Tenant vandalises property in revenge for rent increase—find out what he did
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We've all felt the pinch of rising living costs. Rent is a constant worry, weighing heavily on our minds as we navigate an increasingly expensive world.
That simmering frustration can sometimes boil over when the pressures of modern living become too much, leading to actions that seem entirely out of character.
In a tale that feels more like a dark comedy than real life, a pensioner from Wollongong has taken what many would consider the ultimate, petty revenge after his landlord decides to hike the rent.
The story of Colin Spargo, a man who once had a friendly landlord-tenant relationship based on trust and a handshake, has taken a bizarre and destructive turn.
Spargo, who had been living in the rental property for 12 years, was considered a ‘family friend’ by his landlord, David Longford. Their ‘handshake deal’ had worked well for years, with Spargo enjoying a stable rent of $350 a week since 2012 without ever paying a bond.
However, as the cost of living and property values rose, Longford increased the rent to $400 in 2017, and more recently to $550, while formalising the payment process through a real estate agency.
'He calls me up and says "we need to go back to how we were with me paying cash" and I said "no, we have to keep it through the real estate,"' Longford said.
'He says, "Well, in that case, we've got a problem and it's your problem, not mine."'
Spargo then disappeared. When Longford visited his property, he found that the pensioner had applied industrial-strength glue to almost everything in the house. He was unable to enter his property because Spargo had glued shut every door, window, and shutter in the house.
When Longford finally managed to break in, he found that Spargo had also glued down chairs, tables, all the drawers, bedroom doors, kitchen cabinets, built-in wardrobes, and interior windows.
But the damage wasn't just structural. Spargo left behind a macabre scene with a clown doll hanging from a noose, perhaps as a chilling message to Longford.
The house was also filthy, with paint poured over beds, couches slashed, and a putrid smell that led to the discovery of rotting prawns hidden in a kitchen drawer and a wall cavity.
'This bedroom was probably his best effort. We've got glue here, and he's thrown a bucket of paint over the bed that was left here and the cupboards so that they can't be recycled either,’ Longford said.
'He's left this couch and slashed it so it can't be donated to anyone. In hindsight, I sort of wish that I hadn't looked after him for so long and got him out earlier.'
As for the cost of the damage, Longford has yet to calculate the full extent, but it's clear he's facing a hefty bill for repairs and cleaning. Spargo, on the other hand, was unavailable for comment.
What would you do if you disagreed with your landlord about the rent cost? Have you ever faced a similar situation, or do you have advice on handling such disputes? Let us know in the comments below.
That simmering frustration can sometimes boil over when the pressures of modern living become too much, leading to actions that seem entirely out of character.
In a tale that feels more like a dark comedy than real life, a pensioner from Wollongong has taken what many would consider the ultimate, petty revenge after his landlord decides to hike the rent.
A pensioner retaliated against his landlord's rent increase by vandalising the house. Credit: George Becker/Pexels
The story of Colin Spargo, a man who once had a friendly landlord-tenant relationship based on trust and a handshake, has taken a bizarre and destructive turn.
Spargo, who had been living in the rental property for 12 years, was considered a ‘family friend’ by his landlord, David Longford. Their ‘handshake deal’ had worked well for years, with Spargo enjoying a stable rent of $350 a week since 2012 without ever paying a bond.
However, as the cost of living and property values rose, Longford increased the rent to $400 in 2017, and more recently to $550, while formalising the payment process through a real estate agency.
'He calls me up and says "we need to go back to how we were with me paying cash" and I said "no, we have to keep it through the real estate,"' Longford said.
'He says, "Well, in that case, we've got a problem and it's your problem, not mine."'
Spargo then disappeared. When Longford visited his property, he found that the pensioner had applied industrial-strength glue to almost everything in the house. He was unable to enter his property because Spargo had glued shut every door, window, and shutter in the house.
When Longford finally managed to break in, he found that Spargo had also glued down chairs, tables, all the drawers, bedroom doors, kitchen cabinets, built-in wardrobes, and interior windows.
But the damage wasn't just structural. Spargo left behind a macabre scene with a clown doll hanging from a noose, perhaps as a chilling message to Longford.
The house was also filthy, with paint poured over beds, couches slashed, and a putrid smell that led to the discovery of rotting prawns hidden in a kitchen drawer and a wall cavity.
'This bedroom was probably his best effort. We've got glue here, and he's thrown a bucket of paint over the bed that was left here and the cupboards so that they can't be recycled either,’ Longford said.
'He's left this couch and slashed it so it can't be donated to anyone. In hindsight, I sort of wish that I hadn't looked after him for so long and got him out earlier.'
As for the cost of the damage, Longford has yet to calculate the full extent, but it's clear he's facing a hefty bill for repairs and cleaning. Spargo, on the other hand, was unavailable for comment.
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