A landlord has been accused of painting over mould rather than tackling the root of the problem, after sharing footage of him renovating the rental property.
Video shows property investor Joel Vasila painting over suspected mould on the eaves of the Sydney home’s roof. Aussies reacted to the video describing the action as a “landlord special”.
Responding to the backlash over the now-deleted Instagram video, Joel told Yahoo News he chose to do the right thing and invest $30,000 into the ‘neglected’ property.
Joel said the video showed just a portion of the project, after viewers questioned his actions.
He said if, at the time of doing the work, he had the information people shared in the comments about treating the mould with chlorine or sugar soap, he would have done that.
“When I bought the property last month, a neglected 1960s home, the agent said I could rent it out as is,” he explained.
“However, I chose to do the right thing and invest $30k on repairs and renovations, carried out by a qualified tradesman.”
Joel was renovating his Sydney investment property by appearing to paint over mould on the roof eaves of the home. Source: Instagram/joelvasila
Tenants’ rep says traces of mould need to be taken seriously
CEO of the NSW Tenants’ Union, Leo Patterson Ross, told Yahoo matters such as mould “should be taken seriously” and called on greater powers to hold landlords accountable for such repairs.
“This shows a misunderstanding of how mould spreads, which can be through the wall if it is not removed fully,” he said.
“Mould appearing under an awning may indicate that the roof is holding moisture and may have repair issues.
“Depending on the type and severity, exposure to mould can cause or exacerbate respiratory issues and should be taken seriously as part of ensuring a safe and healthy home.”
Has your home been subjected to bad cases of mould? Contact newsroomau@yahoonews.com
Vasila clarified in the Instagram comments that ‘fortunately’ there was only mould on the exterior of the house.
“This is the only section with mould, and as I’m a good landlord, I’ll come back and paint it again next year,” he said.
“Also hosed down prior with a pressure cleaner. 2nd coat will look better. “
Leo Patterson Ross said he wants to see habitability standards apply to properties before they can be leased out across the state. Source: LinkedIn
Several people in the comments didn’t think his treatment of the mouldy surface was adequate.
“Didn’t want to give it a hose down first champ? Or would you rather make your tenants sick?” one said.
“Mould indicates trapped moisture, not enough ventilation, or maybe clean the guttering, but to paint over the mould and not deal with the cause is stupidity,” another added.
“That mould will show itself again in 6-12 months, I know this firsthand,” a third said.
“The classic landlord special,” another responded.
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Meanwhile, Ross told Yahoo News he wants to see habitability standards apply to properties before they can be leased out across the state.
“More powers (are needed) for Fair Trading to hold landlords or agents who put unsafe or poorly repaired properties on the market held accountable with a pathway to fixing the property properly,” he said.
NSW Fair Trading states that landlords must provide rental properties that are in a reasonable state of cleanliness and fit for the tenant to live in.
Tenants facing lengthy waits for repairs, survey finds
According to research from Finder, Aussie renters increasingly having to wait for long periods of time for their landlord to make repairs.
The survey revealed that 1,014 respondents, 333 who have rented in the last year, found that 44 per cent have had to wait too long for their landlord to fix something in their home.
A report by CoreLogic revealed that rent has risen by 36 per cent nationally since Covid. Source: Source: Getty / SteveLuker
Water leaks were the most common issue at 23 per cent, followed by broken appliances (17 per cent), mould (16 per cent) and structural defects like broken doors or windows (13 per cent).
Of those who faced delays, 17 per cent waited more than a year.
Wait times can arguably affect the relationship between tenants and landlords, with some reluctant to complain about conditions because they fear eviction or an increase in rent.
A report by CoreLogic revealed that rent has risen by 36 per cent nationally since Covid.
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