Renters Ben and Dino believed they had discovered their ideal living situation, but a hidden problem forced them out within 24 hours, unveiling the harsh living conditions faced by millions.
Tenants in Sydney's Inner West Battle with Uncompensated Property Damage
In Sydney's vibrant Inner West, two housemates, Ben Pierpoint and Dino Dimitriadis, are navigating a challenging situation. They reside in a refurbished home in Marrickville, but recently, their rental property has shown signs of distress.
Over a period of two years, small cracks appeared in the walls, initially thought to be normal wear and tear. However, on July 22, a significant event occurred when a portion of the wall in Mr. Pierpoint's room detached from the ceiling, and the house sank by six centimeters. An engineer deemed the house unsafe to live in, giving the housemates 24 hours to vacate.
Despite lodging compensation claims with the owner's insurance company, their claims were refused. The insurance company argued that the damage was just normal wear and tear. This refusal leaves Mr. Pierpoint and Mr. Dimitriadis in a precarious position, as they question whether the excavation next door, including a 10-meter deep hole for a basement car park, may have caused the damage to their rented home.
Under current NSW tenancy laws, landlords must specify a lawful reason to end a tenancy and provide proper notice. However, the laws do not guarantee tenants compensation if evicted due to property damage beyond their control. This leaves tenants like Mr. Pierpoint and Mr. Dimitriadis in a difficult position, as they are deterred by the high costs and risks of legal action.
The Tenants' Union of NSW chief executive, Leo Patterson Ross, has stated that the costs of legal action often outweigh the amount sought in compensation. The housemates' situation highlights a perceived gap in tenancy laws regarding the protection of renters.
In response, Mr. Pierpoint and Mr. Dimitriadis are advocating for changes in tenancy laws to protect renters. They want tenancy laws amended to provide renters with a safety net in case of eviction due to reasons beyond their control.
This is not an isolated incident. Ksenia Pavlovskaya, a different tenant, previously claimed to have developed health problems due to mould in her rental unit in North Curl Curl. These cases underscore the need for improved protections for renters in NSW.
If Mr. Pierpoint and Mr. Dimitriadis did not have the financial means or community support, they could have potentially been left homeless. They suggest that landlord's insurance should cover the costs in such situations, but acknowledge that insurance companies may resist paying out.
As the situation unfolds, Mr. Pierpoint and Mr. Dimitriadis are calling on the government to amend tenancy laws to provide renters with a safety net in case of eviction due to reasons beyond their control. They are not alone in their quest for change, as tenants across NSW strive for a more secure and equitable rental market.
[1] NSW Fair Trading. (2025). Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024. [2] NSW Fair Trading. (2025). Guide to Tenancy Laws in NSW. [3] Tenants' Union of NSW. (2025). Tenancy Fact Sheets. [4] NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. (2025). Eviction and Tenancy Termination. [5] NSW Fair Trading. (2025). Notice Periods for Tenancy Termination.
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