The Daily Mail reported on June 10 that a tent set up in a garage in Sydney was listed for rent at $210 a week, another sign of Australia's housing crisis.
Located in Seven Hills, Sydney's North West, the small granny studio is advertised as an "affordable living space" for couples.
Jordan van den Berg, a well-known tenant advocate, shared the listing on Twitter on Sunday and uploaded several photos of the "grandmother's room," a term used here to refer to apartments that combine different rooms into one space.
The photo shows the tent set up in a small area with a small table and some electrical appliances, including a fan. On the table is a laptop, mouse and phone, and next to it is a small bed.
(Image source: Daily Mail)
Another photo shows the garage converted into a compact living room with a small sofa and table, as well as kettles and cooking pots on makeshift wooden shelves. The gray walls are surrounded by string lights, and an LED light hangs outside the tent. Tenants can maintain privacy with gray curtains that look like bed sheets, which cover the entrance to the residence.
According to the listing, this "comfortable self-catering grandmother's room" is connected to the main house and provides convenience.
"Perfect for couples, this is ideal for those looking for a well-located, affordable living space with basic amenities."
(Image source: Daily Mail)
Rent is $210 per week and this fee includes WiFi, water and the cost of "reasonable use of electricity".
Based on the listing, this grandmother's room is within a 3-minute walk of Seven Hills Train Station and Seven Hills Plaza.
Hundreds of netizens left messages under van den Berg's social media posts, confused by the layout of this residence.
One person wrote: "Is that a tent? Another wrote: "What the hell is this? Is it indoors or outdoors? Or both? I really don't understand? ”
(Image source: Daily Mail)
There are also questions as to why the residence is listed as a rental property.
"Landlords (a bit reluctant to use the word in this case) need to ask themselves: 'Will you live there?' Or will your mother live there? Some people don't think this residence is safe for tenants.
One netizen wrote: "There is no insulation under the corrugated iron roof. Temperatures in the Seven Hills are often 0 degrees in the winter and as high as 44 degrees in the summer. ”
Under the pressure of the cost of living and the housing crisis, Australian tenants are struggling to find affordable accommodation.
According to the latest data from real estate website Domain, the median rent for a unit in Sydney is $700, while the median rent for a detached house is $750.
According to PropTrack's Rental Vacancy Rate Report, the national rental vacancy rate is 1.21%.
Since May 2022, the RBA has raised interest rates 13 times, and the cash rate is now at 4.35%.
Homeowners, landlords, and first-time homebuyers have been facing a tough economic situation.