Dodgy landlords put on notice for subpar properties

A Brisbane-based start up has committed to making life easier for renters. Here is how.

A Brisbane based start up is committed to make renting easier by allowing renters to leave reviews on their nationwide online platform.

Rent Rabbit co-founder Ben Pretty said the huge demand for rentals has allowed some landlords to take advantage of their market power by renting out mouldy homes and apartments.

“Almost every day, we receive comments from frustrated tenants, who can’t understand why landlords keep hiking their rent yet refuse to properly maintain their property,” Mr Pretty said.

“The average tenant is a reasonable person who understands that, from time to time, problems will occur.

“Tenants should expect their landlord to solve any issues with their property in a reasonable timeframe.

“But if that doesn’t happen, they have every right to be upset,” he said.

Mr Pretty said another major problem was mould.

Jonno Byron says the mould in his Cooroibah rental became so bad he had to move his family out only weeks after moving in.

Mould that is left untreated can cause serious health consequences.

According to the Environmental Health Standing committee breathing in mould spores and fragments can trigger nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing or wheezing, and respiratory infections.

It can also worsen asthma and allergic conditions.

Contact with mould can also irritate eyes and skin.

People who are more likely to experience these symptoms include those with weakened immune systems, allergies, severe asthma or lung diseases. These people are also more susceptible to other serious health effects, such as the lung condition aspergillosis or commonly known as ‘Farmer’s lung’.

Mould is a type of fungus that grows in moist or humid conditions, damp and poorly ventilated areas.

Mr Pretty said the feedback they are receiving tells them landlords should have a legal obligation to disclose any known mould problems when advertising a property.

“If a mould infestation breaks out after people move in, they believe landlords should have a legal obligation to fix the problem as part of their duty of care,” Mr Pretty said.

Ben Pretty, co-founder of Rent Rabbit

“There are some dodgy landlords out there who think they can get away with treating renters like dirt because it’s a landlord’s market right now.

“But what they don’t realise is that, sooner or later, we’ll shift to a tenant’s market, because these things always move in cycles,” he said.

Renters can now leave reviews of places online to name and shame landlord’s properties that are sub-par.

“Once vacancy rates increase, dodgy landlords will find they’re no longer able to fill vacancies, because renters check reviews.

“When that happens, they’ll only have themselves to blame,” Mr Pretty said.