Woman discovers grisly reason for Surry Hill townhouse’s cheap rent

A Sydney student narrowly avoided moving into a “haunted” property after she applied to rent the townhouse where a woman lay dead for eight years.

Natalie Brown

@natalieisbrown

2 min read

December 13, 2021 - 7:59AM

Woman discovers grisly reason for cheap rent

A Sydney student narrowly avoided moving into a “haunted” property in the inner city, after she applied to rent the townhouse where a woman lay dead for eight years before her body was found.

The young woman, who posts under the handle @emdeebs, shared the near miss on TikTok, explaining she was looking for a place to rent near the CBD and was impressed that the newly renovated Surry Hills property was available for just $900 a week.

“Why are the only houses that I can get haunted?” she captioned the clip.

She explained that she’d applied for the townhouse because it had three bedrooms and was “super renovated”.

A Sydney student has narrowly avoided moving into a 'haunted' property. Picture: TikTok

She applied to rent a townhouse where a woman lay dead for eight years. Picture: TikTok

“All the bedrooms were a good size. Living and kitchen areas were good and I was like ‘sweet’,” she added.

But a quick Google of the address – and a click on the “new tab” – brought a whole new meaning to the property’s low price.

“I found out that a woman died in the house and was dead for eight years before they found her,” she said.

“So I think I’m going to remove my application.”

@emdeebs
why are the only houses that i can get haunted? seriously though if anyone is leaving a 3 bedroom in surry hills or paddo lmk xx #fyp #housetok #rentalproperty #rent #greenscreenvideo
♬ original sound - Deebs

The house, at 139 Kippax Street, is the former residence of Natalie Jean Wood, known as “the woman Sydney forgot”.

Police found Ms Wood’s remains on her bedroom floor in July 2011, eight years after she died, on an unknown date, in February 2004.

NSW state coroner Michael Barnes ruled in 2014 while the cause and manner of her death were unable to be determined, it was likely she had fallen in her home and died after a “relatively short period because she could not get up or summon assistance”.

Natalie Jean Wood. Picture: Supplied

Thought to be a “bit of a recluse”, according to her sister-in-law Enid Davis, Ms Wood would not open the door to her home without a distinctive knock.

Her body was found on July 5, 2011, when Ms Davis arranged for her solicitor to go to the house with a key to return some of Ms Wood’s possessions.

139 Kippax St, Surry Hills.

The property pictured in 2011. Picture: NSW Coroner's Court

Police went with the man, and discovered Ms Wood’s skeletal remains – with her pink dentures remaining perched on her jaw.

The police officer in charge of the investigation into Ms Wood’s death, Detective Senior Constable Andrew Wells, described how a layer of dust covered much of Ms Wood’s home.