Man found living in Sydney housing unit filled with mountains of rubbish

News.com.au reported that Homes NSW was aware of the situation but had not yet acted.

The resident has not been moved despite pleas for help from people over multiple months.

One of those people was a tradie who spent multiple days cleaning the house and documented the job on his social media.

Lawn mower Nathan Stafford told news.com.au of his discovery.

Stafford, who is known online as “Nathan’s lawn and gardens”, shared a video to his 2.9 million TikTok followers of the resident lying in a pile of rubbish at the home.

“Get this man out of this house now,” he said in a TikTok message to the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Stafford said he first came across the home in late 2024.

But on Tuesday morning, he said he took a wrong turn and decided to carry out a welfare check at the house again.

He said he had been ignored the previous times he had visited the home.

This time, after he decided to knock on the door, the tradie said he climbed up the gutter and banged on the man’s window.

The man eventually opened the door.

“I was completely transparent with him. I knew I had one opportunity here, mainly they’re hostile, aggressive or shameful … so they won’t let you in,” he told news.com.au.

In one of his TikTok videos, Stafford said he was able to gain the man’s trust.

“I was just gagging walking through, I don’t [normally] do that. There’s rat poo everywhere, even on the mattress upstairs … that’s what he’s sleeping on,” he said.

He called the situation the worst he’d ever seen and estimated there were hundreds of rats in the home.

“I don’t think anyone ever chooses to live like this. Something went wrong and systems failed this man,” he said on TikTok.

In a statement, Homes NSW told news.com.au it was aware of the situation.

Homes NSW said it had been “actively working with the tenant”.

“Our approach first and foremost is to work constructively and respectfully with our tenants to resolve issues and connect them with appropriate supports. However, in some cases, where a tenant is unwilling to engage, progress can be slower and more complex.

“Following repeated attempts to assist the tenant, we have issued formal warnings and have taken the matter to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

“Homes NSW will continue to provide support pathways and specialist services during this process,” Homes NSW told news.com.au.

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