Doctors, medical staff, mothers among renters forced out of Smith Collective for complaining
Some residents are too afraid to speak out about conditions at the Smith Collective – but this ex-renter said he faced being forced to leave the same day of a double-knee replacement.
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Doctors on the front line of the Covid-19 pandemic are among dozens of tenants claiming they’ve been forced out of the Smith Collective.
Gold Coast University Hospital senior Dr Steven Campbell said he was one of eight doctors living in the Smith Collective who received a notice to leave for no apparent reason.
Residents told the Bulletin that those who spoke out about conditions in the Southport community near the city Health and Knowledge Precinct did not have their leases renewed.
Dr Campbell said he received the notice on January 20 without warning, a day after he raised concerns via on online forum about Smith Collective residents copping high electricity bills.
“Presently, I know of eight doctors (living) in Smith Collective who have received a ‘Notice To Leave Following Lease Expiry’, all under dubious circumstances,” he wrote in a letter to Southport MP Rob Molhoek’s office.
“I’m receiving messages from (more) health staff (regularly) – many of us already past the ‘breaking point’, working back-to-back 12-plus hour shifts, and taking additional shifts to compensate for the substantial understaffing.
“There is simply no time to find alternative accommodations. By forcing us out of the area we are deprived of our ability to provide critical services during the pandemic and are subject to disabling psychological harm.”
The allegations come amid a Queensland-wide rental crisis, with vacancy rates sitting below one per cent on the Gold Coast.
Dr Campbell said he started an online forum for Smith Collective residents so they could discuss issues with each other in a safe environment.
The resident of three years said others had made allegations of cockroach infestations, electricity bill price gouging and bonds being taken for no reason.
“A lot of people are scared of speaking out,” Dr Campbell claimed.
‘Dog s*** over foyer’: Inside Smith Collective
After opening to much fanfare in 2019, a former resident of Australia’s first build-to-rent community said “dog s***” in communal areas had spoiled the experience for him.
Jonathon Dent called Smith Collective home for almost 18 months, but moved out a year ago because he “wasn’t enjoying living there”.
“It was starting to get a bit rough at night and there was just drama happening all the time,” Mr Dent said.
“The building I was living in, there were bikes being stolen and for a lock up security complex, the security was horrendous.
“We had lots of stuff stolen out of the car park.
“If you put in a complaint (to management) about dog piss and s*** all over the foyer, you would receive no reply and really poor communication.”
The former resident said the lack of proper sound proofing in the units and the proximity of the buildings to each other also created noise complaints.
But Mr Dent said there were plenty of positives about living in Smith Collective – including a public pool and gym, its convenient central location as well as shops, restaurants and cafes all within the complex.
“It’s good for what it is – there is a lot of convenience involved with living there and having the Woolworths there is good as well,” he said.
“If they are building things like athletes’ villages – it’s a good way to kill two birds with one stone. They can have athletes staying there and turn it into accommodation later on.
“Just the volume of people living there together is not everyone’s cup of tea.”
Injured renter ‘begged’ for extension
A former Smith Collective resident said he was initially denied a lease extension after his ran out the same day of his double knee replacement.
Phillip Clancy claimed his pleas for a lease extension were only met after he paid months of rent in advance.
He has called for more protection for tenants following reports that dozens of people had been forced out of the Southport renters’ community.
Mr Clancy discovered last year that his lease for a two-bedroom unit was due to expire the same day of his knee surgery.
After he approached his property manager to ask for a lease extension, Mr Clancy said he was told the lease was not being renewed as explained in an email sent to him in July 2021.
“I missed the email, but they did send it,” the 55-year-old said.
“I said ‘mate I’ve got a bilateral total knee replacement on the same day, can you please give me three more months at least? And why are you kicking me out?’
“He goes ‘it’s without reason, I don’t know’.”
Mr Clancy claimed he “begged” for a lease extension so he could rest comfortably in his home after the surgery, but was denied.
He said he was eventually allowed to stay an extra three months after he paid the remainder
of his lease and the three-month extension in advance.
The first-time renter has now found another place to live in Pimpama, but urged others in a similar situation to seek advice from the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA).
“I trusted the system and thought it would be fair for both parties, but being on the other side of it as a tenant, it’s clearly not,” Mr Clancy said.
According to the RTA, a tenant can be given a notice to leave at the of the lease without grounds if they are given at least two months’ notice.
Under changes to rental laws last year, the Queensland government announced it would remove the option to end a tenancy without grounds.
A date for when this change would come into force has not been set.
WHO ELSE HAS BEEN AFFECTED
A fellow resident who was the moderator of another Smith Collective online forum told the Bulletin she was also served a notice to leave after she refused to delete a comment made by another resident expressing concerns about widespread cockroach infestations.
The woman, who is a single mother, asked not to be named over fear she would not be able to secure another rental on the Gold Coast.
“I pay my rent all the time, I always pay my (bills), I have never had an issue before this,” she said.
The woman said she was forced to move in temporarily with her mother – who lived next door with her disabled brother – because she would be homeless otherwise.
She alleged when Smith Collective management found out, her mother was warned by management that she would receive a Notice To Leave Following Lease Expiry.
“This is a community that is meant to guarantee that you get a lease renewal,” she said.
WHAT DOES THE COLLECTIVE SAY?
In an initial response, a Smith Collective spokesman did not respond to the Bulletin’s request to confirm how many residents had been issued a Notice to Leave, but said it was focused on creating an “inclusive community”.
“As is standard practice in the real estate industry, all residents are issued a Notice To Leave that is consistent with their lease expiry date. From then, renewal terms are negotiated where appropriate,” he said.
“While in the majority of cases a renewal is offered to residents, we do have rare occasions when a renewal is not offered to a resident.
“This may be for various reasons but could include a repeated breach of their lease, repeatedly breaking house rules, or repeatedly being the source of noise complaints.
“Residents are free to change their energy provider at Smith Collective. Smith Collective has zero financial interest in the electricity services being provided to residents.
“We will continue to do everything we can to build a great place for our community to call home.”
In a further statement late on Wednesday, the spokesman added: “The Smith Collective community currently has more than 1200 units rented to almost 3000 residents. Fewer than one per cent of the community have not been offered lease renewals.
“On the rare occasions that this has occurred, the decision was never taken without due consideration.
“We currently have knowledge of only one doctor who is not offered a lease renewal. Understandably, it would be inappropriate to publicly disclose those reasons.
“We thank the many residents who have contacted us to share their distress at the way their community has been portrayed by a few individuals. We appreciate their support and we will together continue to build on the wonderful community spirit that already exists here at Smith Collective.”
Bonney MP Sam O’Connor, whose electorate takes in Smith Collective, said he was concerned about the complaints.
“If they are good tenants, why are they being kicked out? The people I’ve spoken to are at their wits end, they are terrified to tell their story,” Mr O’Connor said.
“I urge Smith Collective’s management to address and fix these issues.
“If anyone in Smith Collective wants to tell their story anonymously, they can contact me as their local MP and I’ll get them in touch with our tenancy support services.”
Originally built as the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games athletes’ village, the 1251-unit development operated by Grocon, UBS Asset Management and JLL was transformed into Australia’s first renters’ community in 2019.
It features 18 apartment towers, 82 two-storey townhouses and a 6280sq m retail hub.
Smith Collective was promoted as a “groundbreaking new renters community designed for living, not just staying” that boasted an “amazing lifestyle” and “friendly” community.
The Bulletin has contacted Smith Collective management for a response in regards to all stories told to us.
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