I was recently asked on a radio show how students can get rental properties when rents are so high and vacancies are so low.
I said landlords prefer people who have jobs, references and at least one set of smart clothes so that’s the impression they should aim for, even if the reality doesn’t quite match up.
It’s tough. Our cities don’t have the stockpile of ageing apartment blocks that house the students, artists and other impecunious tribes of London, New York and Paris.
Overcrowded new apartments will disappear as the authorities get to grip with these potential fire traps.
Garage conversions, where the car and lawnmower are replaced by a couple of paying guests, grateful for anywhere to sleep and recharge their iPads, only last until the neighbours complain.
Is there no way of building cheap, small strata units with shared facilities where investors can make a decent return on rents that students can afford?
They could accommodate students in term time and backpackers in holiday periods and everyone would be happy. They’re not looking for “affordable luxury” (whatever that is) – they just want somewhere to study, sleep and be safe.
If you can solve the student rental puzzle or have your own tenancy questions, log on to flatchat.com.au/forum.