Substandard Listing Sparks Public Outrage
A rental listing posted on Facebook this week for a home in Medicine Hat’s Riverside neighbourhood has ignited public backlash, highlighting growing concerns about housing affordability, safety, and standards as rents continue to climb across the city. Last I checked, over 135 comments on the post, and most of them aren’t positive.
The listing, advertised by Rent Better Property Management, featured a small, visibly deteriorating house at a price many commenters described as shocking given its condition. The photos alone prompted some users to suggest the post looked like “rage bait,” a term used online to describe content so extreme it appears designed to provoke anger and engagement.
That reaction intensified when former tenants and people familiar with the property began commenting.
One of the most detailed responses came from Shannon Cooper, who identified herself as a former tenant and issued what she called a “PUBLIC SERVICE WARNING.” In her comment, Cooper described the property as “NOT SUITABLE FOR ANY HUMAN LIFE,” detailing extremely small bedrooms, a loft space presented as a bedroom without a closet, and a basement she described as a “death trap.”
According to her account, the basement had a dirt floor, flooded during rain or snowmelt, and accumulated mold due to persistent moisture. She stated that repeated health issues—including chest infections and pneumonia—occurred while she and her three children lived there. Cooper said she paid $800 per month for the unit and moved out after four months, later finding a significantly larger home for the same price.
Other commenters echoed disbelief at the condition of the property, with several people who said they had been inside the building joking darkly about the accuracy of the description. The tone across the comment section ranged from sarcasm to outright alarm, with many questioning how the property could be legally rented at all.
The controversy is especially striking when viewed against the broader rental market in Medicine Hat.
According to available rental data, the average rent for a one-bedroom unit in Medicine Hat has increased from approximately $822 in 2018 to $1,148 in 2025, an increase of nearly 40 percent in seven years. At the same time, many rentals that once included utilities now exclude them, while additional fees for pets, parking, and other necessities have become increasingly common.
The Facebook listing contrasts sharply with the image promoted by Rent Better Property Management on its website, where the company describes itself as a “marketing leader in Medicine Hat” and emphasizes its ability to help landlords rent properties “fast,” “with less hassles,” and “for more money.” The company also highlights its strong social media presence and eye-catching advertising as key strengths.
For many commenters, the listing raised a deeper concern than one poorly maintained house. It underscored a growing fear that as rents rise and vacancy remains tight, tenants—especially low-income families—are being pushed into accepting unsafe or inadequate housing with little leverage to push back.
The property remains listed, and the comment thread continues to draw attention, serving as a stark example of how rapidly rising rents can collide with aging housing stock and limited oversight—often leaving tenants to sound the alarm publicly when other options run out.
