Some Sydney renters are facing the prospect of having to share a bedroom with one or two other roommates as the housing crisis shows no signs of abating.
The shocking conditions being advertised in Sydney rental homes has sparked outrage online.
It also means the worrisome prediction of Australia’s central bank governor Phillip Lowe is already coming true and is being taken to the next extreme.
At the end of last month, off the back of news of a 12th interest rate hike in as many months, Mr Lowe said the obvious solution was to get a housemate to share the load of the bills.
He said increasing rental prices would improve the problem.
“The higher prices do lead people to economise on housing, don’t they? Kids don’t move out of home because the rent is too expensive, or you decide to get a flatmate or a housemate,” the governor said at the time.
“We need more people on average to live in each dwelling and prices do that.”
Although Mr Lowe’s comments sparked criticism for being tonedeaf, his forecasts appears to be right, and now some are taking it a step further.
They’re not just getting new tenants into spare bedrooms — but also into spare space in their own rooms.
An advertisement made over the weekend is advertising a room near Central station and Broadway Shopping Centre for just $170.
Seems like a bargain at current rental rates.
The catch? You’ll have to share your bedroom with two total strangers.
“Room of 3 available,” the ad reads. “$170 all included. One bed available now. 2 beds available on the 17th”.
The post garnered several sad and laugh emoji reactions.
“Mother of God”, commented one person, while another said “WTF”.
Another room was advertised last week going for $160 in Sydney’s inner west, but with two single beds in the room.
“$160 and not even for a room to yourself?” commented one person online.
The latest figure from SQM Research found that the national rental vacancy rate sits at 1.2 per cent in April, the tightest it’s been in years.
That number is only slightly higher in Sydney, at 1.4 per cent.
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Another room in Sydney’s inner west was going for $270 and being advertised under ‘Male shared room in Chippendale’.
“2 beds available in the triplet room from 13th of June. Room has own bathroom for you and your roommates,” the online listing reads.
“Room has wardrobe. Plenty of space in front of your room for more storage as well. I used to stack up containers at the front …
“Looking for someone friendly, quiet and clean to occupy this room. Maximum 4-5 people in the apartment.”
Earlier this year, other rental ads also raised eyebrows.
In February, a landlord advertised a tin shed in the back of their property for $1000 a month.
Another Sydney landlord advertised their patch of grass in April, with the hopes they could charge a renter money for pitching a tent there.