Do not rent through Merlot. Just left their rental after over 3 years. The only reason I stayed was due to the size of the house and the flat yard.

First year they use to drive past and I had a few messages to mow the lawn. I thought it was n absolute joke. My lawns weren't even long.
On routine inspections, I recieved reports regarding dirt in the window sill and removal of an insect with needed to be ammended. The also put down I needed to repaint entire walls due to a tiny mark, 5 cent piece from a mirror. This was removed in about 2 secs with a cloth.
Inspections need bond cleaning done basically. Thats how ridiculous this company is. You can literally barely live in the house! Their idea of living is that you don't work and you dont dare have a kid.
I use to have to take days off to do my inspection clean which was usually scheduled wed, thurs ... So I would clean on the weekend, then need to so it all over again just so they could come through.
The stress they put on tenants is disgusting. It is unnecessary. My house was always very clean as I am very houseproud.

Also, I use to pay rent manually, via transfer. Once I forgot to manually transfer. They tried to call me while I was at work, I didn't answer as I was working. So they straight away rang my emergency contact, demanding the payment and that they get onto me.
When I returned their call, they told me my rent had been late 32 times. 32 times and they never called Me so that I could change the day I transferred!?
Imagine trying to get a new rental after that!!!!! I totally lost it.

I was also breached for late water bill. 1day after payment was due.

They are so over the top and will try and get you for whatever they can.

Bond cleaning was ridiculously over the top. And they wanted me to use a pressure cleaner on all concrete demanding I return the house as I received it. I fought this, as after 3+ years, the concrete is not going to look new. I'd also had enough of their BS.

I have not lost any bond in any of my previous rentals, nor had any of the ridiculous and unrealistic demands of this mob.

They also tried to charge me over $400 in water when leaving. My water was always paid (or they breach you). I am another fighting them in regards to this.

Class action needs to be started against this company.

I have also unfortunately just gone through the process of leaving one of their properties, and it was a nightmare! I have lived in the property for 3 years, and never missed a rental payment, and always kept the house clean, but with 2 kids you can't always have it perfect.
Merlot don't care, and constantly sending texts about the lawn, or bins.
If there was any mark on a wall that THEIR bond cleaners couldn't get out, they have charged me to re-paint each wall!!!

Carpet, "oh, a door handle is loose" BANG, charge you for that as well!

Even [redacted personal identifier] told me what a joke!!!

Small pull on a flyscreen, BANG, charging you for a replacement!

STAY AWAY!!!

[redacted inflammatory comment]

I have read some of the messages posted and we have to say we have never had any problems with this Agent. If the house is kept clean and no damage and rent is paid there is never any problem. We have been renters for 15 years and these people give you clean houses and look after us well.

STAY AWAY from these guys. Do not let the beautiful homes influence. [redacted inflammatory comment]. rude, arrogant, [redacted], Worst mob of liars, bullies, and money hungry ... no regard for tenants...took all our bond, unwarranted breaches, called bogans and thieves and heartless, constantly sent text messages to mow lawns, weed n feed, don't park cars on lawn etc. sTAY AWAY and go check their reviews..... they operate just as the reviews say.

Going Through the same thing at the moment with this real estate! Apparently I have to replaced some carpet in on of the bedrooms, I ran the company they recommended to get a quote to which they would tell me any information and said they would only deal with the real estate, I then found out that Merlot had booked in the job to be done for a little under $500 and had planned on replacing the carpet with a whole other colour of carpet without consent or even a mention to me. Im thinking just trying to get the house re decorated with different carpet with 1 room free for the owner! I am so cranky! NEVER EVER will I recommend this realestate to everyone!!!! Oh and same thing here with the lawns......apparently they were too long after we mowed and it rained........ bloody bunch of idiots!!!

We have always been good tenants, never lost any of our bond. They breached us for not mowing the lawns during the big rains [floods]. They also breached us for leaving the bins next to the house, where everybody else in the street leaves their bins. We had to breach them for harassment. When we left, we paid professional cleaners to do the cleaning but that did not stop them from trying to claim the bond. When asked by the RTA what the reasons were, they replied that the place was dirty and they had to pay $250 to get it redone (our cleaner guarantees his work) and a water bill needs to be paid (already paid). A total of $456 but still claiming for the whole bond. This Mob lie through their teeth