A single mother pushed to her limits by a $180 a fortnightly rent increase has divided the internet.
Anina Moser, 29, lives in Melbourne and works part-time as a barista.
She shared her frustration on TikTok after recently learning her rent would increase to $860 every two weeks.
“The rental market is completely fucked,” an emotional Ms. Moser told viewers as she fought back tears.
“Really, what the fuck am I paying for? It’s a two-bedroom, one-bathroom house that’s so small and basically falling apart.”
Single mom Anina Moser, 29, just found out her fortnightly rent is going up to $860
The young mother said the rental property was much cheaper and in better condition when she first moved there two years ago.
‘I just got another rent increase. I am so angry. There’s no point, there’s no point,” she said.
“When I first moved in during Covid, this house was $680 a fortnight. Guess what it is now? I will now pay $860 every two weeks.’
According to the latest PropTrack data, rental prices in Melbourne alone have increased by an average of $70 per week in the past year.
Ms. Moser said she initially thought the award was “worth it,” but now she thinks “it doesn’t seem fair.”
“It’s a very small two-bedroom and very old, terribly constructed, mold, etc.,” she said news.com.au.
Ms Moser said the rent had increased every year, which is frustrating.
While people in the rental market empathized with her situation, many homeowners with mortgages had little sympathy.
“My mortgage was $500 a week. It’s now $1,000 a week. Welcome to the real world,” one homeowner wrote.
Another added: ‘My mortgage is now £1,100 a fortnight. My husband passed away and I have a single income with two children. I have to rent downstairs.”
A third wrote: ‘Start saving from your first paycheck, skip coffee, holidays, music events and nice clothes, and trust me you will own your own home. I did it, and it’s all mine.”
Rents in Melbourne have increased by an average of $70 per week
Others gave the young mother some advice.
‘Live in a shared home, save for a home deposit and buy your own home. I did this and now I’m in the market to buy,” one person wrote.
One homeowner added, “That’s okay! I’m paying $820 a week because mortgages have gone up!’
Unsurprisingly, tenants were much more understanding.
‘I’m currently paying $770 a week for a three-bedroom apartment that is covered in mold and falling apart. I feel you girl,” one person wrote.
Another said: ‘It’s ridiculous, my landlord refuses to do any maintenance but keeps raising the rent.’
A third viewer wrote: ‘I get it girl. Our roof collapsed during the floods last year, and as soon as they fixed it they raised the rent by $1,300 a week.”
Australians are not only struggling with rent increases, but also with a national housing shortage. Pictured is an open inspection queue for a rental property
Ms. Moser said she has run out of money to save for a house and fears she will end up renting forever.
She also fears she may even be priced out of the market if rent increases continue.
“I just can’t save at all anymore, whereas before all the rents went up, I managed to save money to put aside for things like buying a house or for emergencies,” she said.
‘I still have some savings left, but not much. I try to put money into the savings account with every payment, but most weeks I have to take it out again.’
