This photo of a “rare room” available for rent sums up the dire state of Australia’s housing crisis and sparked an online outcry.
A gated terrace in North Hobart was listed on Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace for $219 a week.
The space, which appeared to be an extension built into the Tasmanian home, was advertised as a “pet-friendly single room.”
Two photos of the listing were shared on Reddit with the caption “surely this can’t be legal.”
The ‘room’ consists of two brick walls and a tiled floor, as well as a private door, through which other occupants would presumably need to enter to access the main part of the house.
A small room in a shared house was listed online for rent for $219 a week.
A photo shows the fully furnished space, which barely fits a bed, a closet, a desk and a heater.
The second photo shows the fully furnished space, which barely has room for a bed, a closet, a desk, a lamp, and a heater.
The living space was described in its online listing as “convenient.”
‘Do you want to live in a community house but also quiet and respectful? “This quiet, low-maintenance, pet-friendly home in North Hobart could be your future home,” the ad said.
“Ideally, you want to be someone who is responsible and sticks to the cleaning schedule to help everyone live in a clean space, but only needs to clean once a month… and you have a job.”
The Reddit post sparked a divided reaction among Australians.
Many were quick to denounce the ridiculousness of the space and suggest that it would be very cold in winter.
“I currently live in a renovated shed and it’s bigger and nicer,” one wrote.
Another added: “Imagine having an animal locked in that… a rat or a fish maybe, but I couldn’t imagine having a cat or dog in there.”
A third wrote: “I lived for a couple of months in a ‘room’ much like this in Dynnryne in the early 90s. I actually thought it was nice but it’s actually not,” said a third person.
According to the City of Hobart, more than 120,000 Tasmanians live below the poverty line.
“Due to the low rate of wage inflation, it is increasingly difficult to buy or rent a home, even for Tasmanians with a stable income,” the city’s website states.
“More and more working families are asking for emergency help because they can’t afford rent increases.”
More than 120,000 Tasmanians live below the poverty line. Pictured is the capital of Tasmania, Hobart.
