Woman slams hostel over ‘taking advantage’ of people in need amidst crisis
- Replies 8
Australia is in the middle of a housing crisis.
There aren’t enough places to rent for everyone who needs a roof over their head. And worse, this problem could get even bigger in the next few months.
Highlighting the severity of this crisis, a recent incident has drawn significant attention.
An Aussie woman accused a Gold Coast hostel of listing a single bunk bed in its 100-person dorm for a staggering $350 per week.
While looking for accommodation, the woman was ‘disgusted’ to find the hostel's listing being presented as a long-term option.
‘I'm on flatmates.com, I'm not on booking.com; I'm not looking for a holiday,’ she said online.
‘This is where people advertise their spare rooms and for people to move in to live permanently...That is just taking advantage of people that are in need.’
Reportedly, the hostel can sleep 100 people, has a communal kitchen, and shared bathrooms—with images showing at least ten single beds tightly packed in one area.
‘I would rather not sleep in a 100-bed dorm that you're sharing with other people...The rental crisis is so real,’ she said.
While the social media user stands firm in her opinion, others find the hostel’s pricing reasonable, particularly when considering the current shortage of rentals in Australia.
‘Not bad for the Gold Coast though, and decent amenities,’ one wrote, noting that the price includes two daily meals and bills.
Another shared they stayed in a hostel for ‘a month and a half’ while searching for a permanent home and said: ‘It's cheaper than renting.’
While some opt for short-term hostel stays, and travellers choose them for longer stays in one place, hostels are often promoted as a budget-friendly option for transients.
The social media user expressed frustration at others being largely indifferent to the listing.
Still, some shared her viewpoint.
‘It's not normal to have a hostel on flatmates.com.au,’ one person wrote.
Others labelled it ‘insane’ and ‘definitely not worth it,’ citing concerns about usually ‘gross’ conditions due to a high number of residents in one place.
Nationwide, the rental crisis has deepened with a supply-demand imbalance, leading to a tightening market and decreasing vacancy rates.
Concerns have risen about potential long queues in listings and increased rent prices anew, signalling the end of a temporary reprieve.
To address the issue long-term, there’s a call for more housing developments to be made.
SQM Research recently reported that the national residential property rental vacancy rate fell to 1.2% in August 2023.
Australia's total rental vacancies decreased by 3,439 dwellings, totalling 35,425 vacant rental properties as the housing rental crisis intensified.
Meanwhile, Managing Director Louis Christopher predicts a potential record low in rental vacancy rates.
‘The national rental market continues to tighten, and going forward, based on falls in rental listings for October to date, we could see a record low in rental vacancy rates for this present month.’
Members, what’s your take on the hostel’s pricing? Do you find it too costly or reasonable? Share your thoughts in the comments!
There aren’t enough places to rent for everyone who needs a roof over their head. And worse, this problem could get even bigger in the next few months.
Highlighting the severity of this crisis, a recent incident has drawn significant attention.
An Aussie woman accused a Gold Coast hostel of listing a single bunk bed in its 100-person dorm for a staggering $350 per week.
While looking for accommodation, the woman was ‘disgusted’ to find the hostel's listing being presented as a long-term option.
‘I'm on flatmates.com, I'm not on booking.com; I'm not looking for a holiday,’ she said online.
‘This is where people advertise their spare rooms and for people to move in to live permanently...That is just taking advantage of people that are in need.’
A woman criticised a Gold Coast hostel for advertising a single bed at $350 per week. Image source: TikTok and flatmates.com.au
Reportedly, the hostel can sleep 100 people, has a communal kitchen, and shared bathrooms—with images showing at least ten single beds tightly packed in one area.
‘I would rather not sleep in a 100-bed dorm that you're sharing with other people...The rental crisis is so real,’ she said.
While the social media user stands firm in her opinion, others find the hostel’s pricing reasonable, particularly when considering the current shortage of rentals in Australia.
‘Not bad for the Gold Coast though, and decent amenities,’ one wrote, noting that the price includes two daily meals and bills.
Another shared they stayed in a hostel for ‘a month and a half’ while searching for a permanent home and said: ‘It's cheaper than renting.’
While some opt for short-term hostel stays, and travellers choose them for longer stays in one place, hostels are often promoted as a budget-friendly option for transients.
The social media user expressed frustration at others being largely indifferent to the listing.
The hostel's single beds are closely arranged in individual pods. Image source: flatmates.com.au
Still, some shared her viewpoint.
‘It's not normal to have a hostel on flatmates.com.au,’ one person wrote.
Others labelled it ‘insane’ and ‘definitely not worth it,’ citing concerns about usually ‘gross’ conditions due to a high number of residents in one place.
Nationwide, the rental crisis has deepened with a supply-demand imbalance, leading to a tightening market and decreasing vacancy rates.
Concerns have risen about potential long queues in listings and increased rent prices anew, signalling the end of a temporary reprieve.
To address the issue long-term, there’s a call for more housing developments to be made.
SQM Research recently reported that the national residential property rental vacancy rate fell to 1.2% in August 2023.
Australia's total rental vacancies decreased by 3,439 dwellings, totalling 35,425 vacant rental properties as the housing rental crisis intensified.
Meanwhile, Managing Director Louis Christopher predicts a potential record low in rental vacancy rates.
‘The national rental market continues to tighten, and going forward, based on falls in rental listings for October to date, we could see a record low in rental vacancy rates for this present month.’
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