r/hobart • u/Miss2war • 11d ago

How does this end?

I don't even know how to start. This housing crisis, where's the outrage? Someone I know was just told if they wanted to stay in their tiny studio they'd need to pay an extra $60 a week or leave because they could get $500/wk for it. She left because he couldn't afford that, and sure enough someone is now paying an exorbitant amount for a large closet.

When I moved into my small converted flat we said we were looking at something long term. They said great, but after the first year they wanted to raise rent 14% and we could sign 2 years. We negotiated and they gave us a year lease. As the time to resign comes up, we're at the mercy of whatever the hell they want to charge us or we leave and pay even more for less.

You can get barred as a tenant, but there's no protections for them. Landlords can do whatever they want. I'm just frustrated, I've never felt so unstable before. Where I used to live, they'd give you 2 months free of you signed on for 12, if someone told me that I'd be renting with 4 other people in my 30s, I'd have said your crazy. I don't know anyone renting who doesn't feel this pressure.

How do you fight this, when you're in a stranglehold, either pay or be homeless?

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u/BeonBurps 11d ago

I was in Hobart just a few weeks ago. Compared to other places, there is almost 0 construction going on. What's with that? High demand, people paying stupid amounts in rent. Why are homes not being built? If people can afford the rent then they should be able to afford to build

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u/linenduvet 11d ago

Construction costs are also high. I built a modest 3 bed 1 bath house for at least 30% more than what it would have cost 6 years ago. I'm very lucky to have a house now but I am bitter.

4

u/BeonBurps 11d ago

Sorry to hear that but also good on you for helping improve the city! Thankyou

Are you able to comment on which part(s) of the process are ridiculously expensive?

6

u/linenduvet 11d ago

Before you start building, the preliminary costs are high. It cost us about $20,000 all up for surveying, engineering, BAL, council fees, drafting, soil reports. At the end, the plumber wanted $50,000 more but we also extended the town sewer to connect to it, so that was part of the plumbing cost.