AN AUSTRALIAN single mum says she could lose her home by New Year’s day after was rent was more than doubled just days before Christmas.
Jakki Brooking, 28, now fears homelessness as her landlords increased her weekly rent from £230 to £500 from January 1, 2024.
TikTok / @jakkibrookingSingle mum Jakki is in the verge of homlessness after her rent got increased by more than double[/caption]
TikTok / @jakkibrookingShe began her emotional video by revealing the harsh reality she’s facing[/caption]
In an emotional TikTok video, the nurse spoke about her dire situation after living in the rental home for more than six years.
Jakki explained she was able to pay a lower rent as her property was, until recently, a part of the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS), aimed at reducing rental costs for low-income earners.
She was paying some 20 per cent less rent than the average market rental prices.
However, her property was bought by new owners who decided to delist the property from the government scheme and put it up on open rental market to attract hire prices.
Her new lease, which is set to start at the beginning of next year, will have an increased rent amount which is more than double than what she is currently paying.
A teary Jakki expressed in the TikTok video: “I obviously can’t afford to pay that …I feel so stupid doing this [making video].
“My lease is up on the 1st of January, I’ve applied to houses and been rejected for all of them.
“I just don’t know what I’m meant to do now. This is literally so embarrassing.
“I am facing homelessness from the end of the lease.”
The limited availability of NRAS properties complicated her search, leaving her stuck between being a low-income existing tenant and not meeting the criteria as a new tenant.
Jakki also said she reached out to her real-estate agent explaining her precarious situation and the looming threat of homelessness.
But the agent, in return, threatened her with legal action if she did not vacate the property by the end of her tenancy.
Jakki turned to her audience, asking for suggestions.
She added: “I just don’t know what I’m meant to do now.
“This is literally so embarrassing.”
One of her viewers commented: “Working was an registered nurse means you should be able to afford rent easily! What is this world coming to? I’m so sorry.”
Another added: “The housing in Australia is ridiculous, no one should be paying $600 a week to live in a house.”
Jakki revealed she has since found a place for her son, Levi, and her cat and dog to stay while she examines her options.
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