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A single mother has accused her landlord of raising her rent “out of spite” after she requested a proper legal notice for the rent increase. The mother of two shared a text conversation with her New South Wales landlord on Reddit, revealing that he added an extra $50 to the proposed rent hike and hinted at the possibility of further increases, all because she insisted on following the correct legal procedures.
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According to New South Wales laws, rent can only be increased once every 12 months, and landlords must provide tenants with at least 60 days’ written notice before implementing the increase. The notice should include the new proposed rent amount, the effective date, and be properly signed, dated, and addressed to the tenant.
The landlord sent the tenant a text message informing her that she would need to start paying a new rent rate of $400. Picture: AggravatingAd1810/Reddit
The situation quickly soured when the tenant informed the homeowner he would need to provide 60 days written notice for the increase to take effect. Picture: AggravatingAd1810/Reddit
In this case, the landlord opted to inform the tenant of a $400 rent increase through a text message, claiming they had discussed it “a number of weeks back.” The tenant questioned why she hadn’t received the legally required notice, considering she had already requested it in person, reminding him of a similar oversight in the past.
The landlord then added an extra $50 to the rent increase. Picture: AggravatingAd1810/Reddit
The tenant clarified in the comments that the landlord is her best friend’s father. She contested his claim of having informed her about the increase earlier, stating that he had only vaguely mentioned a potential increase after Christmas due to interest rates. Despite her acknowledgment of the fair increase, she requested the correct notice, expressing concerns about the safety and legality of the shipping container home she is renting.
The landlord later claimed that ‘fair market rent’ was between $490 and $550. Picture: AggravatingAd1810/Reddit
In response to the tenant’s insistence on legal procedures, the landlord raised the rent to $450 through a text message, adding an extra $50. When the tenant emphasized that a text message does not constitute written notice, the landlord later claimed to have emailed the notice along with water usage bills. However, he stated that, upon reflection, a further $100 increase on top of the $450 would be considered “fair market rent.”
He said he was no longer willing to give the tenant as ‘generous’ a discount on rent. Picture: AggravatingAd1810/Reddit
The tenant, feeling distressed, emphasized her desire for a concrete timeline due to her reliance on Centrelink and the need to adjust her budget. Reddit users condemned the landlord’s actions, accusing him of retaliation and advising the tenant to seek assistance from the rental tribunal or consult with a lawyer.
The incident gained further attention on social media, with users expressing outrage at the landlord’s behavior. The broader context of rising rental prices in Australia was also discussed, highlighting the challenges faced by tenants in the current rental crisis.
SOURCE: NEWS.COM.AU