Desperate renters turn to rentals with ‘bathrooms in a box’

A studio up for rent in Sydney’s Redfern has attracted some attention for its puzzling feature.

A TikToker working to expose horrific Australian rental properties has uncovered the bewildering “bathroom in a box” apartment trend.

As the nation sinks deeper into a cost of living crisis and property prices soar, renters are being forced to consider smaller and more outrageous living arrangements.

Rachel wrestles with rentals in her real estate TikTok series, most recently uncovering two “large” self-contained studio apartments with some especially eccentric design features.

“Both (apartments) feature one of my favourite rental crisis home design features – the bathroom in a box,” she said.

The bathroom in a box arguably does little to facilitate feng shui. Picture: Facebook

Each apartment in the Sydney suburb of Redfern was advertised on social media at $460 per week with bills included (although one was listed as $475 in Rachel’s video) – neither allow pets nor parties.

“I would like to know if you’d consider having parties here,” Rachel said.

The TikToker pointed out a very common strategy used when advertising smaller spaces, the “wide angle lens working overtime”.

Wide lens angle at work. Picture: Facebook

“Here is another angle of the room and this just proves how much the wide angle lens distorts things because remember where that desk was in the last picture?” she said.

The same space from a different angle. Picture: Facebook

Both apartments come “fully furnished” and appear to be in the same apartment block in the city’s inner south.

The first apartment is equipped with a “fully furnished kitchen”, unlimited internet, microwave and laundry and is advertised as being close to Surry Hills shopping centre and the Sydney CBD.

The apartment’s front door opens right next to the bathroom in a box, which is sandwiched between the entrance and the teeny kitchen.

Advertised personal kitchen space. Picture: Facebook

“You’re supposed to fit down into here to prepare your meals and do your dishes,” Rachel says of the sliver of kitchen floor space.

While the second apartment boasts a slightly more expansive kitchen, its “cruise ship” size bathroom is particularly puzzling.

For just $460 per week one can partake in a very vulgar vista – people potentially taking plops a stone’s throw from your pillow.

Open plan indeed. Picture: Facebook

“The issue with the bathroom is more to do with its location,” the TikToker said.

“A bathroom in a box right next to your bed.”

@rachmcqueen1

Real Estate with Rachel. Double episode. Redfern studio apartments. $475 and $460 per week. Both have bathrooms in a box, one of which renders the kitchen pretty much useless. The one with the useless “kitchen” (just a sink) is more expensive, of course. #realestatewithrachel#rentalcrisisaustralia#housingcrisisaustralia#realestateaustralia#shitrentals#slumlordspecial#sydneyrentalcrisis#sydneyrentals#sydneyrealestate

♬ original sound - Rach McQueen 👑

Sydney is in the grips of a rental crisis, with weekly rent in the CBD increasing 41.8 per cent in the past 12 months.

Both rentals have been updated as “sold” on Facebook.