Australians are divided over an elderly landlord’s decision to leave the property to her loyal tenant in her will after she rented the unit for 23 years.
The wealthy owner also left behind a fortune of $18 million, which he donated to a local hospital.
“He let me have my unit that I had been renting for 23 years, it was amazing,” Jane told the SBS series Inheritance, which originally aired in 2022.
Jane said she and the man had become friends and that he was a “great landlord.”
She used to see him once a month when he collected rent, “and when he was too incapacitated to do so, I would go to his house once a month and pay the rent.”
In 2020, he called Jane and asked her to speak to his lawyer while he prepared his will.
‘He said I just want you to give him your full name and stuff, because I’m going to leave the unit to you,’ he continued.
‘I just couldn’t believe it because the whole time I knew him, he had talked about leaving everything at the hospital.
Jane was left the unit (pictured) she had rented for 23 years after befriending its elderly owner, who also left $18 million to a local hospital.
‘He was an only child and had never married.
‘It was very unexpected but wonderful for me. It changed my life completely.’
However, viewer reactions were mixed when Jane’s story resurfaced on social media this week.
Some pointed out that Jane’s 23-year lease should have paid for the house, while others questioned why the millionaire had any need to collect rent in the first place.
“Well, technically it paid off the entire mortgage,” one user said.
‘He had millions that he left for the hospital, I highly doubt he had a mortgage on that unit!’ pointed out a second.
“It’s a beautiful story, but people on $18 million don’t need $600 a week from the two-bedroom units they rent,” said a third.
“It’s really incredible to see the disparity that exists.”
Jane said her landlord’s decision to let her have the unit changed her life “completely.”
“Thanks for showing that some owners aren’t bad,” said one supportive user.
Housing has become a polarizing issue in Australia as many cities struggle with unaffordability.
Investors have drawn the ire of Australians by snapping up huge property portfolios, including Sam Duncan, 34, who owns 108 worth an estimated $48 million.
Duncan told Daily Mail Australia earlier this month that many people don’t understand the work he put into growing his portfolio over 15 years.
“There are some people who have been hugely inspired (by the party video) and then other people who want to throw stones and try to knock you down,” he said.
“People see the final image now and, I’ve done very well in 15 years, but I’ve been doing this for almost half the time I’ve been alive.
“I think people just need to realize that it is literally accessible for anyone to do it (invest in property).”