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Rental crisis: Perth dad with cancer and his kids forced out of home

Harry Slabbers, 35, and his family are facing homelessness while he battles stage 4 cancer.

A Perth father battling stage 4 cancer is facing the real possibility of living out of his car, as Perth's ongoing rental crisis continues to take a stranglehold on the city.

Harry Slabbers was diagnosed with liver and bowel cancer 18 months ago, and despite reportedly having a major surgery scheduled for April 18, he has been forced to frantically search for a home for his partner and two children after their landlord decided to sell their Mandurah rental property.

Harry Slabbers can be seen in a hospital bed smiling beside his son and daughter beside him, putting on a brave face despite the extra challenges Perth's rental crisis is putting on his cancer journey.
Harry Slabbers says he is putting on a brave face for his children and partner, despite the rental crisis creating more challenges during his cancer journey. Source: 9 News

Despite his best efforts to secure another rental, the family are now only weeks away from being homeless. "Every viewing I go to, or Amy [his partner] goes to, there's 20 other families there every time," Harry told 9 News on Thursday. "My option is to sleep in a four-wheel-drive," he continued.

Perth rental vacancy rates below expected for 'balanced market'

According to real estate website reiwa.com, only 0.7 per cent of all available rental properties in the city were vacant in February, compared to 1.1 per cent at the same time last year.

With such a limited number of properties available for prospective tenants, many viewings have seen hoards of people attend in the hope of scooping up one the limited homes available. The February vacancy rate was a three-year low, with the real estate website suggesting 2.5 to 3.5 per cent rental vacancy rate represents a balanced market, something that has not existed in Perth for a few years.

A report from a Federal Government entity also revealed Western Australia was facing the largest housing shortfall in the country over the next five years.

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