Brisbane renter covers wall with post-its as tenants are shown through: Johnathan Sriranganathan
Tenant’s eight-note stunt at home inspection divides Aussies: ‘Good luck getting a positive rental reference after pulling such a stunt’
- Tenant left notes about problems with wall details
- Landlord showed potential tenants
- Notes led to debate whether they were “genius” or “petty.”
A tenant has come up with an interesting way to air his grievances after pasting “notes to himself” on a wall while showing new tenants around.
A photo of the Brisbane property’s post-it notes – which detail several potential flaws with the house – was shared this week by Greens Councilor Johnathan Sriranganathan.
The photo sparked a debate over whether the tenant was standing up for his rights or being narrow-minded amid a growing housing crisis in the country, caused by rising interest rates and insufficient supply.
The smartly addressed notes left by the tenant as the landlord guided potential tenants through the property (pictured)
Firebrand Brisbane Greens Councilor Johnathan Sriranganathan has spoken out on tenants’ rights amid an increasingly difficult rental market
“If you are moving out of a rental property and your landlord/estate agent is showing the property to new potential tenants, consider leaving some notes or posters like this in a few prominent places around the house,” Mr Sriranganathan wrote.
“Legally, a real estate agent or landlord cannot touch or interfere with them in any way,” he added.
The notes claim that the property has “recurring” mold in the bathroom, main room and living room, along with dust and noise from a nearby construction site and train, and to top it off, a rat problem.
The tenant also wrote that the landlord increased the rent by $75 a week six months ago and that rent increases were “non-negotiable.”
Mr Sriranganathan added that the notes came from a tenant from Brisbane and not himself. “I live on a houseboat,” he added.
He said he was all for the note campaign and suggested there should even be a public registry where tenants could list property defects for potential tenants to search.
“Too often, after signing a lease, landlords and agents fail to report serious issues with the property’s maintenance and amenities,” he said.
“Of course the real estate lobby doesn’t like it, but even they have to admit that there are no rules against it, and there shouldn’t be.”
A deluge of comments appeared under his post.
‘Brilliant idea. Love this,” one wrote.
“If you don’t like the rental, just move on,” argued another.
“Some agents would deduct the cost of a professional cleaning from your security deposit,” a third said.
“In our previous rental, the landlord just painted the mold all over the house, these landlords need to get out, this is Australia,” said a fourth.
Mr Sriranganathan is trying to organize strikes in Brisbane next month to combat the difficult conditions for tenants.
He said such strikes could take the form of a large group of tenants deliberately paying late, not paying in full or not paying rent at all.