Innovative not-for-profit organisation transforms affordable rentals—discover how to benefit!
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In a world where the cost of living is soaring, and the dream of home ownership seems increasingly out of reach for many, there's a beacon of hope on the horizon for those struggling with the rental market.
The not-for-profit organisation Nightingale Housing is revolutionising the concept of affordable rentals, offering a glimmer of optimism for renters tired of the relentless search for a place to call home without breaking the bank.
The rental crisis in Australia is a persistent issue, with many individuals and families finding it challenging to locate affordable and decent housing.
However, Nightingale Housing is stepping up to the plate with a solution that relieves renters and sets a new standard for the industry.
Kim, a full-time worker with a single income, now looks out her window at her old apartment, where she would have been shelling out a staggering $690 a week in rent.
Today, she resides in a brand new apartment at Nightingale Marrickville, a 54-apartment development designed exclusively for renters, where she pays a much more manageable $440 a week.
This is a significant 20 per cent below the average rental price in the western Sydney suburb, and it comes with the bonus of a guaranteed rent freeze.
Nightingale Housing's chief, Dan McKenna, emphasises that the organisation is driven by the right reasons, aiming to demonstrate to the rest of the market that profitability is only one of the objectives.
‘We're doing this for what we think are the right reasons and trying to show the rest of the market that it doesn't all have to be about the bottom line and all about profit,’ he explained.
Born from a collective of Melbourne-based architects disillusioned with the traditional development industry, Nightingale now spearheads 17 not-for-profit projects that assist buyers in finding affordable housing options.
Nightingale keeps costs down by incorporating communal spaces, opting for single bathrooms, and embracing minimalist yet functional designs.
The Marrickville project marks their first foray into the rental sector, and it's already making waves.
Fresh Hope Communities leased land for the development of a church group. Its chief executive, Dan Dwyer, was determined to ensure the land was used for a meaningful purpose.
‘There is a financial return, but if you're looking at that as a private developer, it wouldn't be a feasible one,’ he said.
The project was funded to limit greed while still generating a modest return, somewhere between three and four per cent.
To become a resident in the Marrickville building, renters like Luke had to meet specific criteria.
‘It's really nice to feel like I have my own space and be independent but also being able to build for my future and not pay all of my wages to rent and someone else's mortgage,’ he shared.
The building caters to a diverse group, including single low-income earners, essential workers, women over 55, and First Nations people.
The selection process is akin to a lottery, with names drawn from a hat to determine who can live in this innovative housing model.
‘It's literally about putting people's names in a hat and calling them, pulling them out one by one, and, you know, letting them know, you know, if they've been lucky or if they haven't,’ McKenna expounded.
What sets Nightingale apart is not just the affordability of the rent but also the inclusive nature of the costs.
‘It includes electricity, it includes a basic level of internet access, it includes your utilities, such as water,’ Dwyer remarked.
‘It also includes access to the Go Get cars downstairs, so that's included in the rent.’
‘The only bill I get now is my mobile,’ Kim said.
With a community of satisfied residents, Nightingale Housing is already looking ahead to its next project.
‘We've been able to engage with a lot of different state government bodies, a lot of different faith-based organisations who might be sitting on pieces of land, and they want to do something positive with them,’ McKenna claimed.
In a related rental update, a Queensland couple was surprised by a $6,500 bond request for a property, more than double the expected $3,200.
Queensland law allows landlords to negotiate the rental bond amount if the weekly rent exceeds $700. Learn more about this here.
Have you had experiences with not-for-profit housing organisations? What do you think of inclusive rent that covers utilities and communal services? Share your stories and opinions in the comments below.
The not-for-profit organisation Nightingale Housing is revolutionising the concept of affordable rentals, offering a glimmer of optimism for renters tired of the relentless search for a place to call home without breaking the bank.
The rental crisis in Australia is a persistent issue, with many individuals and families finding it challenging to locate affordable and decent housing.
However, Nightingale Housing is stepping up to the plate with a solution that relieves renters and sets a new standard for the industry.
Kim, a full-time worker with a single income, now looks out her window at her old apartment, where she would have been shelling out a staggering $690 a week in rent.
Nightingale Housing provided affordable rental housing in Sydney. Credit: @nightingale.housing / Instagram
Today, she resides in a brand new apartment at Nightingale Marrickville, a 54-apartment development designed exclusively for renters, where she pays a much more manageable $440 a week.
This is a significant 20 per cent below the average rental price in the western Sydney suburb, and it comes with the bonus of a guaranteed rent freeze.
Nightingale Housing's chief, Dan McKenna, emphasises that the organisation is driven by the right reasons, aiming to demonstrate to the rest of the market that profitability is only one of the objectives.
‘We're doing this for what we think are the right reasons and trying to show the rest of the market that it doesn't all have to be about the bottom line and all about profit,’ he explained.
Born from a collective of Melbourne-based architects disillusioned with the traditional development industry, Nightingale now spearheads 17 not-for-profit projects that assist buyers in finding affordable housing options.
Nightingale keeps costs down by incorporating communal spaces, opting for single bathrooms, and embracing minimalist yet functional designs.
The Marrickville project marks their first foray into the rental sector, and it's already making waves.
Fresh Hope Communities leased land for the development of a church group. Its chief executive, Dan Dwyer, was determined to ensure the land was used for a meaningful purpose.
‘There is a financial return, but if you're looking at that as a private developer, it wouldn't be a feasible one,’ he said.
The project was funded to limit greed while still generating a modest return, somewhere between three and four per cent.
To become a resident in the Marrickville building, renters like Luke had to meet specific criteria.
‘It's really nice to feel like I have my own space and be independent but also being able to build for my future and not pay all of my wages to rent and someone else's mortgage,’ he shared.
The building caters to a diverse group, including single low-income earners, essential workers, women over 55, and First Nations people.
The selection process is akin to a lottery, with names drawn from a hat to determine who can live in this innovative housing model.
‘It's literally about putting people's names in a hat and calling them, pulling them out one by one, and, you know, letting them know, you know, if they've been lucky or if they haven't,’ McKenna expounded.
What sets Nightingale apart is not just the affordability of the rent but also the inclusive nature of the costs.
‘It includes electricity, it includes a basic level of internet access, it includes your utilities, such as water,’ Dwyer remarked.
‘It also includes access to the Go Get cars downstairs, so that's included in the rent.’
‘The only bill I get now is my mobile,’ Kim said.
With a community of satisfied residents, Nightingale Housing is already looking ahead to its next project.
‘We've been able to engage with a lot of different state government bodies, a lot of different faith-based organisations who might be sitting on pieces of land, and they want to do something positive with them,’ McKenna claimed.
In a related rental update, a Queensland couple was surprised by a $6,500 bond request for a property, more than double the expected $3,200.
Queensland law allows landlords to negotiate the rental bond amount if the weekly rent exceeds $700. Learn more about this here.
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