‘My god, what have they done to the house?’: One landlord’s horror story
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Rental property disasters can turn any landlord's dream into a nightmare, leaving them with more than just financial stress.
What was meant to be a simple leasing arrangement in Queensland became a horror story for one homeowner who faced unimaginable damage to her property.
The shocking condition of the home she rented out has sparked outrage, but it’s the loophole that allowed it to happen that’s drawing attention.
A Queensland landlord was left horrified after discovering the appalling condition of her rental property, which had been trashed by tenants who took advantage of a legal loophole to avoid routine inspections.
Alana, a homeowner from Townsville in the state's northeast, never expected her investment property to become a nightmare.
The previous tenants, a family of seven, had turned the home into a disaster zone, with rubbish covering every surface and the floorboards buried under piles of waste.
Stained mattresses, maggot infestations, rotting food, and empty bottles filled the rooms, creating an overwhelming scene of squalor and neglect.
Alana admitted she would rather not lease the house again after the traumatic experience, but she said she had no choice if she wanted to meet her mortgage payments.
In Queensland, tenants are legally required to allow property inspections, as long as the proper notice is given.
However, tenants can reschedule or delay the inspection under reasonable circumstances, which can ultimately prevent inspections from happening.
Alana explained the tenants took advantage of this loophole, cancelling multiple inspection appointments, allowing the property to remain unchecked until it was too late.
When Alana finally gained access to the house, she was confronted with what she called a ‘horrific, disgusting, rank and foul’ scene.
‘My god, what have they done to the house?’ she shared.
Source: TikTok/mistress_of_blyth_manor
The landlord, who is also a mother, said she had tried to give the family a ‘leg up,’ but felt betrayed when she saw the damage.
She revealed that the clean-up cost thousands of dollars and required friends’ help and immense determination.
Despite her gut feeling that something wasn’t right during the tenancy, the discovery was ‘way worse’ than she had imagined.
‘When the rent was paid periodically, I was asking questions,’ she shared, reflecting on the mounting concerns.
Eventually, Alana learned that the family had left before their lease had ended, leaving her with no recourse but to pursue the matter in court.
However, she felt that pursuing the case would only add to her financial burden, with little hope of getting reimbursed since she believed the tenants lacked the funds.
‘You never get anything back,’ she lamented.
Alana's case follows similar stories from other Queensland landlords, who have faced similar horrors when dealing with irresponsible tenants.
Experts say these types of experiences can have lasting emotional and financial effects on landlords, often leaving them scarred for life.
Just months ago, another Queensland homeowner found their property damaged to the tune of $100,000, with more than 30 dead cats discovered in a freezer.
Other landlords have taken to social media to share their shocking tenant experiences, with some forced to hire skip bins to clear out the mountains of rubbish left behind.
In a previous story, another Queensland landlord shared a similar nightmare, discovering their property had been left in ruins by tenants.
The damage was so severe it pushed them to the brink, leaving them feeling completely overwhelmed.
To read more about their harrowing experience, click here.
Given the extent of damage some landlords are facing, what would you do if you were in Alana’s shoes? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
What was meant to be a simple leasing arrangement in Queensland became a horror story for one homeowner who faced unimaginable damage to her property.
The shocking condition of the home she rented out has sparked outrage, but it’s the loophole that allowed it to happen that’s drawing attention.
A Queensland landlord was left horrified after discovering the appalling condition of her rental property, which had been trashed by tenants who took advantage of a legal loophole to avoid routine inspections.
Alana, a homeowner from Townsville in the state's northeast, never expected her investment property to become a nightmare.
The previous tenants, a family of seven, had turned the home into a disaster zone, with rubbish covering every surface and the floorboards buried under piles of waste.
Queensland landlord horrified by trashed rental property. Image source: TikTok/mistress_of_blyth_manor
Stained mattresses, maggot infestations, rotting food, and empty bottles filled the rooms, creating an overwhelming scene of squalor and neglect.
Alana admitted she would rather not lease the house again after the traumatic experience, but she said she had no choice if she wanted to meet her mortgage payments.
In Queensland, tenants are legally required to allow property inspections, as long as the proper notice is given.
However, tenants can reschedule or delay the inspection under reasonable circumstances, which can ultimately prevent inspections from happening.
Alana explained the tenants took advantage of this loophole, cancelling multiple inspection appointments, allowing the property to remain unchecked until it was too late.
When Alana finally gained access to the house, she was confronted with what she called a ‘horrific, disgusting, rank and foul’ scene.
‘My god, what have they done to the house?’ she shared.
Source: TikTok/mistress_of_blyth_manor
The landlord, who is also a mother, said she had tried to give the family a ‘leg up,’ but felt betrayed when she saw the damage.
She revealed that the clean-up cost thousands of dollars and required friends’ help and immense determination.
Despite her gut feeling that something wasn’t right during the tenancy, the discovery was ‘way worse’ than she had imagined.
‘When the rent was paid periodically, I was asking questions,’ she shared, reflecting on the mounting concerns.
Eventually, Alana learned that the family had left before their lease had ended, leaving her with no recourse but to pursue the matter in court.
However, she felt that pursuing the case would only add to her financial burden, with little hope of getting reimbursed since she believed the tenants lacked the funds.
‘You never get anything back,’ she lamented.
Alana's case follows similar stories from other Queensland landlords, who have faced similar horrors when dealing with irresponsible tenants.
Experts say these types of experiences can have lasting emotional and financial effects on landlords, often leaving them scarred for life.
Just months ago, another Queensland homeowner found their property damaged to the tune of $100,000, with more than 30 dead cats discovered in a freezer.
Other landlords have taken to social media to share their shocking tenant experiences, with some forced to hire skip bins to clear out the mountains of rubbish left behind.
In a previous story, another Queensland landlord shared a similar nightmare, discovering their property had been left in ruins by tenants.
The damage was so severe it pushed them to the brink, leaving them feeling completely overwhelmed.
To read more about their harrowing experience, click here.
Given the extent of damage some landlords are facing, what would you do if you were in Alana’s shoes? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
