How a single photo of mouldy sandals lays bare Australia’s rental crisis – as tenant claims landlord HIKED the rent despite the problems
- Ex-tenant posted to a Facebook group about rentals in Sydney’s inner west
- She warned other potential tenants of the terraced house to be very careful
- But the letting agent for the property denied there is anything wrong with it
A serious war of words has broken out between a letting agent and a former tenant over whether or not a property has rotting floorboards, a falling ceiling and extreme levels of mould.
The ex-tenant posted photos of a terrace in Sydney’s inner west to a Facebook group about rentals, cautioning others to be very wary.
She posted a disgusting photo of what happened to her sandals – they turned green – as proof of the mould problem.
The former tenant said the rent had gone up despite the alleged problems and she wanted ‘to issue a warning for anyone who may have seen this terrace (for rent).
‘We moved out a week ago due to serious mould, a roof that was caving in, rotting/cracked floorboards and a negligent landlord.’
But the letting agent denied there is anything wrong with the three bedroom property in Sydney’s inner west.
Two pairs of sandals (pictured) got covered in mold after being left ‘in a cupboard for a couple of weeks’
The former tenant said on her Facebook warning that ‘they said they were “fixing” it all up, but relisted the property two days after we moved out (for more $$$) and have likely only painted/boarded over the issues.
‘The photos on the listing are several years old … Just don’t want anyone to get stitched up like we did.’
The letting agent admitted the property ‘had water ingress, like many other properties in the inner city during the rains.
‘But the roof’s been rectified this week and there’s going to be painting done to rectify any internal water damage,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
‘It’s a very old home, but there are not rotting and cracked floorboards. That’s absolutely incorrect.’
The letting agent said ‘the tenants requested a substantial rent reduction and they were denied, so I think they’re disgruntled. They were on a fair rent.’
She defended the property and the owner. ‘I know this landlord very well. He’s a great landlord.
Mold and damage is seen on a wall which of a property allegedly now being rented in Sydney’s inner west
A hole is seen in a ceiling pictured in a photo posted to a Facebook group about rental properties in Sydney
‘The house is not what they’re saying it is. It has been rented through our office for 25 years with no issues whatsoever.
‘It’s just unfortunate the tenants are going to this level … I don’t think it’s fair,’ she said.
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