Albanese eviction: Prime Minister hits back after evicting tenant from his Dulwich Hill investment property

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hit back at a tenant he is evicting from his investment property, stating as the landlord he is “entitled to make decisions”.

Jim Flanagan, a small-business owner in Sydney’s Inner West, has resided in the three-bedroom townhouse owned by Albanese in Dulwich Hill for four years.

Flanagan now faces uncertainty after the Prime Minister informed his tenant via a property manager, that he was considering selling the property.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Mr Flanagan was served the eviction notice on May 8, prompting him to express his distress at the prospect of losing his accommodation.

“This will kill me, it’s a crippling blow right now,” Mr Flanagan said.

“I have mixed emotions in calling this out. I voted for Albo at the last election and am broadly a supporter of his policies.

“He has every right to seek to sell his assets … but it just doesn’t sit well when, on one hand, he’s trying to be sympathetic with the majority of Australians who are, like me, finding the current climate extremely challenging.”

Albanese hits back at tenant

Now the Prime Minister has hit back at the tenant’s media comments in a fiery interview with ABC Radio National host Patricia Karvelas.

“From time to time ... people’s personal circumstances change and my personal circumstances and the changes have been pretty public.” Mr Albanese replied.

Karvelas then asked if he was referring to “getting married”.

“Yes. And I’m changing arrangements,” Albanese said.

“The person who’s in the property, in his own words, I have been a more than fair owner of that property.

“He’s a small business owner. I have had him in the property with the rent being about half what is the market rent.”

Mr Albanese was then asked if he wasn’t prepared to let him stay a little longer.

“Well, he’s refused to have discussions with the real estate agent,’’ Mr Albanese claimed

“That’s a matter for him. I wish him well. He has been well looked after for a long period of time.

“But I am entitled to make decisions in my personal life including selling a 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.”

Mr Flanagan received a letter from his Raine & Horne Marrickville Property Manager Mario Markisic. saying: “Please be advised that the landlord requires vacant possession of the property … 90 days after the service of this letter.’’

Seeking clarification, Mr Flanagan asked his property manager if he needed to move out.

“Yes, this decision is aligned with the landlord. He could be selling the home at some stage,” Raine & Horne confirmed.