Renters using Facebook Marketplace to find property risk 'disturbing tactics' and scams
Tenants Queensland has warned renters "do need to be careful" when using online platforms to find properties and rooms. (ABC News: Mark Leonardi)
When Sarah* secured a sizeable south-east Queensland property for a bargain price on Facebook Marketplace, she had no idea of the nightmare that would follow.
Less than two months after moving in, she was woken by strangers knocking on her door at 11pm.
"They looked for multiple entrances to get into the property," she said.
"The next day, the people came back again."
Multiple people visited Sarah's rental property the following day, as captured by her doorbell camera. (Supplied)
It all began when a paperwork error led her to renting a four-bedroom house with a study, two patios and a spacious garage for just $115 a week in Springfield Lakes, west of Brisbane.
The 30-year-old US national found the vacancy on social media and, after facing Sydney's competitive rental market, was planning to share it with a housemate.
But an error made by the owner meant she became the sole tenant on the lease, for the bargain price.
Sarah's tenancy agreement, which was filled out incorrectly and signed by her landlord. (Supplied)
"He put it [down as] $460 a month and he ticked the wrong box [but] by law, the lease is binding," she said of her signed tenancy agreement.
Sarah, who didn't want her real name used for privacy reasons, also wasn't provided a condition report upon entry — one of the many red flags that led to a months-long battle to keep a roof over her head.
Hounded 'consistently'
Once the owner realised the mistake he'd made in filling out the tenancy agreement, he tried to force Sarah out.
Sarah told the ABC she received aggressive texts from the landlord about the bond, claiming it needed to be lodged by him as the owner – though Queensland law states that either the tenant or property owner can file a bond payment.
Some of the messages Sarah received during her lease, including a threat to terminate the tenancy agreement. (Supplied)
Months later, she said someone visited the property and the landlord told Sarah they were allowed to move in.
"[The owner said] I need to be out by tomorrow as his friend is moving in, and threatens legal action if I don't move out," she said.
Days after the stranger appeared at her door, more people showed up at the property at 11pm.
She said she was contacted "consistently" by the landlord via phone and email, and that she also received texts from a stranger claiming to be his brother.
A message Sarah received from someone claiming to be the landlord's brother. (Supplied)
When Sarah asked the stranger how they got her phone number, and sought to confirm their relation to the landlord, she got no response.
'We are fine now'
Sarah was able to get support through numerous calls to the Residential Tenancy Authority (RTA) — who assured her she had sole possession of the property — and found refuge in Don't Rent Me, a Facebook group for renters, where a member was able to guide her through the situation.
With their advice, Sarah decided to lodge an official complaint with the RTA.
The complaint noted the property owner sent her "a fraudulent backdated notice" to leave the house, which made the paperwork look like it was sent earlier — meaning she would have to vacate sooner than the end of her three-month fixed-term tenancy agreement.
Once the landlord was notified of her complaint, he backtracked and asked Sarah to withdraw it.
"We are fine now," he told her in an email.
Sarah received this email, requesting to withdraw her RTA complaint. (Supplied)
Sarah refused to withdraw the complaint and the RTA tribunal ruled in her favour, so she was able to stay the full three months and had her full bond returned at the end of the lease.
"I'm not going to lie, that was hard," she said.
Impact of housing crisis
Tenants Queensland chief executive Penny Carr warned "you do need to be careful" when using online platforms to find properties and rooms.
"There is some risks with responding to social media advertisements, and we have seen some scams around that too," she said.
"With the current housing crisis, people are concerned to put their hand up and say my property doesn't meet [the] standard."
She said it was a tenant's right to ask for repairs.
"And that can be intimidating in this day and age ... because they're worried about being kicked out," she said.
Ms Carr said if a repair order is made by the tribunal, it will stick to the property and not the tenancy. In instances where a property doesn't meet standards, Ms Carr said prospective renters should ask for a price decrease.
Antonia Mercorella said real estate professionals know the rights and responsibilities of both renters and property owners. (ABC News: Lucas Hill)
Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) chief executive Antonia Mercorella said it was "disgusting" to see "disturbing tactics" and scams happening online while rental vacancy rates were so low.
Ms Mercorella said there had been a rise in rental scams.
"Sadly, [the rental crisis] seems to bring out people who are prepared to take advantage of those people and exploit them," she said.
"We've heard some really devastating stories about families actually organising removalists and going to the property, only to discover that there's someone else living [there] and that they've basically been scammed."
In Sarah's case, Ms Mercorella said it could have been appropriate to contact the police because the lease gave Sarah "the right to exclusively rent that property for whatever period of time she has committed to in that tenancy agreement".
Safeguarding yourself
Ms Mercorella said it was possible for landlords to unintentionally "fall foul of the law", but noted "that's not a defence" when it came to non-compliance.
To safeguard yourself when renting a property, she said it was important to have a rental arrangement recorded in writing.
By law, rental advertisments must include a fixed price, and that includes those listed on Facebook Marketplace. (ABC News: Mark Leonardi)
Even if you're not on a lease, Ms Mercorella said all tenants still have rights and should contact the RTA for advice if needed.
"Even if, for example … you've moved in on the basis of a verbal agreement, that doesn't mean you don't have any rights … [that doesn't] somehow diminish your rights as a tenant," she explained.
Ms Carr echoed that advice, noting "the law applies to you even if your agreement isn't in writing".
What to watch out for
Ms Mercorella said an entry condition report and a tenant's handbook should have been provided at the start of Sarah's rental agreement, as is the case with all new Queensland tenancies.
But she said some self-represented owners might not be aware of that obligation.
When looking out for possible scams, a red flag is usually the price. The RTA confirmed all Queensland "premises must be advertised at a fixed price" and that "failing to do so is an offence".
"If you're looking on social media, you probably need to make sure the property is real and the person that's advertising it is actually … allowed to rent it out, and they're not always easy questions to answer," Ms Carr said.
Penny Carr says tenants have rights, even if they don't have a physical lease agreement. (ABC Radio Brisbane: Kenji Sato)
Ms Carr said it was a good idea to check the person's profile, see how long they've had that profile and look at their older posts — if every social media post is about renting properties, that could be "a bit suspicious".
Also compare a property's rental price to similar vacancies in the area.
Ms Carr said landlords are required to ensure "that all health and safety laws are met" and that renters "deserve" to reside in a place that is fit to live in.
In Queensland since 2022, smoke alarms must be installed in every bedroom and in hallways.
Ms Carr said tenants could feel intimidated when seeking changes to make their rental compliant "because they're worried about being kicked out".
But she said repair orders could be made through a tribunal — with the help of a tenant advocate and free advice from Tenants Queensland — and renters might have grounds to ask for a rent decrease for sub-par conditions.
For tenants and owners who are unsure of their rights and responsibilities, Ms Mercorella said the RTA — which is also a free service — was "an excellent place to start".
*Name changed for privacy reasons.