A blunt text exchange between a landlord and his tenant has struck a nerve with Australians, after a neighbour made ongoing complaints about bizarre things – including ‘threatening’ stares and ‘aggressively’ slamming doors.
The messages, shared by property expert Jack Rooke, show a landlord relaying a growing list of grievances from next door, beginning with noise complaints and escalating into claims of aggressive behaviour.
Tenant Jess’ early-morning departure was labelled ‘anti-social behaviour’ by neighbours – prompting threats of council complaints and formal warnings.
‘Hi Jess. I’ve had another message from next door this morning. They’re saying you slammed the front door aggressively at 6:47am and woke their kids. Any idea what that’s about?’ the landlord wrote.
Jess pushed back immediately.
‘I left for work at 6:45am and closed the door like a normal human being. I didn’t “slam” anything,’ she replied.
But the issue didn’t end there. According to the landlord, this was the fourth complaint in just three weeks.
‘They complain about everything. First it was music. Not us. Then it was shouting in the garden. Also not us. Now it’s doors and looking at them,’ Jess responded.
A blunt text exchange between a landlord and his tenant has struck a nerve with Australians
The landlord then passed on what many viewers described as the most baffling allegation of all.
‘They’re claiming you stared at them in a threatening way as well.’
Jess hit back: ‘I glanced at them because they were stood there watching me. If that’s threatening then literally eye contact is illegal.’
As the exchange continued, the landlord revealed the neighbours were pushing for a formal warning to be issued for anti-social behaviour and were asking for his email so they could begin reporting the matter to council.
The neighbours were also keeping a written log.
‘For what exactly? Existing before 7am,’ Jess fired back.
‘Let the council hear how dangerous it is that I shut a door and look at people.’
The landlord admitted he felt caught in the middle.
The messages, shared by property expert Jack Rooke, show a landlord relaying a growing list of grievances from next door, beginning with noise complaints and escalating into claims of aggressive behaviour
‘I just need things to calm down between you all,’ he wrote.
‘Then tell them to stop watching me like I’m on CCTV in my own home. Because at this rate the next incident will be me breathing too loud in my kitchen,’ Jess replied.
The exchange resonated with Australians who say neighbour disputes over noise – particularly in the early morning – are becoming increasingly common, especially as work patterns diverge between shift workers, commuters, and those working from home.
‘Sorry, but being up and productive around 6:45am is normal. Why are they moaning?’ one commenter said.
Others admitted their households were still asleep at that hour but accepted that different routines come with shared living.
‘We’re all asleep at 6:45am unless I’ve got an early meeting. That’s the benefit of working from home. There’s no need for my kid to be up three hours before school starts,’ a mum wrote.
Several shared similar experiences of walking on eggshells around hypersensitive neighbours.
‘We literally debated whether we could vacuum at 11am on a Saturday,’ one said.
The exchange resonated with Australians who say neighbour disputes over noise – particularly in the early morning – are becoming increasingly common
Another added: ‘I had this for two years. Absolute hell. Even years later I still get anxiety when kids make noise.’
In Australia, councils generally regulate unreasonable or excessive noise – not everyday living sounds.
While exact rules vary by state and council, brief, incidental noise such as doors opening and closing is rarely considered a breach, particularly during morning hours when people are heading to work or school.
Property experts say disputes often escalate when neighbours bypass direct communication and instead funnel complaints straight to landlords or councils, turning minor irritations into formal conflicts.
With more Australians living in close proximity than ever before, the exchange has reignited a familiar question: where does consideration for neighbours end – and where does the right to simply live begin?
