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A single mother fears she could be homeless in the new year after her rent was more-than doubled days out from Christmas.
Jakki Brooking, 28, was told the Perth home she’s been living in for six years will increase from $300 to $630 from January 1.
The registered nurse had been able to pay lower rent under the National Rental Affordability Scheme.
The federal government program introduced in 2008 offers financial incentives for investors to rent out properties to low income workers at below-market rates.
However, the home was recently purchased by new owners who have chosen to list the house on the open market anticipating the increased rental income will outweigh the government subsidy.
‘My lease is up on the 1st of January, I’ve applied to houses and been rejected for all of them,’ Ms Brooking said in a heartbreaking video posted to TikTok.
‘I just don’t know what I’m meant to do now. This is literally so embarrassing.
‘(I’m) facing homelessness from the end of the lease.’
Jakki Brooking, 28, was told the Perth home she’s been living in for six years will increase from $300 to $630 from January 1
Rental properties in Perth have risen by 19 per cent in the past year with the city also having the tightest vacancy rate among capital cities at just 0.4 per cent.
The economic phenomenon, which is mirrored in other states across the country, has triggered immense housing stress for many Australians in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
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‘Working was an registered nurse means you should be able to afford rent easily! What is this world coming to? I’m so sorry,’ one person wrote.
Another said: ‘The housing in Australia is ridiculous, no one should be paying $600 a week to live in a house.’
A single pensioner said she was also in the same boat as Ms Brooking, unable to find another home to move into with her lease ending on January 15.
Others argued it wasn’t the fault of the real estate agent or the new home owners, as they were also dealing with skyrocketing mortgage costs.
The registered nurse fears she could be homeless in the new year
‘Remember, property owners are dealing with ongoing interest rate hikes, repairs, maintenance, damages, land tax, insurance, land and water rates etc,’ one wrote.
‘Not defending the new owners at all but $630 is probably their minimum mortgage repayment for the loan. My mortgage has doubled nearly,’ another said.
Ms Brooking revealed she has since found a place for her son, Levi, and her cat and dog to stay while she examines her options.
