Internet erupts as owner sells rental without notice to ‘wonderful tenant’ of 23 years
- Replies 12
Renters in Australia face an uphill battle with skyrocketing rental costs and limited options, causing fierce competition and decreased security. Even good tenants aren’t spared – many live in fear of being removed from their homes due to ‘no-grounds’ evictions. One Redditor found proof of the threat that looms above renters’ heads on the property marketplace Domain.
The Reddit post entitled ‘What being a 'wonderful' tenant for 23 years gets you in Australia’, showed a screenshot of a property description.
The listing said: ‘The unit is in its original condition and needs a full make-over but as the wonderful tenant has been residing in the property for 23 years, the landlord hasn’t had the heart to ask him to vacate.’
It also stated how soon the property can be acquired: ‘As the tenant is on a periodical lease, it means the buyer only needs to give 60 days' notice to the tenant to vacate when they are ready to renovate the unit. Once it’s renovated, it can be sold for an excellent price or earn a top rental return.’
The post sparked outrage among Redditors. Many shared their unfair experiences with the rental market.
A comment said: ‘This is similar to a friend’s situation. The landlord listed the place for sale, the listing is pushing hard on renovations so the potential rent can be doubled on what it is now. My friend hasn’t been a tenant for anywhere near 23 years though.’
Another shared: ‘A mate of mine got screwed by a landlord. He lived in the place without any issues for 19 years. He never asked for anything, took good care of the place, etc., and the landlord seemed reasonable the entire time. Then suddenly, after 19.5 years, he gets the notice to vacate. There was no reason given, but we all know why.’ They continued: ‘It's now rented out for what appears to be Airbnbs and frequently has parties and such. The place does not look like it's being well looked after but obviously, the owner doesn't care. It's all about that Airbnb money.’
A third commented: ‘I was a great tenant for seven years. I had to move just before Christmas so the owner could renovate. I was working all through Christmas. I asked to wait until the new year. I offered heaps more money, etc. The fu***r hasn’t even started renovating yet. I hope his socks are always sliding down in his stupid shoes and his limp hurts his back.’
A homeowner said that they were contacted by agents to check if they want to make money from their property: ‘I’ve had so many visits from real estate agents asking if we’re interested in selling. The answer is always no. One of them had the hide to ask if we’d be able to afford the mortgage hike now we’ve had our loan for 5 years. But another one came at us with a new tactic: ‘This house would make a fantastic Airbnb – why don’t you buy a second property to live in close by, and turn this one into a short-term rental? F**k right off.’
Others were similarly appalled by the listing. Someone commented: ‘How can anyone write that and not feel gross?’
Another noted the inclusion of ‘and asks for nothing’ when describing the perfect tenant: ‘Oh man, this sh** sucks. It's a race to the bottom for tenants, the less you complain and the more you pay rent on time, the better tenant you are. I am not gonna win that battle 'cause I'd rather my amenities work…’
Tenants have reported feeling hopeless due to the power imbalance between landlords and renters. A Brisbane resident previously spoke with The Guardian about how she faced an eviction notice after threatening to issue a ‘notice to remedy a breach’ for a decaying stairway that was left unfixed for months. Others are discouraged to assert their rights for fear of retaliation.
Many Australians are feeling the strain of rapidly rising rent costs and a lack of reasonably priced properties. Credit: Pexels/Andrew Neel
Another Redditor said: ‘This is the kind of ad that, if I had f**k you money, I would buy the house just to let the tenant stay for life. I would, with their permission, put them up in a hotel and do some modernisation/change of carpets etc. Sadly, I do not have fuck you money.’
Someone wrote that it’s better to do something than express their fury on online platforms like Reddit: ‘I will say this again and again and again. The only way housing reform will occur is if people start visibly demanding it through protests and demonstrations. We're all just participating in the rage economy.’
Australia is currently in the middle of a rental crisis, with record-breaking vacancy rates and prices. A report by SGS Economics and Planning and National Shelter reveals that renting has become more unaffordable in all Australian cities in 2022, compared to their 2021 findings. The trend is not limited to major cities – it has also been observed in regional areas, which were previously considered affordable options for renters with limited budgets.
It doesn’t help that no-grounds evictions remain legal in many states in Australia, which means that landlords can ask renters to vacate without reason. There have been calls to abolish the practice, especially in today’s climate. Advocacy groups have noted that Australia is among the few OECD member countries where no-grounds evictions remain legal.
The removal of such terminations faces great opposition from the real estate industry, however, which argues that it will take away landlords’ rights and lead to higher rental prices. REIWA president Damian Collins told ABC: ‘Every time you take away a right that a property owner has – and if at the end of a lease term, if they don't want to extend that lease, they should have that right – well, then all that will simply mean is fewer investors in the market and rents are going to go up, it's simple math.’
For its part, the federal government announced that it will be making housing affordability a legislative priority for 2023, initiating the formation of the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council and allotting $10 billion for the Housing Australia Future Fund.
