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) <\/p>\n
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>. A listing of a $650 two-bedroom apartment in Leichhardt attracted backlash after being posted online last Wednesday.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n RELATED<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “The photo is real. It has not been altered in any way, shape or form,” the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n Do you have a story? Email stew.perrie@yahooinc.com<\/strong><\/p>\n Sydney consumer activist Simon Berry told Yahoo Finance the real estate agency should have been transparent about the wallpaper.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n The mural appears to have been in place for roughly a decade, according to photos of the property posted online.<\/p>\n The listing was re-uploaded to online platforms on Monday with a note to applicants.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n Real estate agents need to make sure rental listings are accurate and “do not mislead or deceive, either expressly or by implication”.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Story Continues <\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “Including a clear disclaimer in marketing materials can help manage consumer expectations and reduce the risk of misleading impressions.”<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n Online criticism can be significant, and in this case, has extended to the listing agent, the Mainstreet Residential Commercial spokesperson said.<\/p>\n Property managers often cop the brunt of complaints<\/a> about rental properties, from landlords and tenants, and also people online.<\/p>\n According to MRI Software<\/a>, 53 per cent of property managers were experiencing psychological distress, while 23 per cent planned to leave the industry due to abuse.<\/p>\n Cartwright said the frustration over this specific case highlighted “the importance of accurate listings and enforcement against misleading listings” on all fronts.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n The NSW government has proposed a law to parliament to ensure prospective tenants know what they’re looking at.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Get the latest Yahoo Finance news – follow us on <\/strong>Facebook<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>LinkedIn<\/strong><\/a> and <\/strong>Instagram<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n This is what the view looked like before the wallpaper was installed. (Source: Property.com.au) <\/p>\n
This is how the living, dining and kitchen looks with the wallpaper. (Source: Domain) <\/p>\n