Challenged rental increase - now being evicted!!!
I have been renting this property from an independent local real estate agent here in north Brisbane (not disclosing identity at this time) for 6 years now. When we first moved in the rent was $475/wk, it stayed there for 3 years. Then it was upped to $500/wk, completely reasonable, then in 2023, they upped it to $560/wk, 12% increase.
This year, they have sent me an offer to renew for 12 months at $650/wk which is another 16%. This equates to nearly 36% increase in just 2 years. So, I decided to challenge it, as is my right https://www.rta.qld.gov.au/rent (excessive rent increases). They have then responded that it is now only 6 months, and the owners are going to sell the property at the end of the lease.
Here are the facts:
- They sent us an email on 31 January 2024 stating “The Owner would like to offer you a lease renewal for 12 months with $650/week rent.”
- On 15 February 2024, we replied stating “We would like to accept the offer to renew the lease for an additional 12 months. Please send through the paperwork.” Followed by a request to negotiate the price for multiple legitimate reasons.
- In our email of 15 February 2024, we also asked them to provide their data that supports their claims that the rent increase is a result of “rising interest rate and BCC rates” noting that the increase in rent represented an additional 16% increase as we did not believe that this was consist with inflation and other factors.
- It also noted the several issues with the property outlining multiple failures to follow up maintenance requests.
- Their response to this was to cut the lease down to 6 months, despite a written agreement for it to be 12 months, and completely deflected our request for negotiation and for data. And now claim that the owners want to sell the property, despite having just been offered 12 months? This is the oldest most worn-out excuse ever and I flat out do not believe you.
- I obviously challenged this and reminded them that we already agreed on 12 months. At this point, my calls were being ignored and avoided so I had to keep showing up at the office and asking to speak with the owner of the REA so they could explain how they think that this is legal and that we asked to negotiate.
- When I did finally get to speak to them, they kept giving these excuses which I was able to provide factual and evidence based counterarguments for each one of, till she ran out of arguments then demanded that I leave. I continued to ask my questions but they then locked themselves out the back and hit the panic button on me.
- They then followed this up with an email declaring that they have filed a police report for threats and harassment (it is all either in writing or on CCTV and would love to see it played in a court room lol so I obviously made no threats and the police haven't knocked on my door yet 🤷♂️) and revoked the offer to renew the lease entirely.
So, because I tried to exercise my rights and call them out for price gouging, I am now being evicted after being here for 6 years.
I spoke to the RTA QLD, and they basically said there is nothing they can really do. They can try dispute resolution, but it could take months so I feel like I am fighting a goliath with a stick and could end up homeless because it is impossible to get a rental these days in QLD. My girlfriend is now homeless and living with me until she can find somewhere, but now we might lose this place too because I tried to stand up for myself.
I have written to every minister and relevant rep, multiple media outlets and independent journalist. I am linked with tenants qld as well.
Any other suggestions for how I can try to defend myself would be greatly appreciated.
I would highly encourage any other renters who have had similar issues go to https://makerentingfairqld.org.au/ and tell your story.