Jay rented a flat in Tempe, Sydney from June 2019 to June 2020. During that period, Jay found it difficult to obtain work and was not able to pay the rent, but when the COVID-19 pandemic began, Bee lost all offers of work and registered for unemployment benefits. Jay wrote a letter to the letting agent seeking rent relief in April 2020 but as Jay heard nothing back reduced the rent payments unilaterally from $400 per week to $200 per week. Jay found it too hard to continue to look for work and stayed with friends in Sydney, leaving the flat in June 2020.

In June 2022, Jay received a demand from the former landlord in Sydney that Jay pay an amount of $2000 shortfall in respect of rent from April to June 2020, and to forfeit the bond to cover the unpaid rent.

in respect of the landlord's notice, does Jay have any defence to the claim for unpaid rent