r/AusLegal • u/False_Reception_7891 • 2d ago
VIC advice needed please
Hi all, terrified. i was away on a 6 day trip recently got robbed and broken into while in a rental unit as a tenant amongst 8 units in Melbourne Victoria. Lost car keys but car still there, wallet which had cash and some valuables inside aside from bank cards, ID's. yes i left the wallet at the premises as i was visiting family, all that i need was on my phone. I was told that the neighbours on both sides had their dogs woken up and were barking hence they fled with whatever they can get on hand and did not start the car. Real Estate Agency does not answer, police are investigating. Landlord's insurance does not cover anything for tenants, what can I do? am I screwed? much appreciated thanks.
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u/ItinerantFella 2d ago
You left your car, wallet, cash, and ID at home when you went to visit family for six days?
And you don't have renters insurance?
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u/False_Reception_7891 2d ago
no judgement please and yes
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u/Worlds_tipping1 2d ago
What exactly do you want to happen? Get the agent to change the locks and that's about all you can do.
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u/mathuu 2d ago
If there is damage to the property then the landlords home insurance will cover it. If they don't have home insurance, it will still be their responsibility to fix it (damage to doors/windows etc..). Make sure you at least file a police report and document all the damage.
The landlords insurance won't cover any of your personal belongings as you need your own contents insurance.
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u/Remote_Class9892 2d ago
You will need to get your cards cancelled and consider a rekey on the car. They will return at a later date and take it
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u/Evil_Dan121 2d ago
Unless the landlord was negligent in providing a secure property I doubt any of this is their responsibility.
You will either have to claim on your contents insurance or cover the losses yourself.
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u/False_Reception_7891 2d ago
just a wooden and mesh door, i presume its easy enough to break in? no security alarm or camera etc.
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u/Wide_Comment3081 2d ago
Unless you had contents insurance, this is all gone and there's nothing you can do. This really sucks I'm sorry.
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u/False_Reception_7891 2d ago
police report maybe something will turn up one day or they dont investigate much
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u/Wide_Comment3081 2d ago
Police won't do anything. Just cancel your cards and lock down your credit so they can't go applying for loans and credit cards in your name.
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u/hongimaster 2d ago
Victims of Crime will have some advice for you regarding your rights regarding the justice system.
https://www.victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au/
If anything that was stolen had serial numbers, provide them to the police. I once had a cheap laptop stolen from my car, the police returned it to me 5 years later (they apparently found it in a drug raid). Was only able to get it back because I gave them the serial number.
Police aren't likely to solve your individual crime and return your property. They might get lucky, but I wouldn't count on it.
Anything uninsured is likely gone. If you have car insurance you may be able to ask your insurer about the stolen keys, but my guess is that they will say your car hasn't actually been stolen.
Contact your bank for help cancelling cards. If your ID ends up getting stolen, you can use ID Care https://www.idcare.org/.
Obviously hindsight being 20-20, maybe get a CCTV and/or video doorbell to at least be alerted if someone breaks in. It is likely they will be back if they know your house has minimal security and a car they now possess keys to.
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u/Curious_Breadfruit88 1d ago
Why would you claim stolen keys on car insurance? The excess alone would be multitudes more than the cost of re-keying the car
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u/hongimaster 1d ago
Depends on the car. Depends on the excess.
When my car was stolen pre-COVID it was a few hundred dollars per key (of which there were two), plus the cost to reprogram the keys to exclude the old keys. I can't imagine it has gotten cheaper since then.
But you will also note I did not tell OP to actually make a claim. Calling your insurance company and talking to them is not the same as making a claim.
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u/rowdyfreebooter 2d ago
Have your raised security concerns in the past?
I doubt it as you left your keys and wallet at the unit, so how is the owner supposed to know if security is lacking?
At a certain point you need to take responsibility for your own items. Never leave your wallet behind. Lock up your car and take the keys, close all doors and windows and use available locks. Report any that are not working.
You don’t need to insure the property, just your possessions in the unit.
Unfortunately criminals do bad things, it’s what makes the criminals. People with cameras and alarms still get broken into.
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u/False_Reception_7891 2d ago
thanks, yeah i sucks, all the preventive measures are after-talks now. I just have police report to rely on I guess?
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u/bluebear_74 2d ago
As the others have said you need to have contents insurance. Landlords typically will only get building insurance and only get contents if the place is furnished. Their insurance does not cover tenants belongings (as it isn't theirs). Any damage caused to the property the landlord will have to cover. So unfortunately unless the locks on the house were not adequate and secure, there is not much that can be done.
I would just watch out for your car however since you mentioned they took your keys. Someone broke into a friends place a few years back and they took all the spare car keys, they moved all their cars in case they came back for them and purchased steering locks in the meantime.
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u/Darc_ruther 2d ago
Hopefully you didn't touch anything and contacted the police. They can come and take fingerprints and contact your neighbours for camera footage etc. If the property itself was damaged you should contact your real estate agent on Monday and give them the police report number. As for getting your possessions back, unless you are lucky or have contents insurance you will probably never see them again. You need to secure your car or it will likely be taken too. If you're feeling anxious ask the police for a referral to VOC. You might be entitled to some free councilling. I'm sorry this happened to you.
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u/HoodoGuru 2d ago edited 2d ago
No contents insurance? That’s a shame isn’t it? Relying on your landlord to insure your contents that’s up to you to take out the right cover. You were lucky they didn’t take your car as they had your keys. Do you expect your landlord to provide insurance for your car as well? It’s mind boggling you left all this at your home while going on a 6 day trip.
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u/Hotwog4all 2d ago
You left the premises unattended with no more security than locking the front door and windows. You left numerous personal valuables unattended/uninsured, that were stolen during the break in. All you can do is wait for the police investigation, see if you can claim any victims of crime payments, and that’s about it. The LL/REA have no obligation for your personal belongings. You could have $1 million there instead of in the bank where it would be secured, that’s not anyone’s fault but your own for leaving it there. Same goes for your other belongings.
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u/Cube-rider 2d ago
So have you lodged a claim with your travel insurance?
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u/Curious_Breadfruit88 1d ago
In what world would travel insurance be any help with something left at your house while you’re on holiday somewhere else?!
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u/Cube-rider 1d ago
The OP has a holiday letting, doesn't mention that it was at their home.
Go back to read the post and don't trip over the first bit.
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u/Suspicious_Bet2228 2d ago
You need home and contents insurance.