Outrage over real estate listing asking men to pay $50 a week in rent over common male ‘property’: ‘Is this even legal?’
- Advert claims male tenants are ‘messier’
- Agent claims the offer screenshot was fake
- Tenants label rule ‘illegal’ and ‘discrimination’
A real estate listing has sparked outrage online after male applicants were asked to pay an extra $50 per week for a common “masculine trait.”
The one-bedroom terrace house in Newtown, a western Sydney suburb, was advertised for $915 per week on real estate website Domain.
The rental description outlined that men are charged an extra $50 a week “because of their tendency to be messier” and those who disagree should not apply.
“Male applicants will have to pay an additional $50 a week in rent due to their tendency to be messier than women. If you don’t agree with this, don’t apply,” the ad read.
An outraged tenant anonymously shared a screenshot of the ad on a Facebook group on Saturday, asking others if the gender rule imposed was legal.
The one-bedroom house for rent in Newtown, a western Sydney suburb, demanded male tenants pay an extra $50 a week because they are ‘messier than women’
“I’ve been forced to move due to a prohibitive rent increase and it’s hard enough without having to deal with this kind of shit,” they wrote.
‘I’m very neat. Is this even legal?’
Social media users denounced the controversial gender rule, with many claiming the officer’s request was “categorically illegal” and “blatant discrimination.”
‘$915?!? for 1 bedroom?!? wtffff. I used to live in Newtown but got priced there a long time ago but that’s just ridiculous,” one wrote.
Another commented: ‘Stupid!! Discrimination.’
A third person argued, “It’s none of the landlord’s business whether you’re messy or not, as long as the property isn’t damaged.”
A screenshot of the listing was shared anonymously to a Facebook group, with many labeling the request as ‘illegal’ and ‘blatant discrimination’
The listing was later updated and the gender line was removed (pictured). The broker claimed the screenshot shared on social media was ‘fake’ and ‘scam’, insisting he never wrote the rule demanding men pay more
After strong backlash, the real estate agent confirmed that the screenshot was the rental in Newtown.
However, the agent denied any wrongdoing, telling Yahoo News that the screenshot was “fake” and “scam,” but denied any wrongdoing.
He said the gender line was “something I haven’t posted before” and suggested it was never on the list.
A timestamp on the Domain website shows that the list appears to have been updated on Monday.
In the listing update, the request for male applicants to pay an additional $50 was removed and the asking price was reduced to $745 per week.
According to NSW Fair Trading, it is against the law to discriminate based on race, sex, marital or partner status, age, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.
A landlord or real estate agent “cannot enforce any rule, policy, practice or procedure that adversely affects any group of people.”
However, Fair Trading stipulates that landlords or brokers may choose ‘the most suitable candidate for the property’.