Comment Section on Realestate.com.au Rental Listings - Browser Extension

Lzevnda on 05/06/2025 - 10:40
Last edited 06/06/2025 - 19:36

Last week I released a browser extension called Real Estate Comments which adds a comment section to rental listings on the realestate.com.au and domain.com.au website, allowing users to view and submit comments about rental properties, to give potential renters an idea of what the property conditions are really like, not just what the REAs want you see and read.

It has now been published and is available on both the Chrome Web Store and Firefox Add-ons to install and use. I've also made some major improvements to the UI and backend stuff since then.

I plan on adding support for attaching images to comments and rental price history tracking in the future, but I want to grasp how useful it will be as a tool before dumping too much time into it. So if it's popular enough, I'll keep expanding on it and adding useful features.

Feel free to give it a try and let me know what you think 🍻🍺

Free Software/Websites Chrome Extension

Related Stores

realestate.com.au
realestate.com.au

Comments

  • Glenningvalley on 05/06/2025 - 10:42
    +22

    Really good concept and hope it takes off!

    • zevnda on 05/06/2025 - 10:43

      Thank you mate!

    • Dr Phil on 06/06/2025 - 11:51
      -6

      No it’s a really bad idea
      Everyone’s experience and expectations are different.
      What’s a great place for one person is terrible for another.
      Furthermore nobody will place good comments for fear of increasing competition.
      The same could hence also be used to put other renters off and so reducing competition.
      This could occur even before attending an inspection.
      So OP. Let bygones be bygones and let people decide for themselves without trying to influence or be influenced others.
      You might find yourself being sued for damages.

      • Protractor on 06/06/2025 - 11:53

        let people decide for themselves without trying to influence or be influenced others

        Just arrived?

        • Dr Phil on 06/06/2025 - 11:55
          -6

          Irrelevant comment.
          But people should “arrive” at the property and judge for themselves.

          • Protractor on 06/06/2025 - 12:00
            +1

            @Dr Phil: No it's a more than valid point. The fact that influencers is even a word, let alone accepted by the masses as a worthy construct, proves ppl have lost the ability to think for themselves. Let landlords who are AH reverse the trend.Justify the gouging,if you will.
            Nobody should have an issue with an accurate appraisal of a rental situation or the condition of the property,attitude of LL etc.

          • zevnda on 06/06/2025 - 19:48
            +2

            @Dr Phil: This is actually an irrelevant and very out-of-touch comment.

            There are things that you can't see at face value that can cause issues once it's too late, as I mentioned in my other comment. This is literally why things like Google Reviews and Yelp exist. To highlight the positive and the negative.

      • zevnda on 06/06/2025 - 19:46
        +4
        • A rental property filled with mould and covered with fresh paint is a bad place for everyone.
        • Seeing photoshopped images on a REA rental listing, only to rock up to an inspection to see it in a completely different state, is bad for everyone.
        • Moving into a rental property and finding out that the neighbours will poison your pets for no reason, and being unable to leave because you would have to break the lease, is bad for everyone.

        These are just a few examples of the types of things renters are having to deal with these days when trying to secure a rental.

        I, and many others believe having a way to warn other potential renters about such a situation is a great idea.

        Also, companies (real estate agencies) generally can't sue for defamation in Australia.

        In all states and territories, companies and other organisations with a "legal personality" (e.g. incorporated associations, trade unions, local councils) cannot sue for defamation - https://www.artslaw.com.au/images/uploads/Defamation_law_%28…

      • richyeah on 06/06/2025 - 20:18
        +1

        Found the landlord.

      • TrumpisKing on 07/06/2025 - 02:58
        -2

        You sound salty af for not coming up with the idea first 😂. Good luck suing someone for leaving a comment lol.

  • blldzd on 05/06/2025 - 10:47
    +6

    This is a great idea, thanks!

    • zevnda on 05/06/2025 - 10:57

      And thank you for the feedback!

  • rainbowunicorn on 05/06/2025 - 10:55
    +2

    Great idea! It might be useful for people to warn others that the land lord is an absolute tw@t and promise to make repairs then go back on their word and never repair anything until you threaten to take them to court. Hypothetically speaking of course.

    • Protractor on 05/06/2025 - 11:00
      +1

      It might, but then there's the possibility that the legal threat shit kicks in. The words need to be tempered with facts, not inflammatory adjectives. But exposing AH landlords is a good idea.As is protecting tenants from shite outcomes.

      • zevnda on 06/06/2025 - 19:50
        +2

        Companies (real estate agencies) generally can't sue for defamation in Australia.

        In all states and territories, companies and other organisations with a "legal personality" (e.g. incorporated associations, trade unions, local councils) cannot sue for defamation - https://www.artslaw.com.au/images/uploads/Defamation_law_%28…

        • Protractor on 06/06/2025 - 19:54
          +1

          Noted. Just make sure your site's small print specifies where the responsibility of the actual reviews lay. And set the site up legally to match those rules to cover your arse. And that legally, it can't come back to bite you.
          IANAL

          • zevnda on 06/06/2025 - 19:58

            @Protractor: Absolutely, thanks for looking out, I appreciate it!

