National Rental Affordability Scheme: Faces of Qld’s rental crisis

They are age pensioners, carers, single mothers and students - meet the Queenslanders fearing eviction as a key rent support scheme winds down. VOTE IN OUR POLL

More than 8000 vulnerable Queenslanders are nervously awaiting an eviction phone call following the end of a national rent support scheme, adding further pain to the state’s crippling housing crisis.

The National Rental Affordability Scheme introduced by the Rudd Government in 2008 was designed to reduce maximum rental prices down to no more than 80 per cent of the original market value, allowing vulnerable and low-income Australian’s the ability to afford a roof over their heads.

But the Morrison Government announced the scheme’s end in April 2020, with all participating NRAS homes to officially cease by 2026.

QLD RENTAL HORROR STORIES: SEE THE PHOTOS

Over the next three years, 8220 Queensland NRAS homes are expected to be cut from the system, including 2273 this year, 2499 in 2023, 2845 in 2024 and the final 603 in 2025.

Despite the cooling off period, a group of Queensland NRAS neighbours in Morayfield have revealed they’ve being given minimal notice to leave their unit complex and have “no chance” of being able to afford a new home under the current market conditions.

Marilyn Morgan, Jennifer Ough, Tessa Evans with son Nathaniel, and Derek and Bernadette Moreton-Smith are all looking for a new rental property. Picture: Richard Walker

Tenants in the tight-knit unit complex have reported rent increases of up to $200 per week, far beyond their pensioner, disability or Centrelink assist incomes.

Jennifer Ough, a 67-year-old divorced pensioner, says she was told she would be “looked after” when her NRAS lease expired, but has instead been “forced” to sign a new rental agreement that’s out of her price range.

“As it was explained to me the real estate would help find me another NRAS home, should I need to relocate or if the unit I was renting was sold,” Ms Ough said.

“Other tenants I have spoken with were told the same thing; some were even told they could eventually buy their rental should they so wish, what a pack of lies.

“I have signed another lease as I cannot find anything else that is cheaper. The staff at the Department of Housing were marvellous and extremely helpful but as you can imagine they are overwhelmed.

“I have never in my adult life been unsure of whether I would have a roof over my head, if I’m honest I’m not sure how much fight I have left in me.”

Ms Ough’s experience is shared by all of her Morayfield unit block neighbours, with those worse-off saying they’ll be homeless within the month if they cannot find extra income to afford the proposed rent hike.

She blamed both the state and federal government for “dropping the ball” on Australia’s housing crisis and said those in power should now “be held accountable.”

“I would like to ask all those politicians and public servants who are getting paid the big bucks to look after the public, what were you all doing when the census results were published?” she said

“Were you all asleep, or did you just not care that people on low incomes would be homeless in a couple of years, surely someone in charge could see this coming?

“They have dropped the ball and those on low and fixed incomes are the ones paying for their mistakes.”
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Tuesday announced she will chair a landmark summit to take on the state’s housing crisis, with an initial roundtable comprised of advocates and stakeholders to take place as early as this week.

Federal Housing Minister Julie Collins said the growing number of Australians unable to afford rent was “concerning,” but assured Queenslanders that the Albanese government had a $575 million plan to tackle the housing crisis, which would involve further collaboration between state housing ministers.

“It is concerning that more and more Australians are struggling to affordably rent a home, as we know that housing and a sense of home is a basic human need,” Ms Collins said.

“We will widen the remit of the National Housing Infrastructure Facility, making up to $575 million available to invest in social and affordable housing.

“This will support the Albanese Labor Government’s commitment to build 30,000 new social and affordable housing properties, through the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund.”

QLD RENTAL HORROR STORIES: SEE THE PHOTOS

‘NO CHOICE BUT TO RENEW’: BERNADETTE & DEREK MORETON-SMITH

“My husband (Derek) and I have been renting our current house in Morayfield for five years. In June the house was sold to an investor, but due to the present owner dying suddenly, settlement wasn’t until August 11. Our lease ran out the end of July. We got sent a six-month lease with the rent going from $375 per week to $460, two weeks before our lease ran out. So we had no choice but to renew. Now my husband and myself are both on pensions so that takes most of it. Come January I’m expecting it to go up to $550 as that’s what’s all the houses in our street are going for. So way out of our range. When we knew the house was for sale we did apply for places but no luck. So needless to say we are very worried. We both have health problems so have to be near hospitals. We had been told to look at places like Esk or similar, which is not an option.”

