We here at the SDC are fully aware of the harsh reality of Australia’s rental crisis.

Rising rental and deposit costs make it tough to find a safe home, particularly if your income has been affected.

This is even more concerning for those over 60 facing financial challenges.

To highlight the severity of the housing shortage and its risks for older renters, let’s explore former nurse Mia Smith's story.

At 55, Mia Smith, a former nurse, was in an unexpected situation.

She lived in a cramped sharehouse with no hot water, no door locks, a broken toilet seat, and a stained carpet for three months.

This reality has become more common as the housing crisis in the country persists, with renters having to accept ‘unliveable conditions’ in overcrowded rental properties.

Mia Smith labelled the Wantirna boarding house conditions as ‘unlivable’.
Image source: Pixabay

After relocating 40 times, Smith discovered the Melbourne property on social media and agreed to pay $910 monthly for a room.

She resided in the share house for three months before deciding she had had enough.

Smith pointed out, ‘There are no minimum standards to the place that is a requirement in Victorian law.’

‘I've had to give up this room and break a lease that's non-existent ... I'm basically homeless,’ she shared.

She is presently compelled to rely on her friends' hospitality as she looks for a permanent place to live.

According to National Property Editor at real estate website Domain Alice Stolz, Smith's situation highlights the stark truth of the current housing shortage in the country.

‘Fundamentally it speaks to just how severe this affordability and rental problem is,’ she said.
‘People who really feel they have no options and have been driven to areas [such as social media platforms] really need to exercise caution.’

Video source: YouTube/9 News Australia​

Director of the Victorian Conference of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Rebecca Auriant has been assigned the responsibility of assisting Smith, along with thousands of other renters facing difficulties, in their search for a suitable home.

‘I strongly feel that the exploitation of people who are vulnerable is a crime,’ she said.

‘It makes me really sad that people like private landlords will charge excessive amounts for just a room ... these rooms aren't meeting minimum standards.’

There has been a sharp increase in the number of group households or share houses in Australia due to soaring rental prices.

The demographic of share houses has changed over the past 20 years, with a 20 per cent decrease in young students and a 93 per cent increase in people over 65.

Key Takeaways

• Former nurse Mia Smith had to live in ‘unliveable conditions’ in a crammed sharehouse with no hot water, no locks on the doors, a broken toilet seat and stained carpet due to the ongoing housing crisis in Australia.
• After moving 40 times, Smith found a Melbourne property on social media, agreeing to pay $910 a month for a room.
• Alice Stolz, National Property Editor at Domain, said Smith’s situation highlights the severity of the current national housing shortage and low rental affordability.
• Rebecca Auriant, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Victorian conference director, described exploiting vulnerable people in the rental market as a crime and expressed sadness at private landlords charging excessive amounts for sub-par accommodation.

Members, what do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments below!

 

[rehandra]

We here at the SDC are fully aware of the harsh reality of Australia’s rental crisis.

Rising rental and deposit costs make it tough to find a safe home, particularly if your income has been affected.

This is even more concerning for those over 60 facing financial challenges.

To highlight the severity of the housing shortage and its risks for older renters, let’s explore former nurse Mia Smith's story.

At 55, Mia Smith, a former nurse, was in an unexpected situation.

She lived in a cramped sharehouse with no hot water, no door locks, a broken toilet seat, and a stained carpet for three months.

This reality has become more common as the housing crisis in the country persists, with renters having to accept ‘unliveable conditions’ in overcrowded rental properties.

View attachment 34102

Mia Smith labelled the Wantirna boarding house conditions as ‘unlivable’.
Image source: Pixabay

After relocating 40 times, Smith discovered the Melbourne property on social media and agreed to pay $910 monthly for a room.

She resided in the share house for three months before deciding she had had enough.

Smith pointed out, ‘There are no minimum standards to the place that is a requirement in Victorian law.’

‘I've had to give up this room and break a lease that's non-existent ... I'm basically homeless,’ she shared.

She is presently compelled to rely on her friends' hospitality as she looks for a permanent place to live.

According to National Property Editor at real estate website Domain Alice Stolz, Smith's situation highlights the stark truth of the current housing shortage in the country.

‘Fundamentally it speaks to just how severe this affordability and rental problem is,’ she said.
‘People who really feel they have no options and have been driven to areas [such as social media platforms] really need to exercise caution.’

Video source: YouTube/9 News Australia​

Director of the Victorian Conference of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Rebecca Auriant has been assigned the responsibility of assisting Smith, along with thousands of other renters facing difficulties, in their search for a suitable home.

‘I strongly feel that the exploitation of people who are vulnerable is a crime,’ she said.

