Former Smith Collective property manager speaks out on the community’s tenant practices

A whistleblower has lifted the lid on the alleged practices at the Smith Collective, saying staff were scarred and quit over what they had to do to tenants.

A whistleblower at the Smith Collective claimed staff were scarred by how they were told to treat tenants, including not renewing leases of anyone highlighting problems.

The ex-property manager, who does not wish to be named, says multiple staff quit due to stress, with many still suffering mental health issues.

An ex-property manager has backed in allegations of cockroach infestations, plumbing issues and spoken out about lease renewal procedures. Picture: Jerad Williams

In a series of explosive accusations, the former staffer also claimed:

* Sewage overflowed after plumbing blocked up on two occasions.

* Staff were told to increase rent at every lease renewal.

* Tenants who complained about problems did not have their leases renewed.

The former property manager said “tenants deserved better”, but there was little staff could do.

“As much as the property managers worked their hardest to do their best for the tenants there was a lot of (instructions) regarding how to handle issues and how to solve things, a lot of it which we did not agree with but didn’t have a choice,” the ex-staffer claimed.

“There are property managers that quit who are still going through mental health issues from what was going on there at the time.

“There are staff there who are not mentally okay and it’s really sad to see.”

A Smith Collective spokesperson said the sewage overflows were caused by incidents outside their control and denied the other claims.

The spokesperson said they were unaware of any staff suffering mental health issues.

The ex-worker’s allegations come in the wake of Bulletin reports detailing complaints from tenants – at what was the 2018 Commonwealth Games Athletes Village – who said their leases were not renewed after speaking out about problems.

Dr Steve Campbell was one of the many people to speak out about the alleged exodus from the Smith Collective. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“As soon as we had an issue with a tenant that was causing a problem their next thing would be to end their lease at the end of term,” the former property manager alleged.

“They would try and put it down to the end of the fixed-term lease.”

The worker said drainage issues and cockroach infestations were among the problems raised by tenants.

“There was definitely a high cockroach infestation issue. That’s definitely true,” they said.

“There were also definitely drainage issues, especially in one of the buildings.

“There were two incidences that I was aware of where the plumbing blocked up so bad that there was sewage overflowing in the building’s apartments.”

In pictures: Smith Collective through the years

The worker also claimed that if tenants were offered lease renewals, property managers were expected to deliver a rent increase.

“We were told because of the number of properties that they had at the Smith Collective, we held a large market in the Southport region, and so we were to offer a rent increase at every lease renewal regardless of the situation,” they said.

“We were told that at every lease renewal they would expect an increase and there’s even a spreadsheet where it tells you where the rent at that apartment should be at.

“You had to get it to that amount and if they (the tenant) did not agree then you pretty much had to tell them to leave.

“Which, when you’ve got people in wheelchairs and disabled and needing help and everything else like that, it’s pretty heartbreaking to see.”

The former employee said the manner in which tenants were treated sometimes led to tense meetings, which added to the stress felt by staff.

On one occasion, the worker said they feared for their safety in a meeting with a tenant angry that their bond was not being returned.

Picture: Jerad Williams

“The tenant came with his father-in-law. They were both ready to have serious words and if it wasn’t to go their way, I’m pretty sure they would have been capable of going beyond that,” the ex-staffer said.

“I guess they were wound up from previous conversations. But there was nothing I could have done.

“I went there to try and talk with them and try and make it right and it just blew up.”

The ex-property manager said they would return to help tenants “in a heartbeat” if conditions changed, but in the meantime advised Smith Collective residents to exercise their rights if they encountered problems.

“I would recommend to the tenants to go to the RTA and lodge a formal complaint,” they said.

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Originally published as Former Smith Collective property manager speaks out on the community’s tenant practices