‘What have we become’: Brisbane ‘shed’ rental divides Australians

A property up for lease in Brisbane has left Aussies feeling torn, with the unit exposing a major issue with the country’s rental market.

A makeshift tiny home that appears to have originally been a shed has divided prospective renters, with many stunned such accommodation is available for rent.

The one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit is currently listed on realestate.com.au for $350 a week and is situated in the inner west Brisbane suburb of Bardon.

Advertised as a newly renovated “charming abode”, the property boasts a spacious open plan layout, off-street parking for one car, a “well appointed” kitchen and easy care flooring.

The property is located in the Brisbane suburb of Bardon. Picture: realestate.com.au

“Your new home will be positioned in an extremely sought after blue-chip street surrounded by beautiful homes,” the advertisement reads.

It’s also understood to be in a close vicinity to parks, playgrounds and exercise tracks making it a “modern and delightful flat in (an) unbeatable location”.

The water bill is also included in the rent, with the successful tenant to pay a bond of $1400 upfront.

While the property sounds charming, several Australians have questioned what the country’s rental market has come to, with some perplexed about how a small unit would be suitable for a family.

The property is advertised for $350 a week. Picture: realestate.com.au

Photos of the unit show it partly furnished with the main area a combination of the bedroom, kitchen, dining room and study.

What looks like a double bed is about a metre away from the oven and stove top, while a dining table is nestled in the corner near the door.

Meanwhile there appears to be only enough room for a bar fridge, with a couple of cupboards in the corner kitchen for storage.

The property’s bathroom sits behind a divider wall and contains a toilet, shower and sink which is built into a cabinet. The flooring for the entire unit is tiles.

“It’s a $350 per week quaintly renovated shed. And all the references to schools and playgrounds is interesting,” campaigner Emily Mayo tweeted.

“How could you live in this with children? Or are you meant to put one in there on their own?!”

It's fitted with one bedroom and one bathroom. Picture: realestate.com.au

Another person who read about the shed on Facebook said it was “ridiculous” landlords were allowed to advertise properties like this.

“Australia what have we become,” a third commented.

However, among the criticism, several Australians defended the property, arguing that with the country’s current rental crisis, a property like this would be better than being forced to live on the street.

“That’s the size of a studio inside. It has its own private entrance by the look of it and also an outdoor area at the front to relax with (a) small table and chair,” one person wrote on Facebook.

“It looks bright and clean, I don’t see a problem with it. A bit pricey but then studios and granny flats are attracting those kinds of prices.”

“This is good that people are willing to rent out places like this because there’s so many people living in tents or worse right now,” a second person added.

Water bills are included in the rent. Picture: realestate.com.au

Another person revealed their current living situation which involved a rusty-looking shed that’s “not fully enclosed with a bigger gap between the roof and the walls”.

“It gets … cold at the moment but that’s all I can afford on a (disability support) pension,” they said.

“I’m surprised that I haven’t got pneumonia yet, that shed looks like luxury compared to mine. You have no idea what people are living in.”

From September 1 this year, new rules will come into effect regarding minimum housing standards for new tenancies in Queensland, with those rules to extend to all rentals by September 1, 2024.

There are at least nine rental housing standards landlords must abide by before they can lease a property to a tenant, which range from the property’s safety features, appliances, and design.

Those Queensland landlords who wish to convert a shed or similar structure into a dwelling must first receive approval and all relevant permits from their local council prior to construction.