The apartment in Leichhardt looked like it had perfect views of Bondi Beach, despite the sandy shores being a more than 14-kilometre drive away. (Source: Domain/Google)
A view of Sydney’s Bondi Beach out the window of a rental 14 kilometres from the coast has cast light on frustrations being felt by Australians gripped in a nationwide housing crisis. A listing of a $650 two-bedroom apartment in Leichhardt attracted backlash after being posted online last Wednesday.
On first glance, it appears the kitchen boasts a view of the iconic beach; however, it is in fact a vinyl mural that the landlord plastered on the wall outside to give tenants a better view than the concrete wall behind it.
Real estate agent Mainstreet Residential Commercial copped a barrage of complaints over the photo, and a spokesperson told Yahoo Finance it was not initially considered vital to clarify this wasn’t an actual beach view, given the distance.
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The posting comes as those struggling to find a place to live have had to contend with digitally-altered images filtering onto listings, from making the grass greener or removing mould, to the use of fake furniture to make rooms appear much larger.
But the spokesperson said the image was not AI-generated or changed, and that it was not intended to mislead anyone who came across the listing.
“The photo is real. It has not been altered in any way, shape or form,” the spokesperson said.
This is what the view looked like before the wallpaper was installed. (Source: Property.com.au)
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Sydney consumer activist Simon Berry told Yahoo Finance the real estate agency should have been transparent about the wallpaper.
“It would’ve been as simple as putting in the description that it’s a wallpaper on the wall and that it’s not actually a view,” he said.
The mural appears to have been in place for roughly a decade, according to photos of the property posted online.
The listing was re-uploaded to online platforms on Monday with a note to applicants.
“Please note, the mural of the beach is actually affixed to the back wall of the property and not photo shopped into the photo,” the description now states.
This is how the living, dining and kitchen looks with the wallpaper. (Source: Domain)
Real estate agents need to make sure rental listings are accurate and “do not mislead or deceive, either expressly or by implication”.
Luke Shumack from O*NO Legal told Yahoo Finance the overall impression of listings mattered and that disclaimers should be used if there was a risk someone could get the wrong idea.
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“While it may seem self-evident that a unit in Leichhardt does not offer beach views, the overall impression created by the conduct or advertising must be considered when assessing whether it is misleading,” Shumack said.
“Including a clear disclaimer in marketing materials can help manage consumer expectations and reduce the risk of misleading impressions.”
Angela Cartwright, CEO of community group Better Renting, said tenants were facing trying times, with some real estate agents making intentional moves to deceive renters.
“Renters, already frustrated by queuing up to inspect homes only to find the images in the ad had been photoshopped or taken years before, are now dealing with AI-enhanced images,” she told Yahoo Finance.
Online criticism can be significant, and in this case, has extended to the listing agent, the Mainstreet Residential Commercial spokesperson said.
Property managers often cop the brunt of complaints about rental properties, from landlords and tenants, and also people online.
According to MRI Software, 53 per cent of property managers were experiencing psychological distress, while 23 per cent planned to leave the industry due to abuse.
Cartwright said the frustration over this specific case highlighted “the importance of accurate listings and enforcement against misleading listings” on all fronts.
“I note the agent’s assurance that this is a case of covering a wall with wallpaper rather than faking a view, and we can all agree there’s no beach in Leichhardt,” she said.
“It’s probably also necessary to mandate disclosure around any enhancement of images so potential renters know when images are a ploy and when they just reflect interesting design choices.”
The NSW government has proposed a law to parliament to ensure prospective tenants know what they’re looking at.
If the bill gets approved, real estate agents would have to declare whether a photo on a listing is AI-generated, with penalties of up to $22,000 for non-compliance.
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