‘For solo use’: Outrage over fine print in landlord’s listing for two-bed apartment in Nelson Bay

A would-be landlord has been slammed on social media for trying to take advantage of a tight rental market by offering up their holiday home with a major twist. The female landlord is currently seeking a tenant for a “fabulous” two-bedroom, two bathroom apartment in Nelson Bay for $380 per week. While renters get a stunning ocean view, they would only be allowed to stay in the place for around 85 per cent of the time – with the landlord returning when she wanted a break from Sydney. “You will be expected to vacate the property so the owner can use the apartment for her sole use about 15 per cent of the time, about 30 days over six months, mainly Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights,” the listing states. The advertisement on Flatmates.com.au goes on to say the place available for the “right person” with the potential landlord expecting the apartment to be left in a “great to come home condition”. A Sydney landlord has caused divide by making a big claim about Sydney The clause has provoked outrage over social media, with one person taking to Reddit to share an insight into the local offering. “Apparently the last tenant was a single mum. The owner would ring her mid week and tell her she had to be out the next day for 4 days at a time,” the post continued. Another wrote: “Cool, I’ll happily pay 85 per cent of the rent too then.” A third questioned where tenants who took up the offer were supposed to live when ordered out. “It was like $350 a week for only 4 days of it. No idea where they expect you to disappear off to every weekend,” the user wrote. The $380-a-week rent does not cover bills, with any potential tenant asked to sign on for a minimum three month stay. Despite coming with unusual terms and conditions, another renter said the landlord would likely find a tenant. “Accommodation is stupidly scarce at the bay. I’ve no doubt this person will get someone to agree to this,” another Reddit poster said. “It’s really gotten way too out of hand.” According to the latest figures from the Real Estate Institute of NSW (REINSW) the state continues to show residential rental availability remain at a “crisis level”. The research said rental market conditions remained dire in March, with REINSW chief executive, Tim McKibbin, stating that vacancy rates continue to “hover at historically low levels”. “Month after month, the story remains the same – rental availability is at crisis levels, stock is diminishing, and rents are increasing,” Mr McKibbin said. In regional NSW, the REINSW’s findings indicated that vacancy rates decreased in many areas over the past month.