‘Things are going from bad to worse’: $160 caravan for rent in remote Queensland sparks debate over living standards

A rental listing in remote Queensland has sparked a heated debate over acceptable living standards in the rental crisis.

A rental listing on a block of land near a remote Queensland town has sparked a heated debate over acceptable living standards for tenants.

The caravan, stationed on a property in Tara in the Western Downs region of Queensland, was listed on a Facebook “Buy, Swap, and Sell” group for just $160 a week.

The first catch, however, is that the prospective tenant needs to clear the 600 metre-long driveway “to access the van”.

But once that’s done, the landlord promises “two weeks free rent to clear”, but only “after the job is done”.

An ad for a caravan up for rent in Queensland’s Western Downs region. Picture: Facebook

The freshly-painted van sits on one acre of a 30 acre plot in Tara. Picture: Facebook

According to the listing, the “newly painted” 25-foot caravan sits “in the middle” of a 30 acre plot.

It has new floors, a small fridge, a solar panel, a regulator (but no battery), and water pod – but there is no bathroom on site, despite the listing describing it as having “1 bed [and] 1 bath room”

“Sewage drop available for your [camp] toilet 20 mins (sic.) away,” the post reads.

The site also warns the caravan is “not suitable for children”.

But it does promise tenants can: “Stay as long as you want and build sheds fences etc. Rent will NEVER raise.”

As well as clearing the road to reach the property, a prospective tenant will need to fork out two weeks’ rent in advance as a bond.

The 25-foot caravan features a kitchen, bench seat, and one bed for its prospective tenant. Picture: Facebook.

The woman who posted the listing has advertised two other caravans for to rent for $90 and $180, respectively. Both of those also promise for set rent.

news.com.au has approached the woman who posted the contentious ad for comment on the caravan.

Despite providing a sort of solution to Australia’s crippling rental crisis, the caravan has sparked a fierce debate over living standards when it was shared by a woman on another renters Facebook group.

She said the post showed “things are going from bad to worse in this crazy market”, but some commenters were quick to defend the property, saying it looked “nice especially for $160 a week”.

“I mean, I don't hate it. I’ve seen worse looking places for more, and knowing you’ll never be asked to pay more is a hell of a lot more reasonable than anything else on the market right now,” another wrote.

“This would be good for anyone who has nothing over their heads … Or living in a tent,” someone else added.

The caravan listing caused great division online, with some blasting the property, while others were quick to defend it. Picture: Facebook.

Some responses were not as favourable, declaring the property unacceptable and not up to scratch with minimum rental standards.

The Queensland government introduced minimum housing standards on September 1, 2023, and were enforceable for any tenancy agreement signed or renewed from that date.

The standards include certain privacy requirements, workable locks on external doors and some windows, dampness, mould, rotting or structural defects and working fixtures and fittings, including electrical appliances that come with the property.

The new minimums also require a property “provide privacy in bathroom areas and have flushable toilets connected to a sewer, septic tank, or other waste disposal system”.

It also requires “adequate plumbing and drainage” and a connection to “suitable” drinking water, and that properties have a “functioning cooktop” if a kitchen is provided and “necessary fixtures” (taps, plumbing) if laundry facilities are provided.

The minimum standards come into effect for all remaining tenancies on September 1, 2024.

Minimum housing standards specify what constitutes the essentials every property must have to be considered liveable. Picture: Residential Tenancies Authority

And, yet, for every comment saying the property was not up to snuff – and the evidence proving it so – there was another saying the caravan was “better than being homeless”.

“Better than sleeping in your car! I’d live here for sure, and so would 100% of homeless people. People who are bagging it need to get a grip on reality!” one woman boldly declared.

But comments like that quickly sparked more heated debate about what the housing crisis had done to what some Aussies deem to be “acceptable” living standards.

“Can people just stop with the better than homeless” narratives? Jesus. Homeless people still deserve to live with dignity! This includes having a bathroom and fixed cooking utilities,” one person wrote back.

“Camping facilities are not fixed and are meant for temporary use, not long-term. They’re not an alternative that should be used instead of a proper bathroom when you’re paying for a permanent home.”

They continued: “It is not a ‘better’ alternative to being homeless. Being homeless shouldn’t be the benchmark we use to justify or ignore sh*tty rental conditions and blatant abuse of people who are desperate.”