Australia’s housing crisis shows no signs of slowing down as a tiny studio apartment with no kitchen and shared bathroom is raising eyebrows over its hefty price tag.
The tiny apartment on the outskirts of Surry Hills, a Sydney suburb, is listed as “affordable student accommodation” at a whopping $600 a week.
The listing offers ‘contemporary en-suite rooms’, free wifi, a ‘study area’, kitchenette and games room, but the depressing photos tell a different story.
In the corner is a bar fridge and a small desk and chair are under the window, while two single stained mattresses are crammed against the far wall.
Tenants will have the room to themselves, but will have to share an en-suite bathroom, kitchen and common living room with no mention of laundry facilities.
A tiny apartment in Surry Hills, a suburb of Sydney, is listed as ‘affordable student accommodation’ for as much as $600 a week.
The listing described the building as ‘an excellent choice for students seeking comfortable, convenient and affordable accommodation in Sydney’.
It’s also listed as ‘in’ trendy Surry Hills, but it’s technically in Redfern.
Tenants were shocked by the ‘excessive’ asking price and expressed their frustrations online.
Don’t all apply at once. The rental market in Sydney is a good time,” read a Reddit post with a screenshot of the $600 listing.
‘Oooh refrigerator in the bedroom. Take my money,’ someone replied sarcastically.
“Yellow is an unfortunate name for real estate given the color of that bed stain, lol,” laughed another.
“$600 for a studio? Yes, I’m glad I paid $2k for it,” a third added.
The listing offers “modern en suite rooms,” free Wi-Fi, a “study area,” kitchenette and games room, but the “depressing” photos tell a different story
Adam Flynn, Victorian state director of the Coronis Real Estate Group, advised that the best way for renters to combat the housing crisis was to reassess their lifestyles and make a trade-off based on their priorities.
“Opportunistic landlords are undoubtedly taking advantage of the economic situation to fill their pockets,” the real estate expert told FEMAIL.
“Tenants must assess whether a substandard living environment at too high a price is worth living in the CBD.”
“Many can move 10 or 15 kilometers out of town and have a better quality of life at a reasonable price – but they will have to sacrifice travel for study and work,” he said.
A small studio was previously dubbed a ‘prison cell’ after it was put up for rent on Flinders Street in Melbourne’s Central Business District for $320 a week.
The space can accommodate a queen size bed and is equipped with a wall-mounted television, sofa, microwave and single electric refrigerator.
Flynn explained that the market has experienced “significant declines” with buyers unwilling to buy and owners unwilling to sell.
“Some people choose to rent at any price — that’s why tiny studio apartments can go for $320 a week, despite being clearly outrageous.”
“If someone doesn’t care much about space and just needs a bed and pillow to rest their head on when they get home from work, I can see the place eventually being rented out.”
A small studio called a ‘prison cell’ has recently been put up for rent on Flinders Street in Melbourne’s Central Business District for $320 a week
Australian renters are in the trenches of the country’s housing crisis as the number of ‘excessive’ and ‘unreasonable’ homes available to rent increases by the day
Flynn described the situation as a “Mexican stalemate” with tenants, buyers and landlords all suffering from inflation and interest rates.
“Any sane person would think it outrageous to rent that place for $320 a week,” he said.
Other amenities available at the Flinders Street property include a bathroom with a shower and a shared upstairs washer and dryer for $4 per use.
Flynn continued, “The realities of supply and demand allow such properties to be priced – and rented – for even greater amounts.”
“It’s certainly not fair or logical, but it’s a sign of the times,” he added.
The dilapidated studio apartment also has stained walls, dirty floors and outdated popcorn ceilings.
The property on Flinders Street has been further marred by other tenants bashing the terrible condition of the building.
“The building this is in is horrific,” said a Melbourne tenant. “It has a central open atrium with a pool on the ground, but it looks like something out of a horror movie.
The space can accommodate a queen-size bed and is equipped with a wall-mounted television, sofa, microwave and single electric refrigerator
Several others were shocked by the high price for a studio apartment ‘prison cell’ after the ad went viral
He added: “I went there for an inspection and the elevator almost jammed, the pool was empty and full of mosquitoes, and the handrails and landings for each floor looked uneven. I don’t know how it’s safe for tenants.’
Several others were shocked by the high price for a studio apartment “prison cell” after the ad went viral.
‘What’s the matter with the world? It’s starting to cost more to live than I make in a week,” one woman wrote.
“The poor and middle earners are getting fucked everywhere,” said one man. “It’s really incredible what it’s led to. Technology is getting better, but everything stays the same or gets worse for us.’
“Prison cells are bigger than that apartment – there’s no place to breathe,” another wrote.
Is it better to just go to jail? At least you don’t have to pay rent,” joked one man.
Another said: ‘I can only see the mold in the pictures. Incredible.’
