‘Rare’ Sydney Airbnb room receives backlash over controversial detail

A private Airbnb room has gone viral after sharp-eyed viewers noticed a number of bizarre issues with the listing.

A bizarre Airbnb room has baffled viewers. Picture: Airbnb

Eagle-eyed Airbnb hunters were left bewildered after spotting an unusual private room setting made out of what looks to be bedsheets and room dividers.

Advertised as a “rare spacious living room near CBD”, the short-term accommodation situated in Sydney’s inner-city suburb of Waterloo is deemed suitable for one guest to rent for a price of about $1500 a month.

Short-stay seekers willing to lease the room also receive access to the apartment block’s gym, swimming pool and sauna facilities.

But while it may seem like a dream for a backpacker or money-savvy holiday maker looking for a place to crash, many viewers have raised questions over the advertisement.

The room has been set up in the apartment's dining and living area. Picture: Airbnb

The makeshift room, which appears to be no bigger than two metres long and one and a half metres wide, contains a single mattress on the floor and a pillow propped up near a bedside table.

There’s also an improvised wardrobe that contains shelves with sheets and pillows and a rack to hang clothes.

Only one side of the room contains a plastered wall, with the rest of the room separated from the apartment’s main areas with partition walls that reach a height of 1.9 metres.

Some viewers of the ad have argued there’s little privacy as there’s a large gap between the top of the partitions and roof, as well as a set of roof to floor windows forming another “wall”.

“Affordable spacious living room. Suitable for someone who can sleep (in) every condition,” the ad description read. “Your privacy is just like in a normal room, except the partition wall does not reach the ceiling.”

Several tenants are said to share the apartment the room is located in, which contains an additional three bedrooms, an ensuite, bathroom and kitchen.

The makeshift room is not included in the apartment’s floor plan, but rather takes up a portion of the main living area.

“You can have the whole house (to) yourself on weekdays from 8.30am to 6pm as everybody is at work,” the description read.

“Please bear in mind that my other flatmate uses the TV in the living room a few times a week from 7pm to 9.30pm.”

The room doesn't feature on the apartment's floor plan. Picture: Airbnb

While the ad itself has received 87 positive reviews from pleased tenants, many have questioned the room’s appropriateness and whether it should be listed on Airbnb.

“How little shame must you have to think something like this is even remotely appropriate,” one person questioned on a Reddit post sharing the ad.

Another person responded: “It happens all the time. I even saw rentals that were advertised as a 1 bedder but actually the bedroom is not included. They expect the tenant to sleep in the living room.”

“At least Harry Potter’s room under the stairs had an actual door,” a third person joked.

Others questioned whether having the room broke apartment occupancy laws, particularly given the ad states a number of people live in the apartment

“My apartment building has a maximum occupancy rule. Surely this is true across the board and would make this illegal?,” one person raised.

“It’s illegal for more than the allowed number of tenants to occupy a property but you will find that short term guests aren’t considered occupants but merely guests,” another comment read in response.

The room contains a mattress on the floor and a makeshift wardrobe. Picture: Airbnb

The room contains a mattress on the floor and a makeshift wardrobe. Picture: Airbnb

But not all saw the absurd side of the ad, with some arguing this is how some Airbnbs looked in the past.

“Early days Airbnb was mostly accommodation like this,” one comment read.

“Yeah, this is how I remember it being marketed at first. Airbed and Breakfast – ie you got to sleep on a stranger’s couch for the night for cheaper than a hotel,” a second person agreed.

In NSW, hosts are required to register their short-term accommodation to the state government’s STRA (short-term rental accommodation) register.

The host for this property currently holds a licence to host, despite rules stating co-living houses and movable dwellings are not permitted for the purposes of short-term accommodation.

As for regulations by Airbnb, the site advises hosts to ensure contracts, laws and community rules allow them to host a guest at their property.

“Check with a lawyer or local authority to learn more about regulations, restrictions, and obligations specific to your circumstances,” the website states.

News.com.au has contacted Airbnb for comment.