A real estate agency that listed a three-bedroom apartment above a daycare centre has spoken out after Aussies slammed the series of ‘inconvenient’ demands on the ad – as an investigation is launched on behalf of the kindergarten.
The unit in Queens Park, near Bondi Junction in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, was listed online this week by Wills Property for a ‘lower’ rate of $950-a-week.
In return for the discounted rent, tenants will need to complete a list of tasks for the kindergarten downstairs and abide by strict opening and closing hours.
Renters can only access the unit through the centre and are not allowed to enter, exit or have guests while the daycare is open from 7.45am to 5.45pm on weekdays.
The listing states tenants will need to clear out leaves, sticks and gumnuts from the playground twice a week, water the gardens, put out their bins and tidy the ‘front area’ monthly.
Guests, pets and smoking are also not allowed with ‘more details and information’ to be provided to applicants at an inspection that was initially scheduled for Saturday.
However, following multiple complaints and media inquiries into the listing it has since been removed from real estate websites.
Real estate agent John Wills told Daily Mail he has been forced to contact the police after Wills Property was inundated with ‘disturbing’ calls and messages.
‘These communications to us have grown increasingly disturbing over the last 48 hours, prompting us to notify the police,’ he said.
‘We were advised by the police to reach out to the makers of the original posts and to ask them to take the posts down.
‘We followed the police’s advice and, in attempting to reach the makers of these posts, we used only publicly available information.
‘We have received and continue to receive threats, but categorically deny having made any threats in turn, including threats to commence any legal action.
‘We are taking the matter seriously and can confirm that we are no longer managing the property.
‘Wills Property regrets that this matter has been allowed to blow out of all proportion.’
The NSW Department of Education confirmed to Daily Mail an investigation had been launched.
‘We are investigating concerns about a Bondi service and a rental property ,’ a spokesperson said.
‘Our priority is the health, safety and wellbeing of children.’
Daily Mail understands the department received several complaints regarding the real estate listing and its proximity to the kindergarten.
The unit was listed for rent in 2016 before it was withdrawn, according to property records.
It reappeared on the rental market in December, 2017, but was again withdrawn.
In December, 2019, it was listed again and a lease was signed.
The unit hit the market most recently on August 29, 2024.
Aussies were quick to share their thoughts on the property, saying the cheaper price wasn’t enough to justify the list of demands.
‘If I was a parent whose children attends that kindergarten, I would be mortified,’ one user wrote, adding: ‘This is so alarming’.
Another said they wouldn’t know what to do if they were sent home from work early.
‘Imagine if I had to hang out somewhere else for the rest of the day because I wasn’t allowed home,’ they wrote.