A Sydney landlord has audaciously listed an enclosed balcony for $360 (Rs 20,000) per week in a stark illustration of Australia's escalating rental crisis. The controversial listing on Facebook Marketplace, marketed as a "sunny room," highlights the desperate measures some property owners are taking to capitalise on the shortage of affordable housing in the country.
The advertisement depicts the cramped, box-like space outfitted with a single bed, mirror, blinds, and a rug, seemingly laid over tiled flooring. Glass sliding doors separate this "room" from the main apartment, with the reflection in a full-length mirror revealing another glass wall adjacent to the balcony.
According to the landlord, the space in the Haymarket area is ready for immediate occupancy, with the weekly rent covering all bills.
This enclosed balcony forms part of a two-bedroom apartment, indicating the increasingly creative and questionable solutions landlords are resorting to amidst skyrocketing rents.
A similarly peculiar listing recently went viral, showcasing a one-bedroom apartment where the dining room and kitchen were awkwardly situated in a covered outdoor area, available for $390 per week.
Photographs of the unconventional setup show a refrigerator, cupboards, cooktop, food storage, dining table, and benches haphazardly placed under tarps.
The rising cost of living and a worsening rental market in Australia have precipitated a surge in such unconventional and, often, substandard rental listings.
New data from Domain reveals that Sydney's median rental price for houses remained at a record $750 in June 2024, marking a 7.1% increase from the same period last year.
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