750,000 renters risking their bond over these white lies

Many Aussie renters have admitted to being less than truthful with their landlord, according to new research.

A Finder survey of 810 renters revealed a quarter (26 per cent) have hidden parts of their lives from their landlord or real estate agent – equivalent to 754,000 people.

The research found 10 per cent had concealed a pet - making that the most common fib among renters - while 7 per cent admitted to smoking or vaping inside.

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Hiding damage such as a hole in the wall, or making improvements to the property without asking permission were each covered up by 6 per cent of renters.

The data found 5 per cent of tenants had sublet to an extra person without proper documentation or lease approvals, to make a bit of extra cash on the side.

A further 3 per cent rented the space out on platforms like Stayz or Airbnb without permission.

Lying could cost you

Finder money expert Sarah Megginson said lying to your landlord was a recipe for disaster.

“Hiding things from your landlord or real estate agent could be considered a breach of your tenancy agreement,” Megginson said.

“Depending on the nature of the lie, breaching your contract could result in the loss of your bond, termination of your rental agreement, or your landlord taking legal action against you.

“Whilst you might consider it to be a white lie, you run the risk of throwing yourself back into a highly competitive rental market with a black mark against your name.”

Your bond could be held

A separate Finder survey revealed that, in the past 5 years, more than 36 per cent of renters had lost some or all of their rental bond.

Of those who didn’t get their bond back, damage to the rental – including floorboards, carpet, and pet-related damage – accounted for 42 per cent of lost bonds.

Aside from damage, an unclean kitchen or oven (16 per cent) and unpaid rent (11 per cent) made up the other reasons bonds weren’t returned.

Megginson said honesty was the best policy for renters.

“For instance, in Queensland, if a tenant makes a change to the property without the landlord’s consent, they can be required to reinstate the property to its original condition – even if the changes you made add value or amenity,” Megginson said.

“Being dishonest can have tremendous negative consequences, which could persist in the future.

“Disclosing issues up front can help you tackle the problem and save you money and heartache down the track.”

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