Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hit back at the tenant of his inner Sydney rental who is pleading for a reprieve after he was evicted from the property.
On Thursday, occupant Jim Flanagan, 45, told Sunrise he could soon face homelessness because of the eviction.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Prime minister’s tenant pleads for reprieve following eviction from rental property.
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The small business owner has lived in Albanese’s three-bedroom townhouse in Dulwich Hill for the past four years, but on May 8 he was given 90 days to vacate.
Speaking to ABC Radio following the interview, Albanese slapped down the complaints saying he has been a more than fair tenant.
“The person who’s in the property, in his own words, (says) I have been a more than fair owner of that property,” Albanese said.
![Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hit back at this tenant Jim Flanagan, who he is evicting from his inner Sydney rental property.](jpg/bf4d3b25ef51c5739c399e226c9da0731b9a1eece2c3.jpg?imwidth=650&impolicy=sevennews_v2)
Without naming Flanagan, Albanese suggested he had not engaged with the property managers.
“Well, he’s refused to have discussions with the real estate agent,” Albanese said.
“That’s a matter for him. I wish him well. He has been well looked after for a long period of time.
“I am entitled to make decisions in my personal life including selling my property that I own because I wish to move on in my personal life in a different direction.
“The property was bought when my personal circumstances were different.”
Albanese purchased the investment property for $1.75 million in 2015, however it is now worth between $1.9 million and $2.2 million, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph.
The outlet reported that the leasing agent told Flanagan in the termination notice that the landlord “could be selling the house at some stage”.
Flanagan joined Matt Shirvington on Sunrise on Thursday, speaking about the difficult circumstances the eviction has put him in.
“I think renters again are really exposed at the moment, that power imbalance has been exacerbated by the rental crisis and the cost-of-living crisis,” 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.”
The prime minister has a property portfolio said to be worth a massive $5 million, with homes in Marrickville and the three-bedroom Dulwich Hill townhouse, in Sydney’s inner west, according to previous reports.
Albanese currently splits his time between official prime ministerial residences The Lodge in Canberra, and Kirribilli House in the Sydney harbourside suburb of Kirribilli.
He famously grew up in public housing in Sydney’s inner west and has a home in Marrickville.
The prime minister confirmed to Sunrise that he intended to sell the property soon.
Flanagan, was on a month-to-month rental contract after finishing his lease, and said he understood Albanese had every right to ask him to vacate.
“Albo has every right to do this, I’m not suggesting there’s been anything illegal here,” Flanagan 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.”
During the pandemic, Albanese slashed the rent to $680 a week and it has not been raised since.
The decision to sell comes on the heels of Albanese’s engagement to girlfriend, Jodie Haydon with a wedding expected within the next 12 to 18 months.
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