‘Mayhem’: Hundreds of renters turn up to Sydney house inspection

Police have shut down a house inspection after hundreds of renters turned up, clogging the street, with a video capturing the “mayhem”.

Hundreds of renters have turned up to a house inspection in Sydney’s southwest causing “mayhem” in the suburban street, with police needing to clear the area.

A neighbour shared footage of the gridlocked street on TikTok saying it was “unbelievable”.

“Two hundred plus, maybe more, people turned up. Total gridlock of the whole street. People driving on grass, footpaths, parking everywhere, blocking driveways,” he said.

The video showed the same street later on, cleared of cars, with two police cars out the front of the rental property.

“The street is much clearer now. Thanks boys,” the neighbour said.

About 100 people missed out on viewing the property. Picture: TikTok/@kuzman67

The four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Hinchinbrook is listed for $530 a week.

Listing agent Isabella Mucedola, from Blaze Real Estate, told news.com.au about 100 people had checked in to see the property and about another 100 missed out.

She said illegal parking caused the police to shut down the inspection and that they would now only be taking bookings with 10 people per inspection.

Ms Mucedola said Covid and lockdown ending last year had led to huge numbers of people looking for rental properties.

“Property demand is so high and there’s little stock available,” she said.

“If the property is priced at market value you’ve got no problem finding a tenant.”

The house listed for rent in southwest Sydney. Picture: Blaze Real Estate

Last month, experts predicted rental prices would increase dramatically as Australia’s international borders reopened.

Finder head of consumer research Graham Cooke said there had been a lack of demand for rentals as Aussie students moved home or international students moved back overseas during lockdown in 2020, but the market was recovering.

“That influx of new renters to inner city areas and university areas is going to increase demand even more,” he said.

“There are huge increases in investor loans and a lot of that I’d say is driven by people thinking the rental market is looking more secure than it did last year. All the indications are that this trend will continue.”