A landlord has sparked a heated feud for demanding a couple move out of his rental property after discovering they were expecting twins.
Property owner Gavin sent a blunt text to his tenant Tom urging him that they needed to talk after hearing about his unexpected baby news.
'Tom. Mia mentioned the twins. Thought we should probably speak,' Gavin said.
Tom responded: 'Yeah. Big surprise, but we're looking forward to it.'
Instead of congratulating the couple, the landlord was more concerned about the additional occupants on the way.
'I imagine so. I'll be honest though, it's thrown a bit of a spanner in the works on my end,' Gavin said, to which Tom responded: 'How do you mean?'
'When the house was let, it was two occupants. That's what the agreement reflects,' the landlord explained.
Confused, Tom replied: 'Right... but we're talking about babies.'
Gavin responded: 'I know. And I'm not trying to be difficult about it. But once you go from two adults to a family of four, the situation isn't quite the same.'
Putting his foot down, Tom said they were still the same people, living in the same house and paying the same rent.
However, the landlord explained: 'With respect Tom, two newborns changes things. Noise, wear on the place, neighbours complaining. It's a different setup.'
Tom furiously replied: 'So what are you saying exactly?'
Gavin suggested it would be 'sensible' for Tom and his wife Mia to 'start looking for somewhere that's better suited long term' for the young family.
'We've been here for two years,' Tom responded, to which Gavin replied: 'And you've been good tenants. This isn't about that.'
However, Tom felt the landlord's request was unreasonable.
'It's about the agreement and the property. I have to think ahead a bit,' Gavin explained.
Instead of congratulating the couple over their exciting baby news, the landlord was more concerned about the additional occupants on the way
The landlord and tenant were in a heated feud, with Tom saying he felt the request was unfair
The tenant fired back, saying the landlord was making an 'illegal' request.
'Asking someone to leave because they're having children is discrimination under the Equality Act. I'd strongly suggest you look that up before this goes any further,' Tom said.
But Gavin explained: 'That's not what I'm doing at all. I'm simply suggesting you consider your options going forward, there's no pressure here.'
'You're asking us to move because we're having children,' Tom hit back.
The landlord responded: 'I think this conversation has gotten a little out of hand,' to which the tenant hit back: 'Funny. Because where I'm standing it really hasn't.'
It's unclear what happened next but the heated text exchange was re-shared by UK property strategist Jack Rooke, who didn't agree with the landlord's actions.
His video has been viewed more than 37,000 times, with many divided over the couple's situation.
'Landlord should shut his face; doesn't need to interfere where not needed,' one said.
'I see both sides of it, it depends on the house,' another shared.
'Landlord is right. You can't expect your choice to have kids to be his financial liability and the risk profile to increase due to the additional costs. Particularly when the kids need their own space as well - that's not what the property was offered as,' one said.
'Well babies don't take up much room and they've got a good 18 months to two years before they become toddlers - landlord can just jug on,' another suggested.