Tenant receives “disgusting” email from real estate agent. Source: rawpixel
A letter from a real estate agent to a tenant who was allegedly a few days late with their rent has been condemned online.
Screenshots of the email from the real estate agent were shared online via the “Don’t Rent Me” Facebook group.
The subject line of the email read: “Do you need to call a removalist?” followed by the rest of the email, which read: “Wow, it’s not looking good at all. So you are now five days in arrears! Let’s hope the landlord renews your lease!”
The anonymous tenant said that they had already contacted the real estate agent to organise a late payment, so were shocked at the email.
“It’s just not right to send an email like this. (I’m a) bit gobsmacked, I organised to pay for this week.
“Talk about a slap in the face.”
The email received heavy criticism from members of the Facebook group, with one member writing, “Regardless of if it’s automated, that’s absolutely disgusting,”
Another person wrote, “Let’s just play with people’s lives and emotions like it’s a game. God forbid they are ever in a similar position.”
A third commenter wrote that they had had a very similar experience, saying, “My real estate sent this exact email when I was a couple days behind rent”.
Carrie Dawes, tenancy services manager for Rent Right (SYC) said it’s understandable that a tenant who received such an email would be concerned.
“It’d definitely inappropriate language,” Dawes said.
Dawes also added that tenants are in a vulnerable position due to the power imbalance in the situation.
“They’re too frightened to speak out for fear of not having their lease renewed, and not being able to find alternative housing,” Dawes said.
“We’re in such a crisis at the moment. People are putting up with all sorts of things.”
