Major update in Sydney’s $950-a-week rental saga, with bizarre list of childcare centre requirements

An estate agency that listed a three-bedroom apartment above a daycare centre has spoken out after Australians criticised the listing for a series of “uncomfortable” requirements. An investigation has been launched on behalf of the daycare centre.

The apartment in Queens Park, near Bondi Junction in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, was listed online this week by Wills Property for the ‘lower’ price of $950 a week.

In exchange for the rent reduction, tenants must create a to-do list for the downstairs preschool and adhere to strict opening and closing times.

Tenants can only access the unit through the center. They are not allowed to enter or leave the unit and are not allowed to receive guests. The childcare is open from 07:45 to 17:45 on weekdays.

The advertisement states that tenants must remove leaves, branches and nuts from the playground twice a week, water the gardens, take out the bins and tidy up the ‘front area’ once a month.

Guests, pets and smoking are also not allowed. ‘More details and information’ will be provided to applicants during an inspection initially scheduled for Saturday.

After several complaints and questions in the media about the advertisement, it has now been removed from real estate agent websites.

Estate agent John Wills told Daily Mail Australia he had to call police after Wills Property was inundated with “concerning” calls and messages.

A three-bedroom apartment in Queens Park, Sydney’s east (pictured is the apartment’s balcony) has been criticised by Australians for a series of worrying details about it being located above a childcare centre

In exchange for the reduced rent, tenants must complete a task list for the downstairs kindergarten and adhere to strict opening and closing times

“Over the past 48 hours, these reports have become increasingly disturbing, which is why we have notified the police,” he said.

‘The police advised us to contact the creators of the original messages and ask them to remove the messages.

‘We followed the advice of the police and used only publicly available information to reach the creators of these messages.

‘We have received and continue to receive threats, but we strongly deny that we have made any threats in turn, including threats to take legal action.

‘We take the matter seriously and can confirm that we no longer manage the property.

‘Wills Property regrets that this matter has been allowed to escalate out of proportion.’

The New South Wales Department of Education confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that an investigation has been launched.

“We are investigating concerns about a Bondi service and an advertisement for rental properties,” a spokesperson said.

“Our priority is the health, safety and well-being of children.”

The photo shows the living room in a $950-a-week rental property in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs

In response to a negative review of Wills Property from someone who claimed the Queens Park listing could be ‘illegal’, the estate agency responded and threatened legal action

Daily Mail Australia has learned the department has received several complaints about the property listing and its proximity to the preschool.

According to property records, the apartment was listed for rent in 2016 but was subsequently withdrawn.

In December 2017 it reappeared on the rental market, but was withdrawn again.

In December 2019 it was put up for sale again and a lease was signed.

The device was last released on August 29, 2024.

Australians were quick to comment on the property, saying the lower price wasn’t enough to justify the list of demands.

“If I were a parent of children going to that preschool I would be mortified,” one user wrote, adding, “This is so alarming.”

Another said they wouldn’t know what to do if they were sent home from work early.

“Imagine if I had to hang out somewhere else for the rest of the day because I wasn’t allowed to go home,” they wrote.

The list showed that tenants were not allowed to enter or leave and that no guests were allowed in the apartment, while the nursery school (pictured) is open from 7:45 am to 5:45 pm on weekdays.