Housing and mental health.

[calmseeker]

Hi All,

I have been thinking lately about the link between good mental health and housing. Yet again, I have a pending move, which I know is a trigger for my anxiety. I tend to get quite ill after a move, there have been too many moves for me recently. mostly because am in the private housing market and my owners always either move back into their property or sell the property. I yearn for a stable, long term home (I could never afford to buy). I am such a 'homely' person. I feel that if I could remain somewhere for a reasonable amount of time I could really relax and focus on my mental health, I feel like I never can, I am always moving or catching up financially from a move or trying to settle in somewhere new. The cost is phenomenal to rent now, it really blows my mind. What a person needs to come up with for a rental property is quite a lot, not just the rent itself but the moving costs, cleaning of previous property, etc.

I am aware of NRAS but those properties rarely come up. Housing Dep have told me 10-15 plus year wait. Private market ridiculously expensive.

I am very thankful to even have a roof over my head, don't get me wrong (not that I can afford that roof though). I realise there are lots of people who don't even have a home so I am really not ungrateful, just sick of the stress that comes with searching for affordable, decent housing where I can hopefully lay my hat for a few years. A home should be a place where a person can feel safe and relaxed and heal and survive - not feel like a hotel. My ranting was not meant to actually be a big whinge about my situation (sorry if its turned out that way!) more so just a comment on the link between good mental health and stable housing really.

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

I didn't get to watch the 7:30 Report. But I came across this article which I found interesting: https://www.theage.com.au/national/having-to-ask-for-somewhere-to-live-it-s-difficult-indeed-single-female-homeless-australia-s-shameful-crisis-20200127-p53uyg.html?fbclid=IwAR29Ykgo8xUL9ttykf8TYmpSpEDucp6QM_k_12C4G_gkJNSelZyEJmcxeDQ

It does talk about some initiatives at the end.

[Hanna3]

Hi Katy hi calmseeker,

Thanks Katy I think that's the same article that was the lead story on The Good Weekend liftout in last weekend's Sydney Morning Herald - it was excellent.

Calmseeker good luck yes last night's episode was sobering

[Guest_1643]

Hi Katy thank you for sharing that article. I read it as well when it came out and am very worried as a woman about finances and security. I feel like with mental health you are very vulnerable, and then as well being a woman or in a certain age bracket. Thanks for being here and writing on this interesting thread, it's very thought provoking

[calmseeker]

Awesome, I had been searching for that article after Hanna mentioned it. Thanks Katy.

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Yes it's a great article, and I agree Vanessa (Sleepy), it's a very real worry. I've been in a position previously, of precarious housing, and I have a feeling I'll be there again. We can't rely on the government to take care of us. They're only worried about the top end of town!

[blondguy]

Hello CS

Being a homely person I also wouldn't like to be 'looking' around for a new place to stay either after being accustomed to having a home....rental or purchasing...

The rentals are bad news as you mentioned as they keep going up...a lot....and I dont know if you have experienced what the agents are doing with people 'applying' to rent a property and even making 'an offer' so they can secure the rental property....I am not a city person....this is in the southern suburbs of Melbourne....

I will have a sticky at the article/link that Hanna provided above...

my kindest always....Paul

[calmseeker]

Hi there Paul,

Thankfully I have not experienced the 'make and offer' scenario that you mention. I have heard of this and its a concerning illegal practice primarily happening in VIC and NSW if my memory serves me correctly. It is a product of the extremely competitive private rental market.

The last time I had to move it was difficult to even get a viewing at the property. Agents require you to view the property before submitting an application and wont accept applications if you have not viewed. Most agents allow 12 couples at the viewing, it lasts 10 mins. I remember one morning I enquired about 8 properties and was unable to even see any property as the viewing list was full. Its frustrating not to be able to even get to the application part of the process. This sort of competitiveness is what has fuelled this 'make and offer' practice that has arisen.

Sending calm vibes your way Paul.

[Guest_1643]

Hi Katy - Thank you fr responding and sharing your experience. Precarious housing keeps me feeling anxious too. I am very much in same feelings as you guys Paul and Hanna - homely person too, and looking for places (rental in Victoria) gave me a lot of anxiety. I've moved in to my apartment and found the agent dishonest and the landlord unwilling to fix anything, and it really is a bummer. Calmseeker I know exactly what you are talking about with the "make a offer" part of the bargain...it's a disgrace. I also feel that landlords can take advantage of vulnerable people or their renters, they don't always take proper care to keep the apartment habitable, and see what they can get away with.

[Hanna3]

Hi Sleepy,

I spent ages in private rental and I know what you mean about landlord's not repairing things - often tenants are too scared to ask in case their rent goes up or they get a notice to vacate as a result of wanting repairs done...

I was in a private rental where the oven didn't work and only one hot plate worked - when I asked for it to be repaired I had to wait six weeks while the landlord got a second hand one off Gumtree - not long after that I got a notice to vacate after three years there.

There really do need to be laws in place that ensure a rental is maintained properly, fit to live in, and repairs are done in a timely manner - but we don't seem to have any such laws... it's a disgrace really.

[calmseeker]

Hi Sleepy,

Couldn't agree more about the fact that some landlords take advantage. My last landlord knew full well in my opinion that he was returning from Victoria and the property I was renting from him was only going to be short term. Landlord and real estate are under no obligation or law to disclose to me beyond the 12 month lease what is happening with the property. When I applied I asked the real estate if to the best of their knowledge that the property was a longer term investment as I was looking to remain somewhere for a bit and would not be able to suck up the moving costs again for a while. The answer was , "oh yes, sure, this will suit you, owner has no interest in selling". 10 months later I get an email that the owner requires vacant possession and I had 8 weeks to leave property. The agent mentioned to me in casual conversation when I handed the keys back that they owner had been tossing up if to rent again or return to the property before I even signed the lease, long story short, the agent knew it was a 12 month situation. It would just be nice for them to remember that there is another human at the end of this and its not all about owners investment and real estates 9% weekly fee.