Bernadette and Derek Moreton-Smith. – Picture: Richard Walker

‘NO-ONE TO FALL BACK ON’: TARA NAIRN

I’m a recent single mum (July 2021) of two teenage children, aged 16 and 14. My youngest son is Special Needs Autistic level 2 and ADHD. (I’m his full-time carer). I’m currently living in a property due for development. I’ve currently been asked to take more land (with a reduced rent. If I disagreed with this, I was going to have my two months’ notice). I was in a position of having to agree. Unfortunately I’ve been looking for over 11 months now with no luck. I’m on a periodic lease and currently pay $400 a week rent. I’m unaware of how much longer I have here.

My children go to school 20 minutes away, due to ongoing issues with public transport for my special needs son this has become an issue, I’m trying all I can to get a place closer to school. I’ve recently been told due to being on Centrelink payments the properties I’m applying for are unaffordable for me as I need to find a property at the 30 per cent income mark. Unfortunately those kinds of properties don’t exist anymore.

I’ve been to housing but it‘s also a very long wait list, and have been asked to include supported documents to why I moved my son to the particular school, stating the support systems I have for him there. I have no family in Queensland so I have no one to fall back on if I can’t find an affordable property.

Tara Nairn. Picture: Richard Walker

‘THREE QUARTERS OF MY PENSION’: MARILYN MORGAN

I had to move out today as I was given a notice to leave following a huge rental increase after the dropping of NRAS. My increase was from $233 to $380, $760 per fortnight is three quarters of my age pension. Unsustainable! This has caused me extreme distress. Others in the complex are in this same situation. No help or assistance has been given to me or any other tenants to find alternative accommodation.

It’s a difficult situation and very sad to think these beautiful women and families will be homeless. I have a caravan and consider myself very lucky. I worry so much for my dear friends in this complex that really have no option.

‘NO MONEY LEFT OVER’: KAREN STANCOMBE

My rent has gone up $40 to $440 for a very small one bedroom place. The pool was closed for a year. My neighbour who is still under NRAS has had his rent jump $80 a week! And he can’t afford it. All they say is an ‘independent person valued it’ at $440 but won’t say who. He now has no money left over from his disability support pension to eat and has nowhere to go.

Karen Stancombe at her Morayfield home. Picture: Richard Walker

‘BEING A GOOD TENANT DOES YOU NO GOOD’: JENNIFER OUGH

My rent will rise from $233 per week to $360 per week on September 25. I have lived in this unit for eight years and have been living a happy, stable life in that time. I have looked after my unit, always been in advance with my rent and tried to do the right thing by the unit owner. Sadly, being a good tenant doesn‘t do you much good when money is involved.

When I first moved into this unit I was told as an NRAS tenant, I would be looked after should I need to relocate or if the unit I was renting was sold. As it was explained to me the real estate would help find me another NRAS home. Other tenants I have spoken with were told the same thing; some were even told they could eventually buy their rental should they so wish. I have signed another lease as I cannot find anything else that is cheaper. The staff at the Dept of Housing were marvellous and extremely helpful but as you can imagine they are overwhelmed

‘THEY ARE MAKING US HOMELESS’: THERESA EVANS

For the past six years my son and myself have been living in a NRAS property in Morayfield. I have been trying to move closer because of my son’s medical needs, cutting out travelling time and also as I knew my complex was exiting NRAS this September/October.

I’ve been unsuccessful in all applications and even getting a viewing as I’m a single full-time carer for my son at present. On September 1, I had an email informing me of my rent rise which is going from $233 to $400 and was offered a six or 12-month lease. I spoke to my property manager on the following day informing her that I can’t pay that. She informed me we could ask for a reduction and she will get back to me.

Monday morning October 5, I received an email from my property manager with a months’ notice to leave as I can’t afford the rent they are wanting. My situation has not changed since I was offered this property in September 2016. At the end of the day, they are making us homeless unless I can find a way to afford the rent in a month.

Tessa Evans with son Nathaniel. Picture: Richard Walker

‘INVESTORS SQUEEZING EVERY CENT THEY CAN’: ANONYMOUS

My wife and I would prefer to remain anonymous just due to the tenuousness of our own living situation. We are both students studying in high demand fields. We require the assistance from Centrelink in order to make ends meet, and have been living pay to pay in affordable housing the past few years. We have been model tenants, always paying our rent and bills on time.

Despite this, as our property is coming out of NRAS, the owner has decided to sell. When we received this news, the sales agent “reassured” us by claiming that the rent would be going up to market value, at $350 – $390 per week. This was before the number was revised again to between $370 – $400 per week only a month later. For our rent to jump by 60-70 per cent so suddenly, and with no relief announced by the government for the insanity of the rental market, we are currently reviewing if study is even feasible at the moment.

My wife and I made the hard choice to pursue our education so we could provide a better life for our child, and now we are being punished for pursuing careers in fields the country is always in dire need of because of a government service unable to keep up with the cost of living, and of investors squeezing every cent they can from people with exorbitant rent.

Originally published as National Rental Affordability Scheme: Faces of Qld’s rental crisis