I have been ripped off big time! Whoever says that Sydney is just sunshine and lollipops is downright kidding. Sydney is definitely not just all beaches, sunny clear blue skies and happy endings.
The rental crisis has hit home hard. It does not matter where you want to live, you still have to contest with 20 other potential tenants for one single property. You are no longer able to get a decent apartment in
Parramatta for under $300 a week! This is ridiculous. How the hell am I able to save anything for a deposit for an apartment when rent is rising faster than my income is.
In the last 12 months, I have moved from
Strathfield because of a rent increase. Then the rent had increased from $340 to $360 per week. This we are talking about a penthouse apartment. Not bad you would say. But for those who have been there, they know that we are right next to the train tracks. That is right. If you need train updates, don't bother with 131500. Just call Jess and she will be able to tell you whether the train to the city is running on time or whether the country train is about the leave the station.
The rent increase in
Strathfield ended my shared accommodation days and we (aka Will and I) decided to move to
Parramatta. We figured that if we move to
Parramatta, we would be within walking distance to the office and would save in petrol. The savings in petrol translated into shouldering more rent. In Oct 2006, we started paying $310 a week for a one bedroom apartment in
Parramatta. This apartment has been great. You get the view of the
Parramatta river and the skyline of Sydney. However, our new found happiness was short-lived. The
Meriton decided since interest rates had risen, they would need to follow suit and slapped us with a 10% increase in rent. We started paying $340.00 per week in
Parramatta. Outrageous you would say when a one bedder in
Coogee cost only $330.00 per week!!! An average 2 bedroom apartment in
Parramatta cost only $320.00 per week!
Anyhow, since we loved the place and hate the idea of having to MOVE AGAIN, we copped that increase. That was 6 months ago and one would think that everything is all good.
Ka-
bam! In August 2007, the
Meriton apartments decided that they would be very entrepreneurial. Why bother with a meagre $340.00 a week when you can pocket $200 a day for a one bedroom service apartment. The tenants on that level were served our notice to get the piss out of our apartments and they have kindly given us the 60 days as stipulated in the tenancy agreement.
GREAT! FANTASTIC! YIPPEE!!! I am so THRILLED!!!??? (big ass eye-rolls)
Hunting for an apartment in this hellhole called Sydney is a nightmare. There are 20 tenants in line. No real estate agent thinks you are worth their time if you want to view the apartment during the week. All inspections are on Saturday and that is our problem ain't it (for Saturday is the day that I get to operate the whole day and earn some money). Gosh. Talk about a courteous society. Talk about a first world society with 3rd class behaviour! Quoting an acquaintance, "Sydney changes people" and I believe every single word said.
Now what?
1. Hunt for a place
2. Put my life on hold and just pack
3. whine a bit and get on with life
4. Own a property (
Pft.... with comparison interest rates at 8.25% and having to pay an average of $600 a week?)
Ok. Enough of my whinge about this disparity between owners of capital and land versus. I need to start looking for a new place to furnish and decorate. Thanks for listening people.