            The latest version of the extension now contains a ToS that, in short, states that comments must be "true, respectful, and non-defamatory", and must be agreed to before the user can create a post. But you're right, some extra fine print wouldn't hurt either.

            Thanks!

    • zevnda on 05/06/2025 - 11:02
      +2

      Thank you! And yep, spot on! That's pretty much how the idea was conceived. People are fed up seeing photoshopped rental listing images, only to rock up to an inspection and see it in a completely different state to what was advertised. That, and being able to call out s**tty REAs and LLs, hopefully to give potential renters a fair heads up of what they might be in for.

      And also leaving some positive feedback when it's deserved, of course 😁

  • JIMB0 on 05/06/2025 - 11:10
    +2

    Isn't this just like shitrentals?

    • zevnda on 05/06/2025 - 11:17

      Similar in a sense. The discussion that birthed this extension actually came from a thread in the r/shitrentals sub lol.

      Thought, shitrentals is an off-site database that you visit to search for rental reviews. Sort of like a Yelp review?

      While the Real Estate Comments extension integrates directly into the realestate.com.au website by adding a comment section to it. So you can view, comment, rate and review property listings directly on their website. Think about it like commenting on a Facebook post, anyone who views that post can see the comments list on it, and reply to those comments as well.

      • tenpercent on 05/06/2025 - 16:50
        +8

        Maybe you can collab with the guy behind shitrentals to display reviews from their site? I've seen other comment / product review sections do something like that.

        • zevnda on 06/06/2025 - 19:51
          +1

          Have been in contact with them, and we might have something in the works. Thanks for the suggestion!

        • Protractor on 06/06/2025 - 19:56
          +1

          Maybe a graduated system?
          Shit rentals,Shitter rentals,,Shittest rentals. AVOID

  • elgrande on 05/06/2025 - 11:40
    -5

    Can you please provide an address for service?

    Seeking to commence proceedings.

    • zevnda on 05/06/2025 - 11:40

      Huh?

      • Emphasise on 05/06/2025 - 11:45
        +6

        please do the needful

        • tenpercent on 05/06/2025 - 16:40

          I almost spat out my coffee

      • elgrande on 05/06/2025 - 14:45
        -3

        Do you really think landlords are going to let you publish shite comments from salty tenants?

        • Protractor on 05/06/2025 - 14:49
          +6

          Be the landlord that doesn't attract the hate.

          • elgrande on 05/06/2025 - 16:36
            -3

            @Protractor: The applicant that wasn't approved?

            The buyer who missed out?

            The neighbor who doesn't like you lifting weights at 4am?

            The developer who wants to snap up your block?

            The jelous ex?

            There is a reason that this very simple idea has not been done before.

            • tenpercent on 05/06/2025 - 16:45
              +1

              @elgrande: It has partially been done.

              https://www.shitrentals.org/

            • Protractor on 05/06/2025 - 16:50
              +3

              @elgrande: There's apparently more reasons why it's a great idea,too.AH landlords for one. Not exactly thin on the ground if the need for such sites exists, and if there's so much push-back, from 'perfect' landlords.

        • zevnda on 06/06/2025 - 19:52
          +1

          Companies (real estate agencies) generally can't sue for defamation in Australia.

          In all states and territories, companies and other organisations with a "legal personality" (e.g. incorporated associations, trade unions, local councils) cannot sue for defamation - https://www.artslaw.com.au/images/uploads/Defamation_law_%28…

        • zevnda on 06/06/2025 - 20:06

          Do they have any choice?

          They can't sue for defamation when the "communication" is about a rental property. And a "factual statement" is generally not defamation under Australian law.

          So they're going to have to put on their big boy pants, and suck it up unfortunately.

    • JIMB0 on 05/06/2025 - 12:45
      +1

      With any luck it's based somewhere like North Korea or Russia. Good luck getting it shut down, let alone suing them.

    • Drakesy on 05/06/2025 - 13:11

      Lolwut

  • Drpepper666 on 05/06/2025 - 11:46
    +1

    Thanks, I'll use this to put some positive comments on my rental properties

    • zevnda on 05/06/2025 - 11:48

      Well within your rights to do so lol

      • Drpepper666 on 05/06/2025 - 11:48
        -2

        If I receive negative comments can I PM you to remove them please?

        • Protractor on 05/06/2025 - 11:52
          +3

          You sound either worried or guilty

  • BoltThrower on 05/06/2025 - 12:12
    +3

    There used to be a site/extension called Epiverse which did this for all sites. It's a good idea and you could even store comments on a blockchain, freeing up the cost of storing data.

  • Drakesy on 05/06/2025 - 13:09
    +7

    This is a terrible and will ruin a landlord's reputation.

    Do it again.

