A string of text messages has exposed a growing feud between a landlord and a tenant who refused to pay rent, with people quickly deciding who was really in the wrong.
The tensions began when the renter, Kyle, told his landlord, Margaret, he wouldn’t be paying rent until an issue with the home’s heating and hot water had been resolved.
“Margaret, just FYI I won’t be paying rent this month. The heating keeps cutting out and I’m not paying until it’s fixed,” Kyle texted his landlord.
“It’s been coming and going for weeks. I’ve had no hot water. I’m having to shower at my mum’s.”
Margaret said she had not been aware of any issues with the property but immediately organised for someone to visit the home to assess the issue.
“I’m really sorry to hear that. I’ll have an engineer out tomorrow, what time works for you?’ Margaret replied.
“I do need you to pay this month’s rent in the meantime Kyle.”
The text message exchange struck a nerve with readers. Picture: Supplied
The text message exchange struck a nerve with readers. Picture: Supplied
But Kyle refused to commit to paying any rent until the issue was fixed: “I told you I’m not paying until it’s fixed,” he said.
The situation deteriorated further after the tradie visited the property and found no issue with the heating systems.
Margaret informed Kyle of the tradie’s findings and requested the rent be paid immediately.
But Kyle wasn’t having any of it.
“That can’t be right. He must have missed something. It’s still not right,” Kyle said.
Margaret ended up visiting the property in person and testing the heating system herself for two hours. She claimed she also found no issues.
Kyle still refused to accept Margaret’s findings and the text exchange became full of accusations as the landlord demanded rental payment that was now two weeks’ overdue.
“There are no issues with this property. You need to pay your rent. It’s now 14 days overdue. If you continue to withhold it, I’ll have no choice but to take further action,” Margaret said.
Kyle doubled down by accusing Margaret of harassment.
The text message exchange struck a nerve with readers. Picture: Supplied
The text message exchange struck a nerve with readers. Picture: Supplied
“You’re calling me a liar and forcing me to pay for something that’s uninhabitable. This is harassment,” he said.
The text exchange hit a nerve with the public when shared by property expert Jack Rooke.
Rooke’s followers were quick to side with the landlord and slammed Kyle for not paying rent.
“Hi Kyle, here is your notice to vacate,” one person commented.
“Regardless if there is an issue you still have to pay your rent. And in the case nothing wrong even after the landlord had it checked. Get that tenant out,” another said.
“Yeah you can’t withhold rent over an issue you didn’t even report to the landlord,” commented another.
English (US) · 