The weirdest things Aussies have spotted at open homes

An open for inspection is one of the rare times you get a glimpse into someone else’s life. 

Unfortunately, sometimes the lessons we learn are more than we expected.

Earlier this month, an Australian tenant was checking out a rental property, when something on the patio made them do a double take. 

Behind a sheet of corrugated metal was a pink curtain on a string. 

The curtain hid an outdoor toilet. There was no door, ceiling or sink – just a loo sitting on a slab of concrete.

Baffled, the renter posted a photo of the strange toilet setup on a popular Facebook group. 

“Just went to an open inspection. Never seen this before,” they wrote in the caption. 

While the odd sight caused some giggles, many people agreed the toilet could be a useful bonus – as long as it was not the property’s only bathroom. 

The questionable dunny is not the only peculiar sight Australians have spotted during an open for inspection. 

Maddie was viewing a rental property when a mysterious brown substance caught her eye. 

“I saw what looked like soil embedded in the carpet of one of the bedroom wardrobes,” she told Domain. 

“Apparently a previous tenant had been growing weed in the wardrobes.” 

On several occasions, people said they bumped into the previous tenants at an open home. 

“I went to a rental viewing not too long ago and the tenant at the time was just sitting there on their computer while 20+ people walked through the unit,” Alex said. 

The tenant’s presence instantly killed the vibe. 

“It was super uncomfortable,” Alex said. “We didn’t end up applying.” 

April said the same thing happened to her – but this time, the tenant was “lying on his bed scrolling on his phone”. 

“It was a 15-minute viewing, like come on, you can leave for a coffee or something,” she said. 

In 2024, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported 31 per cent of Australians were renters. This figure remained unchanged in the lead up to 2025.

The exact number of Aussies renting in 2025 is not currently available.

This compares to about 66 per cent of Aussie households who own their own homes.

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