Rental crisis pushing single mothers to extremes

[bear]

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[ann]

The rental situation is critical for all levels in Australia now, not just single mums. Mid north coast NSW is terrifying for renters (I’m one of them). Daily on the local Facebook groups people are begging for help to find a place. Many are couples who both work, excellent references, have been long term renters, kids go to local schools, they are generationally local people and can get nothing at all, nothing. Older pensioners have no where at all to go. People with kids and pets are finding it impossible. Applications are frequently more than 100 for one house.

State forests are now getting long term campers, people who camp in tents and drive their kids to school daily, then go off to work. I’ve never seen anything like this. Now they are bringing tourists back the landlords will go back to Airbnb’s so more renters will be thrown out. It is diabolical.

Today I read that the interstate truck drivers are having serious problems with free campers pulling into the truck lay-bys to sleep which leaves the truckies with nowhere to go. People pull into Bunnings car parks for the night. Service stations along highways have never seen so many overnighters.

You don’t see the problem in your daily travels, but it’s there and getting much worse. Not just here, it’s in Victorian country towns as well, it’s a national issue. I predict crime will go up, these people are desperate and there is no help. Charities can’t keep up with the need for food etc, forget emergency accommodation as that barely exists these days. I can’t imagine how sad the story must be for a person to be granted accommodation these days.

So, I’m saving like crazy to buy myself a small caravan and will live in that. My rent is due to go up this month, last year it went up $10 a week, I read some locals are getting increased over $200 a week. It’s been a shock for me to be this vulnerable, but here I am. I have a plan, it’s a good plan, I’m now on the Age Pension so they can’t take that from me. I’ve found the van and believe it or not the business selling it has agreed for me to lay-by it. I should get it by September. I’m sad, terrified and excited. I see no other solution for me to have security. I’m one of the lucky ones, I will scrape the money together, I can drive, car is old but super strong and good.

I promise all reading this I will get towing lessons as soon as I get the caravan. You will be safe.

[bear]

Once again ann , thanks for the detailed up to date report from on the ground.

It is definitely everywhere, as friends in Qld haven't been able to find anything to rent; though they have been fortunate enough to be allowed to set up a free permanent camp on a large property close to a small town.

"Australia; where the bloody hell are ya??" Yeah thanx 4 that one Scotty!!  Cheers bear

[onemore]

A little off track but on the same subject.
Where I was renting in Wollongong I was paying 350 a week for a 2 bedroom unit, then electric on top. Remembering I was in it alone so no damage was done to the place.
When I was renegotiating the lease the owner would not even think about a six month lease but would do another 12 month lease at $370 a week, so I said no politely to that.
I advertised all my furniture on gumtree at a good price, nearly give away prices because I bought it all from salvos, no problem.
When it came near the time for me to go, and Covid was still around the Salvos weren’t allowed to come to pick things up.
So I put it all on Facebook on the pay it forward section.
Some dubious people came and picked up a lot of stuff, dubious meaning they didn’t look hard up so we’re probably going to garage sale it all.
One young lady called for the washing machine, refrigerator, queen bed and 2 heaters, she had recently been separated, and was looking for stuff, but wanted to know how much I wanted for what was left, when I told her it was free for her she said she would have to run that by her mother as she didn’t believe in taking charity.
Anyway her father came around with her to pick it up and I can tell he wasn’t doing too well either.

The unit. When I left the new tenants had 2 children and a dog.

[onemore]

Back on subject, having left Wollongong the only place I could get to rent was a studio unit,(modern term for combined bedroom,kitchen and living area in one room) in Grafton 8 hours away for $330 a week and I was lucky to get that.
The unit had views of the old pacific highway and the main rail corridor between Sydney and Brisbane, luckily the sound of freight trains doesn’t bother me.

[rainyday]

With "Comrad" Dan locking us down so much, we now have a lot of people that have exited Melbourne and I can't blame them. If anyone is looking for a one bedroom apartment to rent, there are heaps available in the inner suburbs from around $230.00 per week in some popular suburbs.

[tasjo]

Down here is apparently crazy, with a vacancy rate of less than 1% (Hobart I think is less than 0.5%). Rents have risen massively in most areas... however, some renters are still hindering themselves too.
And I'm not sure that it's the airbnb market here either, the rental market has always been extremely tight because of inability to borrow (earning capacity).

[bear]

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[bear]

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