Spaces - Nedlands Avis 1

DO NOT SIGN A CONTRACT WITH THIS COMPANY

I have had a similar experience to many others on this site: hidden costs in the T&Cs, the non-return of my retainer within the contracted 30 days, and no one from management will answer my calls or emails.

MY HISTORY: I hired a single office space on 24/10/24 on a month-to-month contract. I abided by all the T&Cs in my contract and paid all fees. I gave due notice that I would be leaving on 31/12/24 and this was confirmed in an email from Spaces. I questioned the exorbitant 'restoration fee', especially as the cost had increased in the 2-month period since I'd started. I was informed that the non-specific clause, 'These are our House Rules which may change from time to time ...’ meant they could do this. I paid it, despite my misgivings. I handed back the key on 31/12/24 and left the office as I'd found it. I was informed on 8/1/25 that I had to apply for return of my retainer – no one had told me I had to apply for this prior to 'off-boarding' (as they call it). I applied that day.

My contract says my retainer will be returned within 30 days, but I am still waiting. I have sought legal advice, who warned me about this company and told me to start the debt collection procedure.

I repeat: DO NOT GO NEAR THIS COMPANY

EDIT 6.3.25: Trustpilot notified me yesterday that Lorraine from Spaces has again edited her reply to my comment. She first replied on 13.2.25, edited that on 19.2.25, and has now edited it again on 5.3.25. The reply now reads as if my retainer had 'already' been refunded within the 30-day period and my complaint was not valid.

This is not true. My retainer was NOT reimbursed within the promised 30-day period and was only returned after many emails, this bad review and when I told them they had 24-hours or I would start the debt collection process.

BEWARE OF OTHER REPLIES THAT HAVE BEEN UPDATED TO MAKE IT APPEAR LIKE SPACES HAVE MET THEIR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS. They may have reimbursed their clients eventually, but not within the agreed time period.

This company holds their clients to EVERY LINE of the fine print of the contract and charges late fees if payment is overdue. Yet, when it comes to their contractual obligations, they breach them freely without consequence.

Moreover, they increase charges without the client's knowledge or consent, saying the 'House Rules' say they can. This is the 'other concern' Lorraine mentions and it has not been dealt with.

Spaces uses the non-specific clause in the contract that 'the House Rules may change from time to time,' t allow them to increase fees without letting the client know. This is seen as giving one party unfair advantage over the other party, and thus invalidates the contract.

Under the law, once a contract has been agreed to, it cannot be unilaterally changed – the other party must consent. Whether the contract is called 'House Rules' or T&Cs or a 'contract', it doesn't change the fact it is binding and cannot be changed without the other party's consent or ability to exit the agreement.

I have sought legal advice on this issue and am following it up with Consumer Protection and ASIC.

One other thing I was made aware of late in the process is that the local staff cannot directly contact the accounts department of the company as it is located 'off-shore', ie, not in Australia. Nowhere is it stated that the accounts are managed outside of Australia, and this alone would have stopped me signing on.

Once again, I reiterate: DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS COMPANY