In recent years, Australians have been grappling with the ever-increasing cost of living. Despite best efforts to combat this issue, the reality is that these expenses continue to rise unabated. This has resulted in a growing difficulty for average Aussies to afford even the most essential items and services.

Among those who are hit hardest by this situation are renters, who are now facing the extremely challenging task of finding a suitable and affordable place to live. The options available to them are scarce, making it nearly impossible to secure a decent living arrangement without straining their finances to the breaking point.

The conditions being advertised in Sydney homes have sparked outrage and concern. Credit: Facebook.

To add to the gravity of the situation, grim rental ads are becoming more of the norm, featuring rooms with multiple beds crammed into tiny spaces. In one particularly saddening case, a bed in a room shared with two other people was offered for a whopping $270 per week.

A rental property in Broadway, near Sydney's CBD, advertised a room for a slightly lower $170 per week. Although affordable by comparison, the 'deal' comes with three single beds and a single closet shoved into a room that was never meant to accommodate such a setup.

'Room of 3 available,' the listing reads, '$170 all included. One bed is available now. 2 beds available on the 17th.'

Another example in Chippendale listed a 'male only' shared room for the same price of $270 per week. It boasted a wardrobe and 'plenty of space in front of your room for storage' – but the high rental prices and cramped living conditions painted a bleak picture.

In the past year, unit rents have increased by over 10% in two-thirds of Sydney. While these uninviting alternatives may appeal to budget-conscious renters struggling with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, they raise significant concerns about the quality of life for many Australians.

Phillip Lowe, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, recently addressed the situation, urging renters to consider living with more people to bring the cost of rent down. This advice, however, was met with criticism, with many feeling it ignored the root problem of the housing crisis.

Maiy Azize, of the national campaign Everybody's Home, emphasised that many Australians, especially young people, already live in overcrowded conditions. She argued that Dr Lowe 'doesn't get it' and that advising those at the losing end of the system won't resolve the issue.

Echoing similar sentiments, the Tenants' Union of NSW claimed that Dr Lowe's advice 'misses the point' of the housing crisis. Tenants' Union CEO Leo Patterson Ross argued that housing, being an essential service, should be the responsibility of the government, with improvements needed in taxation, planning and regulatory systems.

Key Takeaways

• Renters in Australia are facing a severe cost-of-living crisis, with grim rental listings showing tiny bedrooms crammed with multiple beds.
• One particularly depressing advertisement offers a bed in a room shared with two other people for $270 a week, highlighting the challenges faced by renters.
• Across two-thirds of Sydney, unit rents rose more than 10% in the last year, forcing many people to seek alternative living arrangements.
• The Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia suggested more Australians should join share houses to help remedy the higher costs, sparking criticism from housing advocacy groups.

The problems of overcrowding and soaring rental prices in Australia are far from straightforward. They stem from a multitude of complex systemic issues that must be tackled to effectively resolve the housing crisis. However, it is crucial for each of us to contribute, be it through advocating for policy changes or increasing awareness about the matter.

What are your thoughts on this news story? If you have any valuable tips or personal experiences related to rental prices or the housing crisis in Australia, we encourage you to share them in the comments section below.

 

[Jakepuss]

In recent years, Australians have been grappling with the ever-increasing cost of living. Despite best efforts to combat this issue, the reality is that these expenses continue to rise unabated. This has resulted in a growing difficulty for average Aussies to afford even the most essential items and services.

Among those who are hit hardest by this situation are renters, who are now facing the extremely challenging task of finding a suitable and affordable place to live. The options available to them are scarce, making it nearly impossible to secure a decent living arrangement without straining their finances to the breaking point.

View attachment 22409

The conditions being advertised in Sydney homes have sparked outrage and concern. Credit: Facebook.

To add to the gravity of the situation, grim rental ads are becoming more of the norm, featuring rooms with multiple beds crammed into tiny spaces. In one particularly saddening case, a bed in a room shared with two other people was offered for a whopping $270 per week.

A rental property in Broadway, near Sydney's CBD, advertised a room for a slightly lower $170 per week. Although affordable by comparison, the 'deal' comes with three single beds and a single closet shoved into a room that was never meant to accommodate such a setup.

'Room of 3 available,' the listing reads, '$170 all included. One bed is available now. 2 beds available on the 17th.'

