Stories and photos
Below are some quotes, comments, stories and photos from private rooming house residents. This page will be added to over time.
A small room with a residents' worldy posessions crammed in.
‘It was the lowest place I have ever stayed in my life, which includes 10 years in jail’
‘They shouldn’t let people that take drugs and steal other people’s things, clothes, money, cars and bash up people for money sleep at any house or hostel’
‘People keep coming in my room all night and trying to steel things. Woke up with one guy steeling my shoes’
‘Could only lock bedroom door if I paid an extra $25’
‘Scary place. Waiting to get stood over again’
‘Bars on windows which were a fire risk’
Cooking here is not recommended by the residents. This is the only functional piece of cooking equipment in the rooming house.
‘I saw 3 people beaten up in one night and nobody did a thing’
‘Makes me sick when I see syringes lying down especially in the bathroom’
‘Needs re-doing – carpets, painting, furniture and flooring all need re-doing. Flooring really dirty’
A very dirty shower enclosure coated with grime on every surface. Nearly 20 people use this small bathroom.
‘Filth and disease in the bathroom’
‘Bedding was not clean’
‘Information board ripped off’
‘I was evicted when I complained about the terrible drainage in the bath and shower’
‘Was assaulted by another resident and evicted for getting blood on the carpet. Go figure’
‘It is not the best place but it is something very overpriced for people in our situation’
Another bathroom that's enough to put you off showering forever. No locks mean you likely to be interrupted by one of your many fellow residents.
‘Stressful, unhygienic, expensive and sends you crazy’
'A Boarding House is for sale in [deleted] Rd in Mooroolbark Victoria.
I am was very interested in buying this place, so I called the agent and had a look around. I am a chef and a nurse and have had many experiences in the UK of dealing with people in 'half way houses 'as we call them. This house has rooms inside for 12 people. The people who were living there were very friendly and polite. However, I came away there feeling very tearful and shocked that a developed country like Australia would let this happen. The rooms were tiny. Every room in the house (including a garage!) had been made into a room for people to rent.
It really has to be seen to be believed. I am just disgusted that this is allowed to happen. It is truly shocking to say the least. No heating around the house. It was a dirty, poky, house. There has obviously been no investment whatsoever in the house. The businessman who owns this lives in Brighton.
I just wanted to air my thoughts'.
Kind regards
[name deleted]'
'Your Name: [deleted]
Your Email: [deleted]
Subject: Shifty operator
Message: I was an administrator for a person with a mental disability. An egency referred us to a dingy place, the manager of which was contactable only by mobile phone. No address for the manager was given. There was a"furniture allowance" that was not refunded when we left. I later found out that the operator was a crim with convictions for sub-standard housuing offences.
Another place was grotty, with a manager that was not helpful. Wires had been rigged illegally, and were in my view most hazardous. Running a standadrd 240 volt line, the sort of cable used for a vacuum cleaner, through a bare hole in corrugated iron is asking for trouble.
I am *most* keen to be involved in this issue. In my view landlords should be registered the same as real estate agents. The agents shall be reposnioble for ensuring that the property is of a suitable standard. Heavy penalties for the owner and agent shall apply if standards are breached.
If a shared accommodation was built on a standard block then rent for a room would be about $70-80 a week. This would only work if Centrelink among others allowed direct payment of rent and utilities, and the tenant could not alter this. Centrelink advise that this is not possible. Too many tenants trash places with impunity. I am aware of one person who has significantly damaged four places in a row, and is rorting DHS processes. She left accommodation owing rent and went to a shelter claimning that she was homeless. DHS are not especially concerned.
Any typos above - sorry. the text is extremely small.'
Tell your story
If you are a current or former private rooming house resident you can send us your story and photos. Please tell us if you want them to be added to this page or if you are interested in speaking with the media. Please email callthisahome@gmail.com
A makeshift car-avan in an inner-city back yard
This room is almost impossible to get to, let alone live in.