What do you think, folks? Have you or a loved one experienced unjust eviction? If you rent, it might be good to brush up on your rights – CHOICE has a useful guide on rental rights and misconceptions by state.
The Reddit post entitled ‘What being a 'wonderful' tenant for 23 years gets you in Australia’, showed a screenshot of a property description.
The listing said: ‘The unit is in its original condition and needs a full make-over but as the wonderful tenant has been residing in the property for 23 years, the landlord hasn’t had the heart to ask him to vacate.’
It also stated how soon the property can be acquired: ‘As the tenant is on a periodical lease, it means the buyer only needs to give 60 days' notice to the tenant to vacate when they are ready to renovate the unit. Once it’s renovated, it can be sold for an excellent price or earn a top rental return.’
The post sparked outrage among Redditors. Many shared their unfair experiences with the rental market.
A comment said: ‘This is similar to a friend’s situation. The landlord listed the place for sale, the listing is pushing hard on renovations so the potential rent can be doubled on what it is now. My friend hasn’t been a tenant for anywhere near 23 years though.’
Another shared: ‘A mate of mine got screwed by a landlord. He lived in the place without any issues for 19 years. He never asked for anything, took good care of the place, etc., and the landlord seemed reasonable the entire time. Then suddenly, after 19.5 years, he gets the notice to vacate. There was no reason given, but we all know why.’ They continued: ‘It's now rented out for what appears to be Airbnbs and frequently has parties and such. The place does not look like it's being well looked after but obviously, the owner doesn't care. It's all about that Airbnb money.’
A third commented: ‘I was a great tenant for seven years. I had to move just before Christmas so the owner could renovate. I was working all through Christmas. I asked to wait until the new year. I offered heaps more money, etc. The fu***r hasn’t even started renovating yet. I hope his socks are always sliding down in his stupid shoes and his limp hurts his back.’
A homeowner said that they were contacted by agents to check if they want to make money from their property: ‘I’ve had so many visits from real estate agents asking if we’re interested in selling. The answer is always no. One of them had the hide to ask if we’d be able to afford the mortgage hike now we’ve had our loan for 5 years. But another one came at us with a new tactic: ‘This house would make a fantastic Airbnb – why don’t you buy a second property to live in close by, and turn this one into a short-term rental? F**k right off.’
Others were similarly appalled by the listing. Someone commented: ‘How can anyone write that and not feel gross?’
Another noted the inclusion of ‘and asks for nothing’ when describing the perfect tenant: ‘Oh man, this sh** sucks. It's a race to the bottom for tenants, the less you complain and the more you pay rent on time, the better tenant you are. I am not gonna win that battle 'cause I'd rather my amenities work…’
Tenants have reported feeling hopeless due to the power imbalance between landlords and renters. A Brisbane resident previously spoke with The Guardian about how she faced an eviction notice after threatening to issue a ‘notice to remedy a breach’ for a decaying stairway that was left unfixed for months. Others are discouraged to assert their rights for fear of retaliation.
Many Australians are feeling the strain of rapidly rising rent costs and a lack of reasonably priced properties. Credit: Pexels/Andrew Neel
Another Redditor said: ‘This is the kind of ad that, if I had f**k you money, I would buy the house just to let the tenant stay for life. I would, with their permission, put them up in a hotel and do some modernisation/change of carpets etc. Sadly, I do not have fuck you money.’
Someone wrote that it’s better to do something than express their fury on online platforms like Reddit: ‘I will say this again and again and again. The only way housing reform will occur is if people start visibly demanding it through protests and demonstrations. We're all just participating in the rage economy.’
Australia is currently in the middle of a rental crisis, with record-breaking vacancy rates and prices. A report by SGS Economics and Planning and National Shelter reveals that renting has become more unaffordable in all Australian cities in 2022, compared to their 2021 findings. The trend is not limited to major cities – it has also been observed in regional areas, which were previously considered affordable options for renters with limited budgets.
It doesn’t help that no-grounds evictions remain legal in many states in Australia, which means that landlords can ask renters to vacate without reason. There have been calls to abolish the practice, especially in today’s climate. Advocacy groups have noted that Australia is among the few OECD member countries where no-grounds evictions remain legal.
The removal of such terminations faces great opposition from the real estate industry, however, which argues that it will take away landlords’ rights and lead to higher rental prices. REIWA president Damian Collins told ABC: ‘Every time you take away a right that a property owner has – and if at the end of a lease term, if they don't want to extend that lease, they should have that right – well, then all that will simply mean is fewer investors in the market and rents are going to go up, it's simple math.’
For its part, the federal government announced that it will be making housing affordability a legislative priority for 2023, initiating the formation of the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council and allotting $10 billion for the Housing Australia Future Fund.
What do you think, folks? Have you or a loved one experienced unjust eviction? If you rent, it might be good to brush up on your rights – CHOICE has a useful guide on rental rights and misconceptions by state.
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