We Have Caught The Attention Of 9 News Online
Hi There
Firstly, I wish to thank every single one of you for signing this petition and this just goes to show there is a need to address the issue of rent that exceeds market rates, causing many tenants and prospective tenants to end up in cars, crash with family and sometimes even the street - Particularly with tents.
I have been advised that there has been cases where children are being removed from families due to being homeless - unverified however, if this is indeed true - Then the whole situation is much worse than I could ever imagine.
So... The news I wish to tell you is a development from today.
I have been contacted by a reporter for 9 news online who wishes to do an article on the tenants perspective of the industry and the experiences of looking for a home in todays market and particularly the petition of banning any and all offers from being accepted.
There are more people than rental homes which is driving a severe case of supply and demand and I do believe the government and private business is sourcing over seas workers which will only increase this pressure once these workers arrive.
The side effect of this is the desperation of tenants is setting in and tenants or prospective tenants are offering more per week in hopes they can lock in a roof over their families heads and buy themselves a years grace before the next run of rental chaos.
We are not talking just the odd $20 or $30, which I can understand I am not innocent of these offers myself on occasion, however we are now looking at cases where a tenant is offering over $200+ a week ON TOP of the listed price in hopes to be the lease holder soon enough, they have the impression higher the mark up the better chance of getting the place - sadly often they are not wrong.
I believe this is causing many Australians with good and reputable history being outbid and overlooked by those who are happy to mark it up in order to get the home.
This has a huge effect on those who are just not able to afford that.
I have heard personally from those who are on limited incomes and can afford the $450pw home - However by the end of that day - Its a $600 lease.
I have heard others have to dip into home deposit funds just to keep a roof over their heads - Their home buying dreams destroyed all because they must up there rental budget to even have a chance in todays market.
Many including myself hear other tenants offer the agent at inspections of what they'll pay and the agent says "put it in the application" - No hesitation.
In an ideal world here's the life cycle of a tenant:
Tenant applies and gets lease, they save for own home deposit as they rent, tenant applies for mortgage and goes buy a house, moves into house, buys another perhaps and leases it out - cycle keeps going.
Rental income secure - Home inventory stable - Every ones happy for the most part - Now the issue is the tenant can't save for a weekend away let alone a house causing this cycle to break and how can this Theoretical life cycle of a tenant ever be possible easing the strain of housing inventory if we are robbing them of any chance to save at all.
Some tenants are not interested in owning at all and that's totally fine - I don't blame them with the rates and cost of living surging, but that dont mean they don't deserve a fair shot either.
I myself going to get a little personal with you so you know I am not just on my high horse blowing dust.
I currently earn $828pw after tax before any deductions, I pay currently $440 pw in rent, I pay my bills, I control my debts and spending as we do and have a guess what I got left to do what ever I like?
$66.50
That is my last cent for a week. - sixty six dollars and fifty cents.
I do not have pets, children or anything out the usual to spend my money on, I am a simple man who is JUST getting by.
gues what most of my funds go to - RENT.
The rule of thumb is rents should not exceed 30% - if this rule is true and adhered do im currently sitting on about 46% - Many I hear are sitting on or above 50% there income to rent.
My point being, I know your pain and that is one reason why i started this petition - I was looking at a rent increase and because I wrote a letter to the owner asking to freeze rent for one year, this MAY have helped make it happen( unsure if it helped but dont ask dont get - right?). Other tenants do not have the luxury of staying or even extending.
This offering more has to stop and although the tenants are taking the fall for this one, it is the owners and agents who are NOT saying no leading to this epidemic of rental hunger games.
I'll leave you to consider this information and I would love it if you could share this petition as far as you can as my goal is to take it to the office of government and hopefully get some discussions and movement on this matter.
Again I appreciate all your signatures and hope we can work together to make it fair for all. - do you want to pay more in rent than you have to? Didn't think so.
Kind regards
AJ