Landlord’s astonishing act of kindness divides Aussie renters

Aussies are divided over a decision by an elderly landlord to leave his loyal tenant the property in his will after she rented the unit for 23 years. 

The well-heeled landlord also left behind an $18million fortune, which he donated to a local hospital. 

‘He left me my unit that I had been renting for 23 years, it was amazing,’ Jane told the SBS series Inheritance, which originally aired in 2022.

Jane said she and the man had become friends and he was a ‘great landlord’.

She used to see him once a month when he picked up the rent, ‘and when he got too incapacitated to do that, I would call in at his place once a month and pay the rent’.

In 2020, he rang Jane and asked her to talk to his lawyer as he was arranging his will. 

‘He said I just want you to give him your full name and that, because I’m going to leave you the unit,’ she continued. 

‘I just couldn’t believe it because all the time that I had known him, he had talked about leaving everything to the hospital.

‘He was an only child and had never been married.

‘It was very unexpected but so wonderful for me. It changed my life completely.’

However, reactions from viewers were mixed when Jane’s story resurfaced on social media this week, however.

Some pointed out that Jane’s 23-year tenancy must have paid off the house, while others questioned why the millionaire had any need to collect rent in the first place. 

‘Well technically she did pay the whole mortgage off,’ said one user. 

‘He had millions that he left to the hospital, I doubt very much that he had a mortgage on that unit!’ a second pointed out.

‘A beautiful story, but people with $18million don’t need $600 a week from the two bedroom units they’re renting (out),’ a third said. 

‘It is really wild to see the disparity that exists.’ 

Jane said the decision from her landlord to leave her the unit changed her life ‘completely’

‘Thank you for showing that some landlords are not the bad guys,’ said a supportive user. 

Housing has become a polarising issue in Australia as many cities struggle with unaffordability. 

Investors have drawn the ire of Aussies for acquiring massive property portfolios – among them, 34-year-old Sam Duncan, who owns 108 worth an estimated $48million.

Mr Duncan told Daily Mail Australia earlier this month that many people don’t understand the work he was put in to growing his portfolio over 15 years. 

‘You get some people that have taken massive inspiration from (the party video), and then other people who want to throw stones and try and pull you down,’ he said.

‘People see the end picture now and – I’ve done very well for myself in 15 years – but I’ve been doing this for almost half the time that I’ve been alive.

‘I think people just need to realise that it is literally accessible for anyone to do it (invest in property).’