Residents of Smith Collective, Southport face rent increases of $100+ per week

Several complaints about rent increases have flooded a Facebook community group created for residents of a Southport complex. Read Smith Collective’s response

A former resident of Australia’s first renters’ community says people are moving out of the Southport complex “in droves” due to hefty rent increases.

Renate Halleen’s family is now facing homelessness after they were forced to leave their townhouse at Smith Collective when rent increased from $625 per week to $734.

But Smith Collective general manager Matt Taplin said it offered “good value for residents” and the increases were “in line with the current market conditions”.

Ms Halleen has lived in the townhouse with her son and his partner for 18 months.

The rent was $595 per week when they moved in, which increased to $625 in May.

When their lease came up for renewal this month, their rent was increased to $734 a week.

Unable to afford the increase, Ms Halleen and her family are in the process of moving out of their townhouse and have nowhere else to go.

“We weren’t given the opportunity to negotiate the price. We’re homeless,” the Southport woman said.

“People are moving out in droves because they can’t afford the rent.”

Olivia Shepherd-Richards with 6 month old Nova Burrows and Renate Halleen in front of their rental property. Picture: Richard Gosling

Several complaints about the rent increases have flooded a Facebook community group created for Smith Collective residents.

Another resident who vented his frustration over the rent hike, Daniel White, said his one-bedroom unit had increased from $410 per week to $505.

The Smith Collective resident of three years recently moved to Japan with his Japanese wife and child due to the increase.

“There’s no way we could pay $505 for one bedroom – it’s simply too expensive,” Mr White said.

“It’s ridiculous, really. It’s way over the top.

“They’re clearly taking advantage of the rental shortage.”

A screenshot from a post on the Smith Collective residents' community Facebook group.

In Queensland, there is no cap on the amount landlords can increase rents by.

Smith Collective’s Matt Taplin noted rental prices for apartments had increased significantly across the Gold Coast over the past year.

“Southport has seen similar rental price increases for apartments, with prices rising by up to 20 per cent,” Mr Taplin said.

“Prior to that, increases in this location were averaging approximately two to four per cent per year.”

He said Smith Collective continuously monitored market rents in Southport to ensure it offered “good value for residents”.

Smith Collective in Southport. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Residential Tenancies Authority data for bonds lodged to September this year show that average rents in Southport for one and two bed apartments are higher than those in place at Smith Collective,” Mr Taplin said.

“We have provided as much notice as possible to those impacted residents that their rental increase will be happening in line with the current market conditions.

“Our residents enjoy living in a community that cares for each other.

“We are continually investing into the lifestyle of our residents and have recently added bike repair stations and dog waste dispensers in residential areas with plans under way for more lifestyle facility upgrades on the way.”

Mr White said he had seen one-bedrooms apartments advertised in Southport for as low as $400 per week.

“But there’s 20 to 30 people showing up to each inspection for those, so it makes it harder to secure one,” he said.

Ms Halleen said Smith Collective residents were paying top dollar for their apartments when “there’s nothing fancy about them”.

Smith Collective in Southport. Picture: Jerad Williams

Originally built as the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games athletes’ village, the 1251-unit development operated by Grocon, UBS Asset Management and JLL was transformed into Australia’s first renters’ community in 2019.

When it opened, it featured 18 apartment towers, 82 two-storey townhouses and a 6280sq m retail hub.

Smith Collective was promoted as a “groundbreaking new renters community designed for living, not just staying” that boasted an “amazing lifestyle” and “friendly” community.

In February, the Bulletin reported Smith Collective tenants had raised a number of concerns with the community, including animal faeces in communal areas, cockroach infestations and rental bonds not being returned.