348 Catherine Street, Lilyfield NSW 2040

We lived in this house during a very wet summer, and it quickly became clear that it had serious water damage and mould issues. The roof began leaking in November 2021, and despite repeated complaints, nothing was done for months. Eventually someone came to inspect it and patched up one area, but the leaking continued — especially in the bedroom and lounge. Moisture was also coming through the walls in most rooms. The garage was completely damp and mould-ridden. We lost everything stored inside it. Even some of our belongings kept indoors in wardrobes were damaged. My wooden bed frame and bedside tables began growing mould despite running a dehumidifier all the time. There was no acknowledgement or compensation offered for the damage. To make things worse, the owner would randomly show up out the front with her kids — supposedly just “walking by.” When they did visit, they’d walk straight through the house to check on some jasmine they had planted before we moved in. At one point, the owner even instructed us on how we should be watering it. It was made clear the owners didn’t want to spend any money on repairs as they were “saving to renovate.” That’s not an excuse — by the time we reached the end of our 12-month lease, the place was basically unliveable. We broke lease early just to get out. We felt terrible for the next people who would end up living there, as the problem was only getting worse. This was the worst rental experience I’ve ever had.