‘It makes me really sad that people like private landlords will charge excessive amounts for just a room ... these rooms aren't meeting minimum standards.’

There has been a sharp increase in the number of group households or share houses in Australia due to soaring rental prices.

The demographic of share houses has changed over the past 20 years, with a 20 per cent decrease in young students and a 93 per cent increase in people over 65.

Key Takeaways

• Former nurse Mia Smith had to live in ‘unliveable conditions’ in a crammed sharehouse with no hot water, no locks on the doors, a broken toilet seat and stained carpet due to the ongoing housing crisis in Australia.
• After moving 40 times, Smith found a Melbourne property on social media, agreeing to pay $910 a month for a room.
• Alice Stolz, National Property Editor at Domain, said Smith’s situation highlights the severity of the current national housing shortage and low rental affordability.
• Rebecca Auriant, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Victorian conference director, described exploiting vulnerable people in the rental market as a crime and expressed sadness at private landlords charging excessive amounts for sub-par accommodation.

Members, what do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments below!

If ever there is a reason to try and own your own home it is this situation. Relying on rental properties is something I would hate. You are at the mercy of landlords and you never know when you are going to get your move on notice. Years back you could rely on social housing for certain demographics in society but no longer. The number needing public housing is just ridiculous and many would die before ever getting a place to live.

 

[Gsr]

It is time governments set minimum standards for every type of rental, from private homes to boarding houses to just a single room in a share house. Laws need to be set and landlords need to be fined heavily for substandard accommodation. There are so many desperate people looking for a place to stay that greed has taken over and some landlords, not all, are ripping people off by offering these substandard accommodations at exhorbitant prices.

 

[rehandra]

It is time governments set minimum standards for every type of rental, from private homes to boarding houses to just a single room in a share house. Laws need to be set and landlords need to be fined heavily for substandard accommodation. There are so many desperate people looking for a place to stay that greed has taken over and some landlords, not all, are ripping people off by offering these substandard accommodations at exhorbitant prices.

I agree. Have read recently that many landlords are now selling their investment properties as it is all becoming too hard. I can see both sides of the story. Personally I have never and would never own any property other than my own home . I read about people owning 15 plus properties. I think this should be stopped. If you want to invest money there are other ways to do it.

 

[magpie1]

And our Government is intent on bringing in hundreds of thousands of immigrants every year to add to the housing problem......we can't house everyone now, so why in the hell do we want to bring in so many more who will want housing also.....can't fathom out their thinking.

 

[LeahI]

I agree. Have read recently that many landlords are now selling their investment properties as it is all becoming too hard. I can see both sides of the story. Personally I have never and would never own any property other than my own home . I read about people owning 15 plus properties. I think this should be stopped. If you want to invest money there are other ways to do it.

I feel there is nothing wrong with people having many investment properties. It's the scoundrels who exploit the tenants that I have the problem with. I had 2 properties, and the agents would regularly advise to raise the rent, which most of the time I didn't, but when I did it was generally half what they suggested.
We need rental properties because so so many can not and probably will not ever be able to get their own home.
Somehow (and don't ask me about the logic) I feel the current cost of living crisis could be made better by fixing the housing crisis first.

 

[maherdj]

It would be nice if we had a PM who can stay home for just one month and help sort out our problems instead of running around the world trying to make a name for himself.

 

[LeahI]

It would be nice if we had a PM who can stay home for just one month and help sort out our problems instead of running around the world trying to make a name for himself.

Homelessness has been a growing problem for years, and Scomo certainly spent a lot of time out of the country too.
Who is the minister for housing?

 

[rehandra]

And our Government is intent on bringing in hundreds of thousands of immigrants every year to add to the housing problem......we can't house everyone now, so why in the hell do we want to bring in so many more who will want housing also.....can't fathom out their thinking.

I can fathom out their thinking. Labor brings them in they will vote Labor!

 

[magpie1]

I can fathom out their thinking. Labor brings them in they will vote Labor!

just like in the United States and their open border policy....just so they will vote for the Democrats.

 

[Leenie]

I can fathom out their thinking. Labor brings them in they will vote Labor!

Spot on.

 

[marni]

I agree. Have read recently that many landlords are now selling their investment properties as it is all becoming too hard. I can see both sides of the story. Personally I have never and would never own any property other than my own home . I read about people owning 15 plus properties. I think this should be stopped. If you want to invest money there are other ways to do it.

and where are the renters going to live? The tax these investors are paying should be used to build community housing. Although community housing has its own problem, as the reason some people are not able to get a rental is that they are their own worst enemies.