Image: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended his decision to evict a tenant in a house he owns in Sydney’s inner west, saying he has been “more than fair” as a landlord.
Tenant Jim Flanagan has lived in Albanese’s 3-storey property in Dulwich Hill for the past four years. He was given a 90-day notice to vacate the premises on May 8.
As his reason for selling the property, the prime minister said he was “changing arrangements”, referring to his engagement to partner Jodie Haydon.
“The person who’s in the property will says, as in his own words I have been a more than been fair owner of that property,” said Albanese.
“He has lived there for four years. There was other people there at the time and his personal circumstances have changed. He’s a small business owner, [and] I have had him in the property with the rent being about half what is the market rent to keep him in for longer.”
“He has been well looked after for a long period of time,” he continued.
“But I am entitled to make decisions in my personal life including selling a property that I own because I wish to move on in my personal life in a different direction.”
During the pandemic, Albanese reduced the rent to $680. The price has remained the same since.
But the tenant says the eviction will be a “crippling blow.”
Speaking to Sunrise’s Matt Shirvington, Flanagan said the prime minister had every right to do this.
“I’m not suggesting there’s been anything illegal here,” he said. “There’s certainly no class war, I have nothing against property owners.”
“The reality is that there is always a power imbalance between renters and landlords.”
When asked why he decided to speak publicly, Flanagan said, “I guess we’re just looking for a little more of a considered communicative approach — maybe a discussion.”
“I certainly wasn’t even provided with the opportunity to discuss an increase of the rent, staying a bit longer, potentially if the house was going on the market.
“I guess we’re just looking for a bit more engagement when it comes to kicking us out of a property.”
If Flanagan is evicted, rent for a similar place in the same area, which is close to the bar he owns, would be about $800 a week.
The prime minister reportedly makes an extra $115,000 a year from investment rental properties.
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