Landlord offering $650 backyard caravan accused of exploiting rental crisis
The controversial rental property is the latest to get Aussies riled up – but not just for the price.
A caravan for rent in Queensland has been called out by frustrated renters who've accused "greedy" landlords of exploiting vulnerable Aussies looking for housing during the country's property crisis.
This self-contained caravan on the Gold Coast is the latest to come under fire for its extortionate asking price. However, the $650-a-week offering is just part of the issue, one TikTok user claims.
A shortage of suitable housing and soaring mortgage rates have led to a wave of caravans or motorhomes being rented out by landlords hoping to make ends meet. Featuring two bedrooms, ample storage plus a fully equipped kitchen, this set-up would appear too good to be true for some — but in this case, there's a catch.
Issue with Queensland caravan listing
The caravan listing posted on Facebook requests the standard bond plus two weeks' rent upfront and states "all relevant tenancy checks [are] required". The problem is, the tenant is required to move the caravan offsite onto the land of their own and must pay to set utilities too. The caravan would "suit someone looking to live off-grid on land or as site accommodation while building," the listing states.
Honest property reviewer Rach McQueen slammed the landlord's requests in a video on TikTok on Tuesday admitting the housing problem in Australia "makes me sick".
"You're not even letting them live in the caravan on your property? They're going to be paying more money to put it on land somewhere and hook it up to utilities," Rach says, targeting the landlord.
"You see, I don't really understand where this person got the idea they can hold a tenant accountable to tenancy laws when essentially they're just leasing them a caravan in the way that you lease a car.
"You're not actually taking in a tenant on your property. They're not your tenant, they're leasing a caravan".
Working woman goes from paying $1200 a week to living in Sydney tent
Aussie man's Facebook inbox highlights dire state of rental crisis
Caravan listing mocked on social media
Rach argued this is "not the solution to the problem" and that charging $650 for a caravan for rent will not help the housing crisis. She noted that $650 per week should be able to cover "an actual house/apartment" not just a caravan with added costs.
In a previous video showing a "shanti town" rental in Mullumbimby, New South Wales, the opinionated social media user said landlords are "profiteering" off people who can not afford housing with many agreeing rental pricing are getting "ridiculous".
Commenting on her latest video, one person asked "What do u call a landlord with no land?" to which Rach responded "delusional". Another claimed, "you can rent caravans cheaper from travel companies".
However, one suggested the caravan is "better than sleeping in a tent".
"If I had nowhere to go with my kids I'd be happy to live in it," another said.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
