Sydney rental advertised as ‘neat and tidy’ found with hole, mould and rubbish in viewing footage

A two-bedroom inner west Sydney apartment advertised as “neat and tidy” was filmed in a state of visible disrepair during a public viewing, footage published by a tenant rights advocate shows.

The clip, posted on Sunday by Purple Pingers, a channel run by tenant advocate Jordan van den Berg, shows prospective renters discovering a large hole in the bathroom plaster that left concrete exposed, patches of black mould on bedroom walls, and household rubbish left in the lounge and kitchen. The unit is listed for $518 a week.

The listing included glossy photos and described the first-floor apartment as "well proportioned" with "natural light" and a "well-appointed modern kitchen fitted with gas stove." The footage shows a stove with a single pot left on it and a wooden drawer on the floor, contrasting with the online description and images.

Viewers in the video reacted audibly to the condition of the property. A woman behind the camera is heard saying, "I'm f***ing shocked," as the group inspects the bathroom. Another viewer in the clip notes what appear to be black marks around the toilet basin. Van den Berg said the listing was misleading and pointed out inconsistencies between the advertised pink tiles and the white-tiled bathroom shown in the footage.

The posting attracted strong responses from members of the public and renters who commented that the advertisement appeared to significantly misrepresent the property. Several commenters questioned why the property had not been cleaned before viewings and called for greater accountability from rental agencies.

Daily Mail reported the footage and said it had contacted the real estate agency handling the listing for comment. In its published report, the outlet noted that the rental was marketed as "excellent for those seeking affordable and comfy living." There was no immediate response from the agency on the allegations in the video at the time of publication.

The case highlights tensions in Australia's tight rental market, where demand for rental properties has placed pressure on prospective tenants and intensified scrutiny of online listings. Under Australian consumer law, businesses are prohibited from engaging in misleading or deceptive conduct in trade or commerce; similar rules apply to representations made in advertising. Tenant advocacy groups have in recent years increasingly used publicly shared inspections and footage to call attention to discrepancies between advertised conditions and on-site realities.

Van den Berg has previously posted footage of rental properties to highlight what he describes as recurrent issues in the market. In this instance he told followers the footage was among the most misleading he had seen, given the contrast between the listed images and the physical state of the apartment.

The apartment market and bodies overseeing consumer protections did not immediately issue statements in response to the video. Renters and advocacy groups who viewed the footage said the incident underscored a need for clearer enforcement of advertising standards and for real estate agents to ensure listings accurately reflect a property's condition prior to marketing and viewings.

Prospective tenants and members of the public continue to post and share similar footage on social platforms, increasing public visibility of disputes over rental conditions. Where complaints are made, tenants and consumer advocates can request investigation by relevant state-based tenancy bodies and, in matters of advertising accuracy, by consumer protection authorities.

The video and subsequent public reaction add to ongoing debate about standards in rental advertising and property management practices in markets experiencing high demand and limited supply. The outcome of any complaint or inquiry related to this specific property was not known at the time of reporting.