Another example in Chippendale listed a 'male only' shared room for the same price of $270 per week. It boasted a wardrobe and 'plenty of space in front of your room for storage' – but the high rental prices and cramped living conditions painted a bleak picture.

In the past year, unit rents have increased by over 10% in two-thirds of Sydney. While these uninviting alternatives may appeal to budget-conscious renters struggling with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, they raise significant concerns about the quality of life for many Australians.

Phillip Lowe, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, recently addressed the situation, urging renters to consider living with more people to bring the cost of rent down. This advice, however, was met with criticism, with many feeling it ignored the root problem of the housing crisis.

Maiy Azize, of the national campaign Everybody's Home, emphasised that many Australians, especially young people, already live in overcrowded conditions. She argued that Dr Lowe 'doesn't get it' and that advising those at the losing end of the system won't resolve the issue.

Echoing similar sentiments, the Tenants' Union of NSW claimed that Dr Lowe's advice 'misses the point' of the housing crisis. Tenants' Union CEO Leo Patterson Ross argued that housing, being an essential service, should be the responsibility of the government, with improvements needed in taxation, planning and regulatory systems.

Key Takeaways

• Renters in Australia are facing a severe cost-of-living crisis, with grim rental listings showing tiny bedrooms crammed with multiple beds.
• One particularly depressing advertisement offers a bed in a room shared with two other people for $270 a week, highlighting the challenges faced by renters.
• Across two-thirds of Sydney, unit rents rose more than 10% in the last year, forcing many people to seek alternative living arrangements.
• The Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia suggested more Australians should join share houses to help remedy the higher costs, sparking criticism from housing advocacy groups.

The problems of overcrowding and soaring rental prices in Australia are far from straightforward. They stem from a multitude of complex systemic issues that must be tackled to effectively resolve the housing crisis. However, it is crucial for each of us to contribute, be it through advocating for policy changes or increasing awareness about the matter.

What are your thoughts on this news story? If you have any valuable tips or personal experiences related to rental prices or the housing crisis in Australia, we encourage you to share them in the comments section below.

3 beds in one room?
TB will explode in an environment like this. So then who foots that bill.
These landlords need to be horse whipped for charging such exorbitant rents.
Trouble is; b politicians are up to their necks in that extortion racket so nothing will be done.

 

[Suzanne rose]

Maybe look elsewhere Broadway and Chippendale are so close too the CBD of course a tiny room is going to cost this.
To be honest I wouldn't want to live in either of these areas

 

[Pat T]

What sort of dangers could occur with 3 strangers sharing a room?

 

[Catherines]

My suggestion to the government - though this will probably never hit parliament for a resolution and enforcement - is, it is about time you, the current (& future) governments regulated this rental industry. Rents are far too high, crowding in rentals, condition of the properties and so much more that you don’t see because of the ‘deliberate and chosen BLINKERS’ that you, the government choose to wear

Enforce a ban on rental properties of no more than two per investor family, make it illegal to rent out sub-standard property, and to bypass the regulations by putting further multiple rentals in the name of other family members. There are many investors who already have plenty of money and still want to invest in multiple rental properties. This leads to GREED and the more they have, the more they want, so they buy more (often then having multiple mortgages); multiple mortgages means they want to pay off those mortgages ASAP - the result, the landlord charges high rents so they can pay off quickly and buy another property. A viscious circle of ‘buy with a mortgage, pay off as soon as you can and buy another’. Round and round this circle they go. The rich get richer while the POOR GET POORER.

I say, and I will no doubt have many SDC members shouting their negatives at me, but control investment to a maximum of 2 properties PER INVESTING FAMILY. It may or may not help but I very sincerely hope this and future governments can find a solution - and sooner rather than later.

With the money investors make they can then invest in something else that gives them the monetary reward they want but does not IN ANY WAY put people of Australia (especially young families with children and the elderly) on the trash heap to live in cars, in tents in parks and sometimes on beaches, on the street etc because investors want to, very selfishly, fill their pockets without any regard for others who will suffer.

Having to live with strangers is definitely not a safe alternative - robbery, bodily harm, non-payment of share of rent and utilities, how much did each person use (water, gas, electricity), strangers visiting a tenant and not knowing the stranger’s background, absconding overnight from the shared property etc. GROW UP WITH REALITY FOR THE POPULATION OF AUSTRALIA, Mr Lowe. Yours is NOT THE SOLUTION you suggest.