PHOTO: Karen Robinson. Picture: TikTok
A Queensland real estate agent has triggered online outrage for insinuating that renters were treated as ‘second-class citizens’ in a video. Another real estate agent has also faced backlash after being accused of portraying renters as ‘second-class citizens’ in a video promoting a new golf course housing development in Gympie.
In a TikTok video that has since been deleted, realtor Karen Robinson promoted land in Royal Pines Estate by emphasizing its primary selling point, the absence of rental properties.
“Tell me, would you rather live next door to an owner-occupier or in a street filled with rentals?” she inquired.
“I drove around today, and there wasn’t a single estate in Gympie that wasn’t brimming with rental properties.
Karen Robinson. Picture: TikTok
“If I’m investing between five hundred thousand and a million dollars in my house and land package, the last thing I want is to be surrounded by renters.”
Ms. Robinson went on to explain that after putting in the effort to customize her hypothetical home to her liking, she would prefer to be among like-minded individuals.
The video was initially posted on the Property Shop Australia’s TikTok page on Wednesday but was removed by Friday morning. However, it remained online long enough to ignite a social media firestorm, with many condemning Ms. Robinson’s remarks.
“This woman thinks she’s above everyone else. I’d choose a renter over a shallow person any day!” one person commented on the Gympie Times’ Facebook post.
“She shouldn’t be judging anyone,” another person wrote.
Some individuals pointed out that the land Ms. Robinson was promoting was not as prestigious as she portrayed it to be, as it was situated across from the local dump.
“Isn’t this the estate near the dump and cemetery? Absolute luxury at its finest!” one person pointed out.
“Prestigious [laughing emoji] across from the dump! Give it up, love!” another quipped.
Property Shop Australia is developing the Royal Pines Estate (left) which backs onto the Gympie Golf Course (right)
Ms Robinson said she drove around Gympie and Royal Pines was the only estate that isn’t ‘filled to the brim with rental properties’
News.com.au has contacted Ms. Robinson for a statement.
Ms. Robinson is the owner and director of Hampton Home Builders, which had its license suspended last month due to failure to meet QBCC financial requirements.
Distrust of Real Estate Agents
According to the latest Ethics Index report by the Governance Institute of Australia, real estate agents are perceived as the least trusted profession in Australia.
This statistic follows a series of scandals involving real estate agents that have come to light in recent months.