Tenant trapped in bitter battle with landlord blocked from entering own yard

The side fence is down, the backyard dug up, a digger balances on a pile of dirt and the front driveway is blocked with bricks.

But perhaps the worst part of Maneeca Belbin's rental nightmare came when her landlord screwed planks of wood across the back door to stop her from entering the yard.

Belbin moved into her home at Silverdale on Sydney's south western outskirts eight months ago and within weeks her access changed dramatically and so too did her relationship with the owner, Daniel.

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"As soon as I signed the lease, it turned into this," Belbin said.

She signed a lease knowing there'd be landscaping and concreting work, but the pastry chef claims she was told it would take less than three months.

She also claims it was never supposed to be as big as it has become.

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The yard looks like a war bunker.

After she tried to enforce her rights, she said she was hit with a rent rise and then after A Current Affair's cameras arrived, the planks of wood went up across the back door.

We've seen our fair share of rental disasters during Australia's housing crisis but Belbin's living situation should have politicians running to strengthen the law.

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We asked Belbin if she felt comfortable in her own home.

"Never," she replied.

As Belbin's two dogs - who now live inside - offer cuddles on the couch, she told us an all too familiar story as to how she found herself in this situation.

"It was extremely hard to find somewhere to live," she said.

"I spent about six months looking."

For the full story, watch the video above.