15 hours Ago By Kellie Balaam
Consumer Protection has confirmed that the abrupt eviction of a Perth influencer and several other tenants from a beachfront apartment complex was, in fact, legal. Rahnee Bransby and the tenants of a Cottesloe unit block on Marine Parade were given seven days to move out of their homes after the building was deemed “uninhabitable” due to a “structural issue”. The lifestyle and fashion blogger took to TikTok to voice her anger and frustration about what she believed was an unfair and unreasonable eviction.
“Our lease got terminated and we had seven days to move out,” she said in the video, which has more than 61,000 views. “Scaffolding was put up three weeks ago because (workers) were removing asbestos in the eaves of the roof and then they were starting to replace all the windows in the building. “It’s now deemed uninhabitable because of a structural issue.
“We haven’t been given any direction on what it is, what caused it, didn’t give us any reason as to why deemed uninhabitable and seven days to move out with nine other units also having to move out.” Bransby went on to describe the situation as a “sh*t show”. “Is this even legal at this point, I’m so confused.
..what the f***,” she said.
However, a Consumer Protection spokesperson told PerthNow that the Residential Tenancies Act requires landlords to give tenants at least seven days’ notice to end a lease when a property has been deemed unfit to live in by local government or other authority. “A landlord should finalise the tenancy and repay the bond in the normal way, minus any mutually agreed expenses to which the landlord may be entitled,” they said. “The landlord does not have to provide alternative accommodation.
“Depending on the circumstances of the property being uninhabitable, tenants may be able to claim their costs of moving. “It is recommended that tenants who think they might have a claim, obtain legal advice.” Real estate agent Chris Shellabear said the abrupt eviction was necessary after a recent engineering report classified the building as uninhabitable after structural issues were found relating to the building’s corner columns supporting steel lintels and timber veranda beams.
Bransby said that after they moved out on February 21, her and her boyfriend stayed with friends “pretty much on the couch”. The couple have been looking for a bigger place to call home for at least two years, with this now coming as another set back in their property hunting journey. “The market in Perth at the moment is insane, I’m honestly laughing because I will have a panic attack, I’m so stressed, I don’t know what to do,” she said.
Fellow resident David George intends to fight in the courts for his right to stay, also claiming unjust eviction. “It’s just unreasonable ..
. and we’re all questioning the motives here,” Mr George said. “It’s just been really stressful for everyone.
Having to pack up years of memories in seven days, with nowhere to go.”.
