A tenant who shifted a wooden kitchen island into the backyard for a barbecue and left it through days of rain has ignited a viral stoush – and a timely reminder of where renting rights stop and responsibilities begin for Australians.
The exchange, posted by UK property commentator Jack Rooke on TikTok, began with a landlord’s incredulous text message: “Why has my kitchen island ended up in the garden?” The tenant’s response was startlingly nonchalant: “Oh yeah, we moved it out there for the BBQ.”
What followed quickly unravelled into a series of baffling justifications.
The tenant argued the island wasn’t fixed down, making it “work perfectly” outside.
They initially insisted it hadn’t been there long, only to then admit it had been exposed to the elements for two weeks, including a full week of heavy rain.
“It’s wood. I didn’t think it would matter,” the tenant doubled down, seemingly oblivious to the potential damage.
MORE NEWS
AFL star mocks fuel prices with viral lawn hack
Investor’s $50k dream deal turns into costly nightmare
Tenant faces eviction for housing adult son
A rental dispute has sparked a furious debate after a kitchen island was moved outside for a barbecue.
The landlord’s blunt reply, “Of course it matters. It’s going to get ruined,” was met with an equally perplexing retort: “Honestly, it works better outside. You should set it up.”
What Australian tenancy laws say
In Australia, tenancy laws are designed to provide clarity, though practical application can sometimes be complex.
Across states, including New South Wales, tenants are generally expected to maintain a property in a “reasonable state of cleanliness” and, crucially, avoid causing damage beyond fair wear and tear.
This dispute quickly escalated.
Anything that permanently alters, removes, or exposes fixtures to damage – such as leaving a wooden kitchen island outside in the rain – would almost certainly fall outside these expectations.
Even if an item isn’t bolted down, it doesn’t grant a tenant carte blanche to treat it as disposable or suitable for purposes other than its intended use.
Kitchen islands are typically considered part of a property’s fixtures or inclusions.
This means they are expected to remain in place and be maintained in usable condition.
Meanwhile, the online reaction to the dispute has been telling, with many commenters expressing disbelief and siding with the landlord.
The big question is, who is in the right?
“I’m not normally on the landlord’s side, but in this case…” one person wrote, highlighting the unusual nature of the tenant’s actions. Another commenter was unequivocal: “The tenant should pay for a new one.”
Others shared their own “horror stories” of tenant behaviour, including one landlord who claimed a tenant had “moved the sink … by bending the pipes,” leading to leaks and a rotted floor.
Help us improve your reading experience
Got a minute? Your feedback will help us build a better experience for you.
Help us improve this page
English (US) · 