Landlord more than doubles rent leaving mom and 11-year-old son facing homelessness after Christmas
A single mother has been given no choice but to move out of her property along with her 11-year-old son due to the increased rent, making them face homelessness just a few days after Christmas.
The single mother from Perth, Australia, has said she’s facing homelessness due to an unexpected rise in her rent, as it’s been more than doubled without any warning.
Despite being a part time nurse and working nine out of fourteen nights, she says the increase is just too much for her to afford and she’ll have to vacate the 3-bedroom premises.
Jakki Brooking said that her rent has sky-rocketed from AU$300 a week to a massive AU$630 a week, after the property was sold to new owners.
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Jakki thought she’d be safe after her property was covered under the National Rental Affordability Scheme, which is a government run scheme to ensure affordable rent for low-income families.
Under the scheme, landlords are offered tax and cash incentives if they advertise their property at least 20 percent below-market rate.
However, after the house was sold to new owners, she has been taken out of the scheme.
“It’s outrageous, really... People are going without things to afford rent,” Brooking said. “There are so many other people who are in the same situation, living in cars, living in tents, couch-surfing,” Brooking said.
She said that she can’t afford the AU$630 per week as this would account for more than half of her income, leaving her struggling to pay for groceries, and her son’s ADHD appointments.
As the lease for the property is up on New Years Day, Jakki has been looking for other apartments for her and her son with no luck.
When she contacted the real estate agent for support, she was told if she did not agree to the new price or leave the property before the end of the lease, she could be taken to court.
In a desperate plea, she took to TikTok to make a video about her current situation.
“I don’t know what to do at this point. This is literally so embarrassing,” Jakki said in one of the posted videos.
“I don’t have anywhere to live ... I am being rejected for every single house I have applied for so far,” she said.
She’s also asked the government for help, as she says she wasn’t protected by the Affordability scheme, ‘the government must do something to house us.’
While still looking for a permanent property, Jakki is currently sleeping on a friends couch as she looks for an apartment within her $580 a month budget.
While the family will have a roof over their head, living together in a single room will be challenging.
“It’s not as comfortable as having your own house,” she said.
Chelsea Connor