‘Absolutely ridiculous’: Landlord’s demand divides opinion

A landlord has split opinion after issuing a breach of rental agreement over a common design choice. HAVE YOUR SAY

A landlord’s demand that their tenant buy a bed base has divided opinion, with some calling it an overstep, while others argue leaving a mattress on the floor could cause mould.

Taking to the Wynnum/Manly Community Facebook group, an anonymous poster asked: “If you are renting is it acceptable to have a mattress on the floor with no bed frame? Just had a house inspection and got told I have to get a base.

“I ended up getting a breach of agreement because it will damage the carpet so now I have to get a bed.”

The poster said they regularly moved the mattress around the room and had shampooed the carpet.

“I’ve been here for two years and it’s only just now they bring it up,” they wrote.

Most commenters were outraged on the poster’s behalf.

“I don’t see how it’s anyone’s business but yours,” wrote Gees Lou.

“That is absolutely ridiculous. You have right of response. Contact tenants advocate,” another commenter Stacey Ornberg said.

Others backed the landlord’s demand.

“It’s actually a practical request to prevent mould,” wrote Anne Margaret O’Connor.

“Rots the floor,” said Joel Rogers.

Tenants Queensland CEO Penny Carr said it was unlikely the landlord could force their tenant to buy a bed base.

“Nothing’s ever black and white, there could be a reason,” Ms Carr said.

“But 98 per cent of the time they shouldn’t be telling tenants what furniture they can or can’t have.

“Tenants have got a right to quiet enjoyment … it’s like how we often hear of house inspections where they say ‘you haven’t done the washing up’, but that’s not what you’re being judged on.”

Ms Carr said the current tight rental market was making tenants more vulnerable to landlords requests.

Tenants Queensland CEO Penny Carr

“There’s definitely a vibe out there where people are trying to do everything to appease landlords,” she said.

“They don’t want to be seen like troublemakers or ask for repairs as they’re scared of rent rises or being evicted.”

Jason Chappell has been working in mould removal for two decades with his Brisbane-based business The Mould Group.

He said while mould could grow underneath a mattress on the floor, it would also depend on other factors.

“Mould needs three things to grow: a microscopic food source, temperature and moisture,” Mr Chappell said.

“If you’re putting a mattress directly onto a carpet floor, my question is how is it getting wet?

“I’ve only ever seen it once or twice, but that was from a water leak – a kitchen or bathroom overflow.”

MouldMen head Gerard Murtagh said raised beds were preferable for a few reasons – not just mould. Picture: Supplied

MouldMen CEO Gerard Murtagh agreed the only times he had seen mouldy mattresses was related to other moisture problems, such as leaks or glasses of water spilt by the bed.

“If the room is dry, there’s no moisture, then it’s very unlikely,” he said.

“It depends on the construction of the property – if you’re got a bed directly on wooden floorboards, with airflow and water, then it’s a risk.

“If I was advising anybody I’d always recommend a bed off the ground, but that’s also because of increased allergens near the ground, dust mites, and creepy-crawlies like cockroaches and vermin.”