A tenant has been left utterly speechless after his landlord attempted to raise his rent for a truly “shocking” reason – his recent pay rise.
The explosive text exchange, which has gone viral, has ignited a furious national debate, exposing the raw nerves of both renters and property investors grappling with unprecedented financial pressures.
At the heart of the storm is Josh, a tenant who found himself blindsided by a text from his landlord.
The message wasn’t about maintenance or lease renewals; it was a direct consequence of a mutual friend, Mia, spilling the beans on Josh’s recent salary bump.
“Hey Josh. I heard from Mia you got a raise?,” the landlord’s text began, immediately setting an uncomfortable tone.
Josh’s awkward reply – “Yeah…Didn’t realise we were sharing that around” – underscored the immediate breach of privacy that would soon escalate into a full-blown property dispute.
The landlord, however, wasted no time in linking Josh’s improved financial standing to his own rising costs.
A landlord has sparked a heated feud by trying to increase the rent after discovering his tenant had received a pay rise
“Look … your rent’s been the same since you moved in. Meanwhile I’m paying more on everything: insurance, mortgage, repairs and I’m sure you understand it adds up,” he argued, attempting to justify the impending increase.
He even cited past “leeway” with late payments and extra guests as reasons for his perceived generosity.
Despite the landlord’s insistence that the new rate would still be “mates rates” and below market value, Josh was incandescent.
“Is this a wind up, because I got a raise?” he fired back, questioning the legality and ethical boundaries of the situation.
“This feels completely out of line and illegal, you shouldn’t even know my income at this point. Isn’t that like private information?”
The landlord’s defence was stark.
Josh, the tenant, was left speechless.
“I’ve tried to keep it as low as possible and now you can afford it. It’s only fair.”
The exchange has become the flashpoint for thousands of tenants, highlighting the deep chasm between tenant expectations and landlord realities.
British property strategist Jack Rooke, who re-shared the contentious exchange, weighed in, acknowledging the landlord’s right to increase rent but condemning the approach.
“Utilising someone’s raise to increase rent that’s a no-go. However, a landlord is entitled to raise rent,” Rooke stated.
However, the landlord buckled down on his decision.
The public response has been overwhelming and fiercely divided.
Many sympathised with the landlord, pointing out the escalating costs of property ownership. “Honestly, I can kind of see the landlord’s POV. If I were paying significantly under market rate, and the landlord never increased the rent as a favour so I could afford to live there, I wouldn’t be too upset to pay a bit more once I’m able to. The way they brought it up was weird though,’ another said,” one commenter noted, reflecting the sentiment of many property investors.
Conversely, a significant number of people sided with Josh, decrying the invasion of privacy and the perceived opportunism.
“Landlord shouldn’t have started this conversation with “I hear you’ve got a raise”. He should’ve kept it to himself and the statement wouldn’t have been so weirdly conducted,” one person wrote, while another simply labelled it “scandalous.”
As property costs continue to soar, this viral dispute is a stark reminder that clear communication, respect for privacy, and an understanding of legal obligations are more crucial than ever in navigating the complexities of the housing market.
English (US) · 