Really angry, and just over it!
Hi all, I can't be bothered doing a proper intro so I'm just gonna get right to the stuff.
My grandmother's rent just went up $720 a week. She lives in a shithole, built-in 1900-1910, last updates in the 70's, and previously used as a halfway house in the 60's, full of black mold, rising damp, and collapsing floor (which I have fallen through twice, and also a leg through the kitchen floor). The house also has a makeshift 1940s built small flat attached at the rear (no back door), that tenant is also hating the situation. and there is a 1940s-built double laundry for each resident, made entirely out of asbestos. Oh and I forgot to mention, there's three layers of linoleum in the house itself, all most likely containing asbestos, so thats another worry I have (since the three floor incidents I had).
My grandmother has also had things go wrong with her health, which i dont think she would want shared, but the house has done some affect to her. Shes been living in this house for 40 years now and only one update was done with the kitchen in 2008, but that was hardly anything, we, ourselves have painted the interior walls and patched up the floor holes that were pre existing and have reopened. Only once did the owner come in the late 80's early 90's to patch up the ceiling in my mum's bedroom bc the ceiling collapsed onto her bed (and it seems like history is about to repeat in the same spot), I'm just done, no matter how much we try to paint or fully clean the house, the mold always comes back and the rising damp just flakes the paint off like a sticker to fabric. i am so angry that she is paying 1300-1400 a fortnight to live in a shithole, it also has not aircon or heating, she is relying in 1910's ventilation technology, which is sickening (literally).
i feel like im about to flip it, abit of my emotions have come out already, folding cloths, i threw the washing basket at the wall, and i almost broke the basket, i'm getting sick of it, i'm applying for my second job and getting help from my parents so we have enough money to get into the market together (at least so we have a place to go if our rent stopped) i have sacrificed not going to uni, and basically all of my social life just to help my family, i finished school last year, and haven't made any big spends since, no shopping, nothing. even though i'm living with my parents and they still look after me, i don't make them spend much on me. i don't want to live like my grandmother is in the future, in a shit hole, worried about the next rent bill. i want to at least have my foot in the door of the housing market. i am scared, afraid, stressed, but i still have hope. I just gotta work my ass off for it first.
I'm so done and tired of this cost of living stress, and i'm only 19. I don't get why we are still told we have it good and that we're just lazy, there's still heaps of us working hard and getting nowhere.
I have attached photos to show how bad this place rlly is, i have been told to sue both the owner and realestate for doing nothing but, but my gma doesnt want to be evicted. the kitchen has no photos bc my family doesnt know im doing this, but i need to do this bc i think something bads gonna happen, like a walls gonna come down or smth. this house isnt worth 720 A WEEK!!!
i know thers not much i can do, but is there anything????
Comments
Hi @Blue_Hedgehog ,
I saw your post and I don't have any suggestions but I just wanted to let you know that your frustration is so valid!! The wage vs. cost of literally everything issue right now in Aus is ridiculous and so demoralising. I'm currently working but have nowhere near the amount of money to be able to move out of home.
It sounds like you are taking on a lot of responsibility at home as well, which can be really exhausting (I know it is for me!!). I hope you get the chance to take some time to do things that you enjoy doing! This last year I've realised how important it is to take time to have hobbies (even when I feel there is no time to do them). I've found it really helps with my mood and helps me be more in the present moment.
Wishing you the best! 🙂
Hey @Blue_Hedgehog
I am really sorry to hear about your grandmother’s rental increase and the situation that you and your family are in right now. I can see how much this is impacting you and it is very understandable that you are feeling this way.
This is a lot to be managing and I am sorry that you are all experiencing this right now. From what you have shared, it looks like there is a lot of things wrong with her home and this must be incredibly stressful for her – especially when the home has been impacting her health. It also must be so frustrating knowing that despite the condition, the rent has increased. I know that you mentioned your grandmother gets embarrassed about the house and doesn’t want people to think she has abandoned it which is very understandable – but from what you have mentioned it sounds like a lot of this is with the condition of the house and not the maintenance. It sounds like you and your family have done everything you can to help maintain the house, and keep it in the best possible condition for your grandmother.
I was wondering if you think it might be helpful to seek some legal advice about this? If you want, you can access free legal advice through legal aid. They also have some information on their website here surrounding housing rights which you may find helpful to have a look through.
I know you also raised some concerns about the cost of living at the moment and I wanted to share this post with you which has some really great resources around managing the current cost of living crisis. I really encourage you to check that out.
I can hear how much of an impact this has been having on you and I was wondering if you have any supports or have been able to talk to anyone about this, whether it be a friend, family member, GP or mental health professional? It is a lot to be managing and it is important that you are reaching out for some support during this time.
I can hear how much you have sacrificed to help your family – and want to acknowledge everything you have had to do. I can hear how much you love and care about your family, and they are all really lucky to have you as their son and grandson. In saying that, it is important that you are taking some time where possible to take care of yourself and do something special for yourself. Do you think you could schedule some time for this? We have a list of ways you can chill for cheap here.
How are you feeling after sharing this?
Take care and I look forward to hearing back from you soon! 😊
Hi thankyou, i have a good support through friends and family. Especially my mum who helps me go through what i am thinking and encourages me to see light in a dark and scary situation. Thankyou!
I shall have a look at legal aid and see what i can do, as i am determined and very serious about doing something about this. I think, in some ways, it violates human rights laws. People have the right to be able to live comfortably within any dwelling. So overall, I will take action. Somehow.
I am feeling better after posting this, bc I have never talked to someone who isn't family about this. It is a weight off of my shoulders for the time being. After the last rent increase a few months ago, i promised myself that if the rent rises again, I'm going to start to do something about it. I am fed up.
As weird as this is about to sound, it spreads awareness -> I am thinking of also reaching out to a tiktokker called Purplepingers, he visits and talks about shitty rentals, and i think this one is a good one to put out onto his page, depending on what my grandma thinks first though. she is already stressed enough. I want to help make a change in this rental crisis and I guess it starts with the small things first. Small things make big changes.
Thanks heaps again for the advice, it helps alot. I'm only 19 and know hardly what to do about this lol. I'm definately looking at legal aid after this!
Thankyou!😊
Hey @Blue_Hedgehog,
I just wanted to chime in here and thank you for your response! It is great to hear that your friends and family are supporting you when you need them. Everybody has a right to live comfortably in a rental, so I am hopeful that you are able to seek the support you need from Legal Aid.
We are glad to know that you are feeling better and that a weight has been lifted after sharing this. Speaking up is incredibly difficult but so important! Your courage and determination is so powerful and admirable.
We look forward to hearing about how things go for you!
i keep forgetting stuff that has happened lol, one of the ppl who lived in the back flat fell through the floor also, and the owner evocted her and repaired it using a stack of bricks and a wooden board. And when the toilet broke, he repaired it by tieing a plastic bag around the pipe.
i feel also bad for doing this, bc i think my gma gets embarrased sometimes about how the house is, she doesnt want ppl to think that she has abandoned it and let it go, except for above the picture rails, weve painted 2 of the bedrooms, the living room and the bathroom, but the mold seems to still come back, and make it look like its been left for years. the kitchen floor is so bad, but i didnt include it, theres just ducttape everywhere bc of the amount of holes. weve had to replace the oven and stove ourselves and put new lino in the living room bc thats bad aswell. and since the floors sinking, the rusty nails holding the floorboards underneath down, are rising, so we constantly have to hammer these nails down so the family doesn't get tetanus.
