Layla Pomirska describes her financial situation as a “black cloud” that follows her. The 23-year-old account manager and uni student, studying business, has $44,000 in student debt after swapping out of a law degree, and moved back home last September.

She was paying $300 a week in rent for her share house in Sydney’s beach suburb of Maroubra, while working part-time. An upcoming $75 rent increase pushed her over the edge.