Finding a Rental Property and Feeling at Home

This chapter examines the process of finding rented accommodation, whether tenants feel at home in their accommodation and what contributes or detracts from a sense of home. The capacity to secure a suitable rental property varies dramatically and is shaped fundamentally by a tenants’ financial resources. The massive shortage of affordable rentals for low-income households makes securing suitable accommodation for this group exceptionally difficult and extremely stressful. Single parents, people reliant on government benefits and older renters found securing suitable accommodation particularly hard. Often their only option was to accept rundown properties in the outer suburbs, in areas with few services or amenities. Some renters were forced to leave the metropolitan area so as to find affordable accommodation. Once accommodation was secured, most tenants were able to create a sense of home. The capacity to feel at home was shaped by the condition of the dwelling, the landlord’s willingness to do necessary repairs and the tenant–landlord/real estate agent relationship. When tenants had a sound relationship with their landlord or real estate agent they felt secure. The capacity to personalise the space was also an important contributor to feeling at home. For some tenants, the convenience of the neighbourhood and close social ties with neighbours played an important role in them feeling at home.