Aussie tenants claim they're being evicted over rental complaints
It appears Australia's rental crisis has taken an even nastier turn for some who complain or have a gripe about an issue with their landlord.
Some Aussie tenants have now spoken out, claiming that after they went to their landlords with a grievance, they were handed lease termination notices.
Western Sydney single mother-of-six Rochelle Torrens. A Current Affair
Rental complaint one: Utility bills
Western Sydney single mother-of-six Rochelle Torrens, claims she has just weeks to find a new home after being told to leave for questioning her utility bills.
"We have really good inspection reports, we have good ledgers, I always pay my rent on time, we've never had any trouble except for the fact I will not pay the owner's bills," Torrens told A Current Affair.
Desperate for housing, she accepted her rental property which came with a separate Airbnb belonging to the landlord, with the condition that the utilities were in the landlord's name.
She said it was agreed that she would pay for the utilities on the property she rented when the bill came in.
Rochelle Torrens utility bills. A Current Affair
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But then Torrens noticed a hike in the costs she was expected to cover.
"As the traffic increased on his Airbnb, my bills increased as well," she said.
When there were no Airbnb guests, the mother noticed a $200 drop in electricity and $150 for gas.
So she decided to do a test.
"When I turn my mains off, the power at the granny flat turns off," she said.
"When I turn my mains back on, the power at the granny flat turns on.
"It tells me it's all coming through my electricity."
Rochelle Torrens did a test. A Current Affair
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Torrens thought about the consequences of complaining while being in a rental crisis.
But did not want to foot the bill and decided to speak up.
Shortly after, her lease was terminated.
"It's heartbreaking," she said.
Kiara Spitieri with her son. A Current Affair
Rental complaint two: Mould
Renter Kiara Spitieri said her home has a mould issue and a kitchen tap that won't stop leaking.
"It (the mould) was all over our bed, the back of our bed; all in our bedroom, including my kids' bedroom. So it was just everywhere," Spitieri said.
The mother said the mould was making her family sick.
Kiara Spitieri said her home has a mould issue. A Current Affair
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"I brought up the mould issue … and they had someone come out and clean it and the day after, we're being evicted," she said.
"I didn't really seem to think that we'd get an eviction notice just for asking for our rights."
Spitieri said her pleas to get things fixed fell on deaf ears.
"I can't even use the bathroom basin anymore."
Mould inside Kiara Spitieri's home. A Current Affair
Rental complaint three: Substandard living conditions
Hannah and Aiden said conditions in their fully furnished Brisbane apartment were third-world, and nothing like they were used to back home in England.
Their washing machine and shower leaked and water was coming through the wall.
This led to a mould problem on the floor.
Hannah and Aiden. A Current Affair
The couple said they were told their rent would be increased if the carpets were replaced and the damage cleaned.
"We felt we were threatened to live in substandard living just to not have our rent increased," Hannah said.
They couldn't take it anymore and asked for repairs.
"They told us the owner was selling the apartment and then two weeks before we had to move out, we saw it advertised for a much larger amount than what we paid," Hannah said.
Mould inside Hannah and Aiden's home. A Current Affair
Then the argument over bond began.
"They wouldn't give it back," Hannah said.
Rental crisis strain
Leo Patterson Ross is from the New South Wales Tenants Union.
He said the rising costs of rental properties and a lack of availability put a lot of strain on Australian tenants.
Leo Patterson Ross is from the New South Wales Tenants Union. A Current Affair
"The current system puts people in a really tough spot," he said.
"If you are evicted there's a real shortage of genuinely affordable options."
Ross said as a result many renters are choosing to remain quiet and suffer.
A Current Affair has been advised the best way to protect yourself from unscrupulous landlords is to put everything in writing, take pictures and don't be afraid to complain to a tenancy tribunal or advocacy group.
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