A renter has exposed the nightmare reality of leasing a home from a work colleague after being hit with a sudden eviction threat over text message
Taking to Reddit, the tenant revealed their professional relationship has completely deteriorated since moving into the property, sharing a series of heated text exchanges over unproven smoking accusations.
“I know him personally as we work together at our normal jobs,” the renter said.
“Since I’ve moved in, it’s like he’s had a problem with me altogether. He has texted me my warnings multiple times.
“Each time, I have told him that I haven’t been smoking and I am disputing his claims.”
Despite the tenant’s repeated denials, the landlord escalated the conflict by issuing an ultimatum over text message, labelling it a “final warning.”
The tenant insists the property does not feature any smoke odour detection devices, leaving the landlord’s aggressive claims entirely unsubstantiated.
“He has no real proof — no smoke odour detection devices on the property,” the tenant said. “I have never smoked in my apartment and have even made a show of myself going outside to smoke while he’s here.”
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A renter has exposed the nightmare reality of leasing a home from a work colleague. Picture: Reddit/TenantHelp
Beyond the unproven eviction threats, the tenant alleged the landlord has repeatedly breached standard lease clauses regarding a tenant’s explicit right to privacy and quiet enjoyment.
Up until recently, the tenant was the only person living in the building, allowing the landlord to spend an excessive amount of time on site under the guise of conducting maintenance.
The tenant questioned why they would risk their housing security by violating the lease rules while the owner was hovering over the address almost every day.
“While he was here, he would work late into the night, usually around 11pm and sometimes even until 1am, blasting music so loud my television had to be turned up to 65 volume just to hear it,” the tenant said.
“In my lease, there was a specific clause about a tenant’s right to privacy and enjoyment of the property.
“I’ve just felt like I’m being harassed because of personal feelings, and it just doesn’t feel right.”
The situation has shocked social media users, drawing fierce debate over property boundaries.
“Weed f***ing stinks,” one person wrote.
“This is you discovering that a lot of people don’t f***ing care for it.
“If you wanted to be really petty, get some cheap security cameras and set them up in every room of your own house, that way you have video evidence of yourself, not doing it when he eventually tries to take legal action,” another commented.
“Nothing you can do except find a new place,” a third person wrote.
“This person doesn’t like you and it doesn’t matter if you haven’t smoked in their place. As a tenant this is a losing battle.”
Landlord warns renter about smoking in home. Picture: Reddit/TenantHelp
However, some property watchers defended the landlord’s suspicion, pointing out how smoke cycles through modern buildings.
“Your smoke is getting sucked into the house,” a fourth person commented.
“Most modern HVACs are now designed to pull in a set amount of fresh air to cycle into the house.
“If your HVAC is sucking it in then it is getting dumped into the house and then reconditioned through the AC and recycled.
“So even if you’re walking into the alley next to the house it’s close enough proximity.
“You need to walk across the parking lot or street. You are saturated in that smell. You are nose blind to the smell.”
In Australia, people can be evicted for smoking indoors, though it depends entirely on the lease agreement, state tenancy laws, and strata by-laws.
If a tenant violates a strict “no smoking” clause in their lease, it is legally considered a breach, which can lead to formal warnings and eventually eviction.
According to insurance expert Terri Sheer, landlords must follow strict regulatory boundaries when managing suspected lease breaches.
“If you suspect a tenant is smoking inside the property, you may wish to speak to your tenants about this and discuss the resolution process,” the website states.
“Generally, a first step is to send a warning notice advising the tenant they are breaching the lease agreement, if the lease agreement does indeed prohibit smoking.
“If you appoint a property manager they can help you carry out regular inspections.”
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