'Greedy' landlords charge $250 a week for 'inhumane' rental
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Aussies are in for a new low as the grim reality of Australia's rental crisis has been laid bare once again.
One listing has recently shared on an online marketplace shows 'apartments' that offer two single mattress-sleepers in one bedroom for $250 a week each.
The listing showed a room with a lightweight divider that’s been used to create some semblance of privacy for the 'flatmates', as well as a desk and built-in wardrobe to share.
Other listings within the area (Sydney Olympic Park) usually charge between $700-$800 per week for full two-bedroom apartments, making the listing well above market rates.
This particular listing is just the latest example of the long list of sub-par rentals being offered nationwide as renters bear with poor living conditions due to the increase in rent and competitive market. Many renters choose to live in less-than-ideal homes just to secure a roof over their heads.
Tenant advocate and lawyer Jordan van den Berg said that while this setup isn’t illegal but likely breaks building codes.
These kinds of listings are rarely found on official rental advertising websites as those have stricter regulations to meet—something that Facebook Marketplace lacks.
'You can’t have a bedroom that doesn’t have a window or a bedroom that’s kind of haphazardly split to make it two people in one bedroom,' Mr van den Berg said.
'Considering that that listing wouldn’t be allowed on a place like Flatmates, it shouldn’t be allowed on other listing sites like Facebook Marketplace.'
He said that the decision to offer such space to 'two strangers or people who aren't related in a romantic way' is simply a strategy to get more money out of the space.
Mr van den Berg also added that the decision to try and get two people to pay $500 weekly for a single bedroom reeks of only one thing…
'They know they can't get that from one person—it's greed.'
Recent data released from SQM Research suggests the rental vacancy rate has now dropped to only 1.1 per cent nationwide, causing many to grapple with the widespread rental crisis and the heavy supply and demand imbalance of spaces and renters.
In similar news, a small bedroom in inner-city Carlton, Melbourne, was seen with a removed wardrobe door to fit in an extra single bed in a tiny space on Flatmates.
A side table was also awkwardly squeezed in by the landlords between the two single-frame beds.
Despite the obvious space constraints, the two-bedroom listing is advertised as suitable for four people. It was split between the master bedroom with an ensuite and a second bedroom with access to its bathroom, and it came with a price tag of $240 a week.
You can read more about this controversial listing here.
Members, have you seen a similar listing in your area? Share them with us in the comments below!
One listing has recently shared on an online marketplace shows 'apartments' that offer two single mattress-sleepers in one bedroom for $250 a week each.
A rental listing posted on an online marketplace showed the grim reality of the rental crisis in Australia. Image source: Facebook.
The listing showed a room with a lightweight divider that’s been used to create some semblance of privacy for the 'flatmates', as well as a desk and built-in wardrobe to share.
Other listings within the area (Sydney Olympic Park) usually charge between $700-$800 per week for full two-bedroom apartments, making the listing well above market rates.
This particular listing is just the latest example of the long list of sub-par rentals being offered nationwide as renters bear with poor living conditions due to the increase in rent and competitive market. Many renters choose to live in less-than-ideal homes just to secure a roof over their heads.
Tenant advocate and lawyer Jordan van den Berg said that while this setup isn’t illegal but likely breaks building codes.
These kinds of listings are rarely found on official rental advertising websites as those have stricter regulations to meet—something that Facebook Marketplace lacks.
'You can’t have a bedroom that doesn’t have a window or a bedroom that’s kind of haphazardly split to make it two people in one bedroom,' Mr van den Berg said.
'Considering that that listing wouldn’t be allowed on a place like Flatmates, it shouldn’t be allowed on other listing sites like Facebook Marketplace.'
He said that the decision to offer such space to 'two strangers or people who aren't related in a romantic way' is simply a strategy to get more money out of the space.
Mr van den Berg also added that the decision to try and get two people to pay $500 weekly for a single bedroom reeks of only one thing…
'They know they can't get that from one person—it's greed.'
Recent data released from SQM Research suggests the rental vacancy rate has now dropped to only 1.1 per cent nationwide, causing many to grapple with the widespread rental crisis and the heavy supply and demand imbalance of spaces and renters.
In similar news, a small bedroom in inner-city Carlton, Melbourne, was seen with a removed wardrobe door to fit in an extra single bed in a tiny space on Flatmates.
A side table was also awkwardly squeezed in by the landlords between the two single-frame beds.
Despite the obvious space constraints, the two-bedroom listing is advertised as suitable for four people. It was split between the master bedroom with an ensuite and a second bedroom with access to its bathroom, and it came with a price tag of $240 a week.
You can read more about this controversial listing here.
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