A Queensland landlord is struggling to regain control of her property after an unauthorised woman allegedly moved in, claiming a former tenant handed over the keys in return for $3,000.
Zhairah Charles said the woman has been living at the property since October 7—six days after the previous tenant was due to vacate.
Ms Charles said she had been trying to have the woman removed ever since, but was frustrated by what she described as a lack of assistance from authorities. She is now concerned about the safety and condition of the property.
Ms Charles detailed the alleged landlord nightmare online, saying her property manager discovered the unauthorised occupant when he arrived to collect the keys.
‘Our property manager was supposed to get the keys on Wednesday the 7th, but found a crazy lady who had no authority to be there,’ she said.
‘When we asked what happened, apparently he gave her the keys in exchange for $3,000 in cash, with a handwritten receipt.’
The woman allegedly told Ms Charles that she had found the unit through Flatmates.com. However, Ms Charles said the website confirmed there was no listing for the property.
‘So essentially he committed fraud and illegal subletting, and now we have a trespasser,’ she wrote.
A photo shared online shows the trashed apartment after a landlord’s nightmare unfolded when an unauthorised woman allegedly moved in without her permission
Zhairah Charles says she has been trying to get the woman removed ever since, but claims she has been left frustrated by a lack of help from authorities
Ms Charles said she and her property manager initially asked the woman to leave before contacting police the next day.
Police attended the property and, according to Ms Charles, the woman agreed to leave on Saturday. Her NDIS support worker reportedly said temporary accommodation had already been organised.
The woman allegedly did not leave. When the property manager returned on Sunday, Ms Charles said he found the home had been trashed and the occupant was refusing to vacate.
‘Come Saturday, no news. Police didn’t attend and she didn’t leave. On Sunday, our property manager came in and found that she’s trashed the place and refuses to leave,’ she said.
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The landlord said she had contacted police several times and filed four reports, but was repeatedly told the dispute was a matter for the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
She also claimed she had been referred from one authority to another. The Residential Tenancies Authority allegedly told her the case could only be pursued against the former tenant, while QCAT could not advise her about the woman’s status without her full name.
Ms Charles said the woman’s support worker had also declined to provide the occupant’s full name or assist her with the dispute.
The situation allegedly intensified when Ms Charles began receiving abusive messages. She claimed the woman sent her a message reading: ‘F*** you and your silly dumb police friends. I’m staying here forever!’
Ms Charles said she had contacted police several times and lodged four reports, but was repeatedly told the matter was for QCAT to handle
She also alleged that the woman had verbally abused her 80-year-old building manager.
‘I’m so tired of the authorities not helping. At this point, can I please ask if there is any advice or whether there are any lawyers who can help?’ Ms Charles said.
The landlord said she was worried the woman could hand the keys to other unauthorised occupants, leaving her property further damaged.
‘I am so scared for my property and that she will just keep passing the keys to more unauthorised guests,’ she wrote.
‘Our home looks nothing like how we left it, and I’m so concerned she’ll continue trashing it, inviting unwanted guests and passing the keys on to more unwanted people.’
According to the RTA, Queensland tenants generally need their landlord’s written permission to sublet a property.
Its online guidance also states that property owners can apply to QCAT for an urgent order to remove someone occupying their property without permission.
The Daily Mail has approached Queensland Police, the RTA and QCAT for comment.
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