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A series of leaked emails between a landlord and her tenant has stunned thousands after it was revealed the renter had quietly demolished the back wall of the home without permission.
The exchange, shared by property strategist Jack Rooke on TikTok, shows the tenant, Nigel, insisting he had only done ‘a bit of work’ on the property, before finally admitting he had knocked out an entire load-bearing wall.
In the emails, landlord Suzanna first raised concerns after a neighbour spotted rubble, building materials, diggers, and tradespeople at the home and told her.
‘I can only assume, and I sincerely hope I am wrong, that there are unauthorised building works taking place. Please shed some light on the situation,’ she wrote.
Nigel brushed off the claims, calling them ‘nothing to worry about’ and accusing the neighbour of exaggerating.
But when Suzanna inspected the property herself, she discovered the rear wall gone and the house held up by steel supports.
‘In what world is this “not substantial” and “nothing to worry about?”,’ she fired back.
Nigel then admitted he was installing French doors and converting the kitchen into an open-plan space.
In the emails, landlord Suzanna first raises concerns after spotting rubble, building materials, diggers, and tradespeople at the home
Nigel brushed off the claims, calling them ‘nothing to worry about’ and accusing a neighbour of exaggerating
But when Suzanna inspected the property herself, she discovered the rear wall gone and the house held up by steel supports
‘It’s going to look lovely. We’ve been here eight years, I didn’t think you’d mind,’ he wrote, adding that ‘a mate who’s done a course’ in structural engineering had advised him.
Suzanna’s reply was swift and furious.
‘You have knocked down a load-bearing wall… This is dangerous, unlawful, and has exposed you to significant legal and financial consequences. You will hear from my solicitor immediately.’
Jack Rooke’s video quickly went viral, with viewers astonished at the renter’s casual approach.
‘Can you imagine going around and checking on your house and they’ve literally torn back walls down and shredded the insides?’ he said.
‘I don’t get what Nigel thought was going to happen here.’
Can Aussie tenants make renovations like this?
In Australia, tenants cannot make structural changes to a rental property without the landlord’s written consent.
This includes removing walls, installing doors, or making any modifications that affect the property’s structure.
Under most state tenancy laws, renters must seek approval for even minor alterations – such as painting walls, changing locks, or putting up shelves.
In some cases, landlords can’t unreasonably refuse cosmetic updates, but major works like those in Nigel’s case would almost certainly breach the lease.
Carrying out unauthorised renovations can leave tenants liable for repair costs, eviction, and even legal action if the works create safety risks or void the landlord’s insurance.
Experts recommend renters always put requests in writing and ensure approvals are clearly documented before making any changes.
