Australian renters are sharing their worst rental horror stories and it's... horrifying.

by Keryn Donnelly December 12, 2018

Anyone who’s rented before probably has at least one rental horror story.

For me, I lived in an apartment that always had a…smell. The towel rack in the bathroom was broken and I would often cut my elbow on it. The carpets looked like a…crime scene. And after a particularly rainy period my whole apartment became covered in a thick mould.

And I waspayingfor this experience.

My story is not unusual. Last week, a new report found that 51 per cent of renters are living in a home that desperately needs repairs.

The report, calledDisrupted: The consumer experience of renting in Australia, surveyed over 1500 Australians and was written by consumer group Choice, National Shelter, and the National Association of Tenants Organisations.

The report also found that renters fear they will be evicted or be faced with a rent increase if they ask for repairs.

In response, Australians are sharing their rental stories using the hashtag #RentInOz on Twitter.

There’s some absolute doozies.

My friend moved into a pretty new rental apartment in the Sydney’s inner west – paying heaps – noisy construction in the next apartment (weren’t told about that). And their sink fell out – it was only glued on!!! #rentinoz pic.twitter.com/WipzTqE7Gk

— Apples_80 (@racing_equality) December 5, 2018

it rained indoors for several months. it was only once I got zapped from the light switch that they actually fixed the leak. they fixed it and left a great big hole through which the wind gets in, but at least there’s no water and I haven’t been electrocuted #rentinoz

— zirkont (@zirkont) December 4, 2018

Exposed insulation from the 1960’s. We call this area the Asbestos Room #rentinoz pic.twitter.com/yyBlN4PFPo

— Monica (@therobosquid) December 5, 2018

In my last rental I complained about a ceiling leak in a living area for 9 mths. The ceiling then collapsed during a storm. When I complained about the collapse the landlord was unhappy I didn’t express the seriousness of the issue. 9 mths of photo updates insufficient #rentinoz

— Rhanna Collins (@rhanna_collins) December 4, 2018

It took 11 months of complaining almost daily about no smoke alarms, no daylight in the lounge, mould filling the bathroom, a leaking roof, a front door falling apart, a gap in the entrance ceiling showing the outside world etc before anything was fixed #RentInOz https://t.co/6T4Cg4eXIu

— Lany Tennant (@LanyTennant) December 5, 2018

Some experiences: – Shower without ventilation, but it grew mushrooms – Toilet broke, landlord took 3 weeks to find a mate that could fix it – Two bedrooms had no windows or smoke alarms – Heater broke, agent took 10 weeks to fix, in winter, cost us >$1,500 in power #rentinoz

— fieldo85 (@fieldo85) December 4, 2018

Another friend moved into a new apartment. Balcony above them was not waterproofed properly. Heavy rains came and water was literally cascading into their bedroom. Like a waterfall. After WEEKS of no action they broke lease and left #rentinoz

— Madison Cartwright ????✒????©️ (@madkcartwright) December 4, 2018

My #RentInOz experience:

Moved into a fairly stingy, but affordable flat in inner city Melbourne.

As the agent passes me the keys:

“Oh, and if anyone knocks on the door asking for Michael, tell ’em to f**k off”

Former tenant had been dealing drugs out of there for years.

— ???? Jingle Bells ???? (JB) (@JB_AU) December 3, 2018

ahhh I see it’s time for the regular #RentInOz airing of grievances. here is a tap from a flat I used to rent that sums up my experiences https://t.co/jI0aq5PbxE

— Eleanor Robertson (@marrowing) December 4, 2018

10.

My #rentinoz experience:

My old rental had 6 residents. One of two toilets broke, it took the landlord 3 months to fix it. The bathroom fan broke, the landlord didn’t fix it, we developed a serious mould problem. We got a rent increase because of too many “maintenance requests”

— Linda Przhedetsky (@lprzhedetsky) December 4, 2018

11.

This is underneath my kitchen sink – our benchtop is cracked, leaks, and get mouldy. When I asked my landlord for repairs, he said “get used to it – it’s an just old house”. Share your experiences with renting at #rentinoz @choiceaustralia @NationalShelter @TUNSW @ShelterSa pic.twitter.com/b3mmWMVR5Y

— Patrick Veyret (@patrick_veyret) December 4, 2018

12.

I have rented 12 properties over 15 years in 3 states (VIC, NSW, QLD). Never been late with rent. But have been forced to move by landlords on 75% of those occasions; due to owners selling, refused maintenance, invasions of privacy, unreasonable rent increases, etc. #rentinoz

— fieldo85 (@fieldo85) December 5, 2018

13.

This might be the #rentinoz winner today. https://t.co/kbSzCIXfLL

— Erin Turner (@ErinLTurner) December 5, 2018

14.

Our landlord’s son (actually a good handyman) came around to fix our roof. Nothing wrong with that. However, the landlord, his wife and their daughter also came, and sat in lawn chairs in our yard for the 8 or 9 hours that the job took. #RentInOz

— TheYarnBomba (@TheYarnBomba) December 5, 2018

15.

Got a licensed asbestos report – it stated how dangerous the broken firbro/asbestos is in my garage. Sent the report to NSW Fair Trading. They spoke my RE Agent. Their response was “we’ve had it tested before it’s not asbestos” they were believed over me with NO proof! #rentinoz

— Apples_80 (@racing_equality) December 4, 2018

16.

My mum rented a house that was so damp she needed to keep all her food in Tupperware. When the air con broke the landlord wanted her to cop a HUGE rent hike to pay for it. She just moved out. #rentinoz

17.

Renting in Sydney for over 8 years means I’ve seen a lot. Walls running with water, lights with no light switches, showers placed at the bottom of stairwells, balcony’s unsafe and crumbling as you walk on them, mouldy bathrooms that have been painted over between leases #rentinoz

— Betty Doom (@Betty_Doom) December 4, 2018

18.

The kitchen sink in my brother-in-laws former share house couldn’t turn off. Constantly running water – during a drought. Landlord refused to fix it. He’s left but I’m sure its still running water. The kicker is that the tenants have to pay for water use. #rentinoz

19.

Lease ends on Sunday. Office closed and can’t return keys on a Sunday. Charged $98 for not returning keys on Sunday. #RentInOz

— Amy McClelland™️ (@ItMeAmyMc) February 16, 2017

20.

My landlord lets himself in to my home whenever he wants, came in recently when I was asleep #RentinOz

— TherealSpaceCat (@Bastet970) February 16, 2017

21.

Not a meth lab, just living in a $500K Australian apartment battling water damage (2011). #RentInOZ pic.twitter.com/46pFR8az6W

— Kai Brach (@kaibrach) February 16, 2017

22.

#RentInOZ Landlord had installed fake smoke alarms. When we asked about it they accused us of selling the real ones.

— Barking sphere. (@DoubleTake) February 16, 2017

23.

I got a letter stating I took up residency at my apartment in the year 1447 and therefore needed to pay more bond. #RentInOZ