Renter forced out of Surry Hills apartment after Sydney fire – as tenant says strata won’t help
Devastating blow to Sydney tenant forced to vacate apartment after ‘once in a decade’ fire broke out in abandoned building next to his apartment building
- A tenant living next to the fire in Sydney fears losing thousands
- Tam Campbell said he was told Strata will not cover his hotel
- Mr Campbell said strata only care about owners and landlords
- He is staying in emergency shelter for $270 a night
A displaced tenant could be out thousands of dollars after a fire broke out in a neighboring building and forced them to stay in a hotel and pay $270 per night.
Tam Campbell was pulled from his studio apartment on Thursday following the massive fire near his building on Randle Street in Sydney’s Surry Hills.
He has been forced to live in a hotel and said he believed his costs would be covered by his unit’s management.
Tam Campbell (pictured) said his unit management has said it will not pay for his emergency shelter
Mr Campbell was forced from his studio apartment last Thursday after a fire destroyed the neighboring listed building in Surry Hills (pictured, the aftermath)
A stunned Mr. Campbell has since learned that strata will not cover the cost of his emergency shelter because he is a renter and not the owner of the unit.
About 120 firefighters were called to fight the blaze in the seven-storey building when it broke out in Sydney last week.
Mr Campbell, who has lived next door to the building for over 10 years, left his unit just minutes before it caught fire.
He then watched in horror as the fierce fire broke out – hoping that the block of units where he lived would not be destroyed.
After the fire was finally extinguished on Friday morning, Mr Campbell’s building remained intact but had sustained extensive damage.
He was then not allowed to return to his home – except when a police officer accompanied him to collect the most essential things.
He has since been forced to stay at a nearby hotel, paying $270 a day.
“I’ve been told I can’t claim hotel accommodation because I’m a renter and not an owner,” Mr Campbell said. Daily telegram.
“I understand that legal entities only hang owners and I just don’t want any money.”
Mr. Campbell, who has no family nearby, wants to stay close to his home so he can get there quickly and pick up more of his things when possible.
Mr Campbell, who had lived next door to the old hat factory on Randle Street for over 10 years, had left his unit just minutes before the fire broke out
He added that he knows of other tenants forced from their homes in the area who are also on the battle street.
“A tenant told me he couldn’t afford even a single night in a hotel,” said Mr. Campbell.
But Mr Campbell said he hopes his home contents insurance can cover his hotel costs, but it’s still uncertain.
His real estate will pay him back prepaid rent, he added.
Tenants in NSW are not required to continue paying rent after a disaster like this if it makes their home unsafe to return to.
But he also wants strata to change their mind to support him.
Mr Campbell said he has no idea when he will return home and said he owes the hotel $1,620.
Daily Mail Australia contacted Mr Campbell for comment.