Melbourne Renter Left Legitimately Confused After Their Landlord Installed A Coin-Operated Loo

The renter appealed to the friendly citizens of Reddit for help, after their landlord installed a coin operated flusher on their toilet.

Update: As it turns out, this was a hoax, made possible by some sneaky Photoshopping skills. The original story reads as follows.

A Reddit user by the name of Unlovablepig posted to r/Melbourne about the rather perplexing situation.

They came home to find that their landlord had started charging them for using the toilet – with a dollar-coin flusher.

(As if exorbitant rental prices weren’t enough already, right?)

“I’m in Melbourne, Thornbury. I understand in our laundry having to pay for the communal washing machine,” the post read.

“But I pay the water bill that goes into my apartment. He [the landlord] said it was a government incentive to save water,” it continued. “But then why does he get to collect the money?”

Realising that their landlord sounded a touch sketchy, the Redditor turned to Google. When in doubt, Google it out, right?

Clearly puzzled when no results turned up online, the poster asked: “I can’t work out if I’m being duped?”

The general consensus from those who replied to the post was: Indeed, yes.

One Redditor who goes by Bulknowt said, “I work for consumer affairs Victoria, specifically investigating this exact sort of thing. I highly suggest you contact CAV and possibly make a complaint.”

“I don’t offer legal advice off the top of my head, but I’m pretty sure that isn’t legal.”

After receiving a torrent of replies similar to the above, the original poster said he’ll be taking action.

“I have spoken to my neighbour and she thinks I should call Today Tonight if the rental advice people tell me that it's not right for my landlord to do this to me. I have looked at their website and you can write them an email with your issue,” he replied.

“People like him need to be exposed.”

The Internet isn’t exactly known to be the most trusting environment, so unsurprisingly, people wanted proof. Unlovable pig delivered.

Their photographic evidence was uploaded to Imgur, with the caption: “My landlord’s way of making a profit of my use of the toilet I already pay rent for.”

The original poster has since provided an update, saying they’re getting legal help.

“With the help of others I have been using tips and also a lawyer has sent me her details to help me out with the legal side of things… My friend is also coming over and he thinks we can remove the top cover without really damaging the landlords ‘property’,” the post read.

“Then at least for now I can get to the flushing lever thingy.”

Job well done.

Photo: Giphy and Imgur (@destroyon)