Gold Coast Jackie Newton landlord quits rentals after dog poo, superglue, drugs drama

A landlord fed up with having units trashed and threats by drunk, drug-addled tenants has quit her rental properties, citing new laws leaving investors in the lurch.

A landlord fed up with having units trashed and threats by drunk, drug-addled tenants has quit her rental properties citing new laws leaving landlords in the lurch.

Jackie Newton, who had units in Burleigh, Miami, Broadbeach and Townsville, said new state laws had left landlords with “little rights”, causing many owners to get out.

“Unless you have lived in the shoes of a landlord, then people don’t have much of any idea as to what really happens,” Ms Newton said, citing instances of dog poo left inside and vindictive tenants who were evicted putting superglue in locks.

“Both myself and so many people I know have all sold their rental properties, particularly since these new rental laws have been introduced by the current state government.

“Things have always been bad enough when it comes to getting a fair go for landlords, but these new laws have left landlords with little rights.

“I have been told by my agent if you have tenants on a periodic lease, then it can be a nightmare to evict your tenants.

“Now we have had enough and sold our properties and you have to wonder why there is a housing shortage.”

Among the measures in the Housing Legislation Amendment Bill passed by parliament was a clause that makes it much harder for landlords to refuse to accept pets.

Ms Newton said the change, which will come into effect on October 1 this year, will be a nightmare for landlords.

“I had a beautiful house here at Burleigh that had new carpet laid, when supposedly good-referenced tenants moved in,” Ms Newton said.

“I am a pet lover and allowed them to have one dog, saying it must be an outside dog.

“Towards the end of this lease, the tenants notified my agent that they were moving out. My agent had a lot of people interested in viewing my house, in the hope that they could apply for it. So the current tenant agreed to let my agent host one open house.

“All these people turned up to view my property and when they got inside these people had to dodge the dog poo left all over the carpeted stairs up to the bedrooms. Upon getting up the stairs, there was a huge stain that smelt like dog urine, in my newer carpet.

“I’ve had one couple who hid their great dane in the bedroom built-in wardrobe. Then when they left, I was made to pay for the doors that had been ripped off their hinges because of this dog.”

Ms Newton said it was unfair landlords had to give tenants two months’ notice, while tenants only had to give two weeks.

She said when eviction notices were issued, sometimes “all hell breaks loose”, leaving landlords with an enormous mess to clean up when tenants leave.

“These tenants can do whatever they like to your property in that time and there really isn’t a damn thing you can do about it.

“I was getting complaints about a tenant from neighbours (so) I wanted her gone and she left my unit in a heap.

“I had one long-term tenant who lost his job, got on the drugs and then when he got evicted, decided to trash my place.

“It was a small unit years ago and there was about $15,000 damage done. When we changed the locks on this place, this scumbag was apparently hiding up the road watching what was going on and then came back and put superglue in my new locks and also the garage door lock.”

Ms Newton’s concerns reflect those raised by The Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) after the new legislation was passed in October.

REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella said the legislation introduced more onerous requirements for property owners and reduced their contractual rights.

“We know for some property owners, this Bill will be the final straw and we will see some investors making the decision to sell,” Ms Mercorella said.

“The ripple effect of this could see renters struggling to find suitable housing under already tight conditions. With the current state of Queensland’s rental market, it’s imperative we don’t further discourage property rentals.”

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