Aussie renter evicted for having ‘hermit vibes’

A Victorian tenant is being kicked out of their rental property because their landlord complained the vibe isn’t right.

A Victorian tenant is being kicked out of their Geelong rental property due to having “hermit” vibes.

The tenant shared a letter they received notifying them that their six-month lease would not be extended, garnering a divisive reaction online.

“(I) moved in with these two people in March on a six-month lease. I work two jobs, one during the day and one night into early morning,” they explained to the Don’t Rent Me Facebook group.

“The people I live with both study full time and take every chance they can get to complain about my ‘secluded’ and ‘hermit’ vibe — which is me either being asleep or out with my friends.”

The tenant said they were being kicked out due to their “hermit vibe”. Picture: Facebook.

The tenant said they were being kicked out for three reasons: “the ‘vibe’”, “I never take the bins out” and “I haven’t mopped the floor”.

Included in the post was a letter detailing the landlord’s reasons for wanting the tenant out.

“Speaking personally, you seem like a great person, however, it is both the opinion of myself and of the other tenant(s) that you do not fit the desired and advertised housemate role,” the letter read.

“I wanted housemates that I could form a friendship with, and due to your work schedule and personal demeanour, this seems like something that will never happen.”

The housemate, whose parents own the rental property, then detailed “smaller” gripes, including a “lack of cleanliness in common spaces” and noise levels at night, which he said had “unfortunately created an unhealthy atmosphere within the property and has created a divide between tenants”.

“I wanted housemates that I could form a friendship with … this seems like something that will never happen,” the landlord wrote. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Ascui

“It is of my opinion that all parties involved will be happier following this notice to vacate,” the letter concluded.

“I am more than happy to write a glowing recommendation for other properties, as I understand the market is hard at the moment. I just truly think you’d fit into a house that is chasing a more quiet and secluded ‘vibe’ much better.

“As I am bad with words, and will most likely misspeak in person, I truly hope you do not take this personally. I mean for no ill-will, and as such, I am more than happy to accommodate and help with the move in any way that I (as your ‘landlord’) can.”

The tenant also said they had disagreed over whether they had 60 or 70 days left on their lease. In Victoria, a landlord can only terminate a fixed-term lease for certain reasons, otherwise it must continue to the end of its term.

“After I said that I was entitled to finish the lease I was met with comments like ‘but is that what you want?’ and ‘there’s going to be tension - do you really wanna put up with that’” the tenant claimed.

“It just sounds like he wants someone to pay to be his friend,” one Facebook user remarked. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Facebook users flooded the comment section to provide support and poke fun at the landlord’s bizarre reasoning.

“How old is this guy?” one person asked. “You don’t have to be friends with your roommates. It just sounds like he wants someone to pay to be his friend.”

“Frankly, a housemate who works two jobs, is rarely home and doesn’t want to interact too much sounds like a bloody dream,” wrote another.

“Not being besties with your housemate isn’t grounds to terminate a lease. This fella is having a laugh. What a sad sack,” added a third.

A fourth said: “I cannot believe this person basically wants you out because you won’t be their friend. That’s actually ridiculous. You don’t owe your time to anyone. I hope you find happiness in a new place.”