mind the cracks as they don’t affect us. I can see why landlord would want them done as the condo insurance will do it for him for free.

What can I do here ? I don’t want these works done and more upheaval, but I want a good relationship with my landlord.

Repairs should be covered by the condos insurance.

I suggest you lose your deposit, and change room.

17 hours ago, Bally Jaggers said:

I think during the earthquake our condo suffered a few tiny little crack to the walls … all superficial and he covered it up with wallpaper !!! lol these are mostly in kitchen area and would mean removing the kitchen fittings and then re-drilling them Back in.

Honestly it’s only a few very tiny little cracks that we are told are superficial.

However apparently the condo themselves are doing the repairs around the condo and have set a deadline to have the work done by early May.

Now this would Involve removing kitchen cupboards and then carrying out repairs. It’s going to be dust, and just general annoyance.

We have already had many things go wrong in this condo that we are just sick of workmen coming in and out. And just when we think we can relax (in a condo that we really like) we now have more upheaval.

I have seen in other rooms they have 4/5 work even in there, plenty of dust.

My agreement says I have rite to peace and no alterations, but is ambivalent regarding insurance repairs that were needed before we moved in.

We don’t mind the cracks as they don’t affect us. I can see why landlord would want them done as the condo insurance will do it for him for free.

What can I do here ? I don’t want these works done and more upheaval, but I want a good relationship with my landlord.

You are renting, if you were owner wouldn't you want it repaired? Your other choice is move!

The landlord is not being unreasonable.

Presumably the condo manager has said to him that it is covered by the building's insurance, but it must be done at the insurance company's convenience if he wants it done for free.

Put it on owner for rent free month to you as your compensation!

40 minutes ago, Olmate said:

Put it on owner for rent free month to you as your compensation!

Or prevent quake from happening.

Or buy your own place and move out.

1 hour ago, tomazbodner said:

Or prevent quake from happening.

Or buy your own place and move out.

Or don't ask on xpat forums for advice your not going to heed.. Go to Bunnings if your Ozzie, buy some wood, harden up

Look at it from the landlords view.

This is free work that building is doing and if the owner, landlord declines than they will pay for repair out of their pocket.

Your psychological response is normal. Anyone who has something done and it keeps building and stacking accumulating is the word I like. Eventually you'll need to vent or work on decompressing.

Anyways, you mentioned you like the condo. Do you really want to spend time looking for another condo, packing everything up, moving, unpacking to an unknown?

You have Zero idea who your neighbors will be, if they have a lifestyle that conflicts with yours. There is a lot that actually goes into and finding a great condo that makes you happy.

If the work is going to take one week, ask for a reduction in rent for one week. You seem reasonable. Keep negotiating come to some agreement and move on. Many others things you can spend time doing.

Good Luck

5 hours ago, Olmate said:

Or don't ask on xpat forums for advice your not going to heed.. Go to Bunnings if your Ozzie, buy some wood, harden up

The term is buy some cement and harden up.

49 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

The term is buy some cement and harden up.

Buy some wood, build a bridge, get over it then.... harden up! 😭😭

Landlord needs to be reasonable here.

If he had work to do he should have carried that out, and waited before renting it out, or strictly applied it your tennancy agreement before he rented it out. If he did not, and it is a standard agreement then you have the rite to peaceful enjoyment during your tennancy agreement. Then he needs to wait till your agreement ends.

If you do want to remain a good relationship, then as many have suggest the landlord should offer you a free months rent, and ensure he hires a cleaner, including full clean of any curtains and air conditioning unit IF THERE IS GOING TO BE DUST.

I do not understand the hostile replies above.

On 3/19/2026 at 6:40 PM, Olmate said:

Put it on owner for rent free month to you as your compensation!

This is a good suggestion one can ask but here happening especially with a Thai, as a side job manager for buildings during the earthquake 1989, one of building I manage was inspected by the City and cleared but there was a number of apartments that had cracks these were crack with plastor.

After estimates and talking to contractors determining work and how it was to be done I did arrange for some compensation since the insurance would also cover it! One apartment was extensiive based on rent law, I gave tenant options one of them if she wanted to leave the lease we would help with moving expenses, the other was to put her up in a hotel 2 blocks away for 28 days hotel limits.

These are tenants willing to work with owners who are reasonable, it works both ways then there are those who think about themselves, unreasonable uncompromising!

That same time at my regular job airline next morning flight crew called my office, ask way there was no food for a four hour flight to east coast before I could answer demanded I come up to gate and explain to captain although thereafter I noted we had an earthquake yesterday and the catering service unable to operate he went on and on. I finally hung up politely contacted the flight crew chief back east about the situation and crew refuse to depart gate if no food. A few minutes later I look out the window aircraft was being push back to depart!😁