Opinion: Why landlords switch rentals to Airbnb

Thank you Jill Saunders for focusing on the real problem with long term renting (or even short term).

A couple of years ago I had to move to Sydney to cope with a family emergency; I let a double room in my Canberra townhouse to a mature-age student whom I felt would be stable and responsible, and on the understanding that I kept  one room for myself that I would use every so often (once every two or three months, as it turned out).

At first all went well, his rent was paid promptly by a family member and I was reassured every time I visited that there were no problems, although I did notice his tendency to use most of the living space as a study/library.

However some time later when I visited I noticed he’d moved heavy bookcases (with heavy books) into his room, seemingly barricading himself in) and when I questioned him about it, he was strangely evasive. I rang his university -fortuitously I myself had tutored there- and was told he was no longer a student, and I should contact a mental health service as privacy issues wee involved.  I had to go back to Sydney but tried to maintain contact but he turned aggressive and announced he was leaving as I had “betrayed a trust” by ringing his university.  I was relieved  and retuned to ensure that he did leave when and how he said he would. He did, but I will not be rent out my place, as it’s just too stressful – group houses are now a fact of life for most in Australia but the burden always falls on the person who had most invested in the dwelling, either financially or emotionally.