{"id":472873,"date":"2026-02-11T13:10:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T13:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/472873\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T13:10:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T13:10:10","slug":"warning-shot-fired-at-aussie-landlords-and-real-estate-agents-after-unlawful-request-to-renter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/472873\/","title":{"rendered":"Warning shot fired at Aussie landlords and real estate agents after ‘unlawful’ request to renter"},"content":{"rendered":"

From dozens of eager tenants lining up around the block<\/a> every weekend, to Aussies trading comfort and privacy for a roof over their head<\/a>, the country\u2019s rental crisis<\/a> seems like it\u2019s only getting worse. It was again placed in the spotlight this week when a $430-per-week listing in Sydney\u2019s outer suburbs was slammed for its \u201cridiculous\u201d requirements.<\/p>\n

The 60m\u00b2 granny flat in Heathcote, on Sydney’s southern outskirts, which is described as a \u201cthree-room garden studio\u201d, was called out online by renters for the private landlord\u2019s<\/a> request that the new tenant \u201cbe quiet, private, and drug and alcohol-free\u201d.<\/p>\n

The property is \u201cideal for a retiree, single mother or student\u201d, the ad states.<\/p>\n

Also, they must not smoke, and are \u201cpreferably single\u201d.<\/p>\n

The latter tipped Aussies over the edge, with some pondering if owners are even allowed to make such demands.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happens if the single person gets a partner after moving in? Termination of lease for breach?\u201d one person asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Australia. What\u2019s the point of owning property if you can\u2019t use your position to make other people grovel,\u201d another added, while others argued the owner may be reacting to a previous \u201cbad experience\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The 60m\u00b2 studio in Heathcote was called out online. Source: Domain<\/p>\n

Potentially unlawful rental listing demonstrates ‘unfair power’<\/p>\n

In an interview with Yahoo News, CEO of the NSW Tenants\u2019 Union Leo Patterson Ross explained that \u201cseeking a single person, or a single mother, is a potentially unlawful form of discrimination\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou cannot discriminate on the basis of a person’s marital status, gender, or age,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

While the other requests are not unlawful, they \u201cdemonstrate the unfair power landlords can wield over another person\u2019s housing\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t require people to be quiet in order to meet their needs for water, electricity or healthcare. Housing is no different,\u201d Patterson Ross told Yahoo.<\/p>\n

The union boss also pointed out that the listing asserts rent is $430pw, but there\u2019s an additional charge of $120pw for electricity, water, sewerage, garbage and a Starling package\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis appears likely to be an unlawful charge \u2014 tenants are not liable to pay for sewerage or garbage charges, and water supply and electricity need to be separately metered to be passed on,\u201d Patterson Ross said.<\/p>\n

Renters also can\u2019t be forced to use a particular service provider, he added.<\/p>\n

Yahoo News has contacted the owner of the granny flat for comment.<\/p>\n

\"Three<\/p>\n

Rental markets remain tough right around the country. Source: TikTok<\/p>\n

More secondary dwellings popping up on Aussie properties<\/p>\n

The \u201cunreasonable demands and the unlawful charges\u201d highlight why it is important landlords are made accountable for ensuring their investment is compliant with the rules, the union boss told Yahoo.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe think a simple registration process is the first step here so that tenants and the government know who they are dealing with and can address issues more easily,\u201d Patterson Ross suggested.<\/p>\n

The listing is \u201cenabled\u201d by planning rules that allow secondary dwellings<\/a>, but do not \u201cseriously consider the difference between expanding a dwelling to enable other members of the family to live in a place, and renting it out to another person\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have seen more secondary dwellings being installed and rented out by people without thinking about this, and it causes personal conflict as well as contractual breaches,\u201d Patterson Ross said.<\/p>\n

Sadly, given the dire state of the rental market, Aussies may not have any other choice but to move into homes and apartments that \u201care poorly managed and potentially unlawful\u201d, he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis shouldn\u2019t be mistaken as a choice that indicates a desire to live in this type of accommodation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can also follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n