House with "free" rent listed with major catch
A dilapidated house has been leased for free, offering prospective tenants 12 months of free housing.
However, the three bedroom house in south-west Sydney must undergo a full renovation before anyone can move in.
Originally posted on Domain, the house has been deemed "currently uninhabitable", with the listing quickly going viral before being taken down.
The listing read, “3 bedroom family home perfect for the growing family, nestled in a quiet yet convenient location being close to all the wonderful amenities such as transport, parks, schools, shops in need of a renovation.”
Hidden deep within the listing was the information that the house is not currently fit for anyone to live in, with the tenants being expected to front the cost of the entire renovation.
“Property is currently uninhabitable - work is required before moving in. The landlord does not have the funds to renovate the property,” the listing said.
The listing agent described it as an opportunity for a “savvy minded person or persons with trade knowledge and experience”.
The successful tenant will be required to pay for the “full renovation at their own expense”, and in return will receive a three-year lease at the property with the first year coming with no charge.
However, they will then need to pay for the second and third years of their lease, with the rent "negotiable" at $650 a week.
The listing quickly went viral, with commenters calling out the landlord's "audacity" to ask such a task of a renter that only receives one year of free housing for all their hard work.
“Next they will tell you to build a house which you can then rent back,” one person said.
“Wow. Just when you thought the audacity was at its most audacious,” another person commented.
On Reddit, commentators also pointed out the new tenant would need to spend thousands on the renovation, making the one year of free rent basically worthless.
"What a steal. Instead of paying $33,800 a year (the $650 they want after the first year) you get to spend 100-200k+," someone said.
"If the landlord is tight on money and doesn't have the funds to renovate, they should just sell the place," another commented.
Image credits: Domain