'Greedy' landlords charge $250 a week for 'inhumane' rental

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.


SDC 25.png
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.
Key Takeaways
  • An online marketplace listing has offered two renters to share a bedroom with single mattresses and a lightweight divider for $250 each per week, which appears to be above market rates.
  • The property is located at Sydney Olympic Park, and the listing was shared on Facebook Marketplace, with less stringent regulations than official rental sites.
  • Tenant advocate and lawyer Jordan van den Berg stated that such a listing likely violates building codes and is simply a money-making scheme as the landlords fetch $500 for a single bedroom.
  • Australia is experiencing a rental crisis as the rental vacancy rate dropped to only 1.1 per cent nationwide, according to data from SQM research.
Members, have you seen a similar listing in your area? Share them with us in the comments below!
 
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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.


View attachment 33384
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.
Key Takeaways

  • An online marketplace listing has offered two renters to share a bedroom with single mattresses and a lightweight divider for $250 each per week, which appears to be above market rates.
  • The property is located at Sydney Olympic Park, and the listing was shared on Facebook Marketplace, with less stringent regulations than official rental sites.
  • Tenant advocate and lawyer Jordan van den Berg stated that such a listing likely violates building codes and is simply a money-making scheme as the landlords fetch $500 for a single bedroom.
  • Australia is experiencing a rental crisis as the rental vacancy rate dropped to only 1.1 per cent nationwide, according to data from SQM research.
Members, have you seen a similar listing in your area? Share them with us in the comments below!
Seriously this is so wrong what an a hole🙀
 
Opportunists without a qualm or conscience as long as they get more $ in their hands. Greed, avarice and manipulation of the desperate or O/S students. A bed in a hostel is better than a blow-up single mattress, a cheap pillow and part bed linen ( for show perhaps) some shelf thing and a scant dividing screen for $500 per week. How do these people who do this and consider they are decent in this country?
 
Will suggest it's more likely international students that are taking up these places. That's where the name and shaming should be focused. This country's universities charges 10s of $1000's for international students. Other than charging for their accommodation of even greater amounts to this example. This countries thrives off these students to the tune of $40+ billion a year but don't seem to have any minimum standards in place to monitor the rip offs these students face in this county.
 
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Greed is ugly. Yet again a shameful example of my mantra.
 

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