  • jjjaar on 05/06/2025 - 13:16
    +2

    I’m not adjacent to a computer so can’t check these things, but have a couple of questions.

    Does it only work for active listings? Will the data be stored to the address and come up again if the place is listed in the future? Can you input information for properties that are not currently listed?

    • zevnda on 06/06/2025 - 19:53
      +1

      It tracks the property by address and suburb, for example 123 Main Street, Manly. So even if a property is removed and then relisted later, the comments will persist to the new listing.

      In the latest version, the comments are also shared between property listing on domain.com.au as well. So if 123 Main Street, Manly is listed on both realestate.com.au and domain.com.au they will share the same comments.

      The same goes for those "property-history" listings, such as the following

      So if a property isn't currently listed for rent or sale, but has a "history" page, you can still leave a comment on its "history" page. If the property ever does come up for rent or sale in the future, those comments will persist as well

      Hope that all makes sense.

      • jjjaar on 08/06/2025 - 09:02

        That’s great - sounds really promising. Great stuff. Will definitely share it with people I know.

        Probably a bunch of extra work, but getting it to work on property.com.au might be useful too. This is the same company as realestate.com.au - they seem to push a lot of the history over to property.com.au and remove it from realestate.com.au. I know fewer people use this, and likely even fewer for rentals, but the history page seems to exist here for more properties, so might be more widely used in future.

        • zevnda on 09/06/2025 - 07:14

          Thank you mate, appreciate the kind words and willing to share it, means a lot!

          I will definitely consider adding support for property.com.au in the future.

          Thanks again!

  • tenpercent on 05/06/2025 - 16:46
    +1

    For renters with shitty landlords / property managers give them a review here: https://www.shitrentals.org/

  • Gdsamp on 05/06/2025 - 18:57
    -1

    Excellent another platform on hwhich to troll

    • tenpercent on 06/06/2025 - 19:55
      +1

      Landlords are shaking in their work boots already.

  • masteraj on 06/06/2025 - 09:46
    +1

    This would be fantastic to warn the next tenant of existing damage. My last landlord tried to claim that I somehow made an existing documented triangle-shaped dent in the wall worse by creating another triangle-shaped dent over the top in exactly the same shape but bigger. Said they would keep $1200 of my bond to fix it as if they were doing me a favour because otherwise it would be months before I got my bond back if I fought it. If I had known they were like this, I would take taken photos with a ruler for scale.

    • zevnda on 06/06/2025 - 19:36
      +2

      Spot on mate! That sounds like a super dodgy landlord.

      If you Google the address of that property, even if it doesn't have an active rental listing, you can still find a "property history" page for it and leave a comment on it, so if the property ever does go up for rent again other people will be able to see your comment.

      Here is an example of a property that isn't currently for rent or sale, but has a public "property history" page

      • Protractor on 06/06/2025 - 19:50
        +1

        They are probably active in this thread .
        ; )

      • Protractor on 06/06/2025 - 19:58
        +1

        Change the sites name to Rental Health. Quick! before someone pinches it.

        • zevnda on 06/06/2025 - 20:01

          lol I have been toying with a name change to be honest. "Real Estate Comments" doesn't really have any personality to it; it was supposed to be a placeholder until I could gauge how "popular" the extension might be. It does need some overall branding work, and "Rental Health" isn't a bad shout.

  • numloxx on 06/06/2025 - 10:49

    Does this mean that only people using the extension will see the comments?

    • zevnda on 06/06/2025 - 19:31

      That is correct.

      Unfortunately, there wouldn't be any legitimate way of putting a comment section on a website I don't own otherwise.

  • LFO on 06/06/2025 - 20:55
    +1

    Agree, it will be very useful.

    Quite some time back I was looking for a house to rent, my concern was a "builder" living next door and having noisy mornings with tools and materials leaving and so on. Landord assured it was not the case, builder was quiet as a mouse.

    So all good to go.
    Then I went on a glorious sunny morning to have yet another reassuring look. Not so. A "rock band" was practicing … every Sunday they did, right as the other next door neighbor.

    So if I knew about the Sunday rock band practicing I wouldn't even applied.

    Your Comment Section sounds very useful.

    • zevnda on 06/06/2025 - 22:08

      Your situation is a perfect example of what the extension is intended for. Basically giving other potential renters a heads up on what to expect.

      If you remember the address, you can search for it on Google to find the "property history" listing for it (most properties these days have one), and leave a comment on there even if it's not currently up for rent/sale. Comments on property history listings will carry over to rent/sale listings if the property is ever relisted again.

      Thanks for the kind words!

    • Protractor on 06/06/2025 - 22:59
      +1

      You just walk next door,knock (and keep thumping as the door is opened. Phone filming optional) on the door and scream "OY! STFU until 10am to 2pm!!, or prepare for an unfortunate & unforeseen outcome,OK ?".
      Don't wait for a response. Turn around and walk away,back towards them,middle finger skyward.

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