New research reveals what Aussie renters are hiding from their landlords

Are your renters hiding something from you?

Well, according to Finder's new research, many Aussie renters admit to being less than truthful with their landlords.

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

Source: Finder survey of 810 respondents who have rented or currently rent, May 2023

They are hiding their pets...and more

The research found 1 in 10 (10%) have concealed a pet, making this the most common fib among renters, followed by smoking or vaping inside (7%).

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

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

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

Lying to your landlord is a recipe for disaster

Hiding things from your landlord or real estate agent could be considered a breach of your tenancy agreement.

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.

A separate Finder survey revealed in the last 5 years, more than 1 in 3 (36%) renters have 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% of lost bonds.

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

Honesty is 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.

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

Disclosing issues upfront can help you tackle the problem and save you money and heartache down the track.

About Sarah Megginson Sarah Megginson is senior editor of home loans for Finder. She was previously managing editor of Australian Broker magazine, Your Investment Property magazine, and online home loan comparison site, Your Mortgage. Sarah has worked as a finance and property journalist for more than 15 years.