Homeless Queensland man blasts $480-a-week driveway rental

A Queensland man who’s been living in his car for three months has blasted a tiny home listed for $480 a week in a suburban driveway, asking: “How is this legal?”

In a viral TikTok, Jadon says he turned to sleeping in his car after a $200-a-week rent hike, only to find eye-watering options still dominating the market as Australia’s rental crisis bites.

“$480 to live in someone’s driveway while their kids play basketball?” he says in the clip.

“I’m currently living in my car at the moment. I have been for the last three months.

“I’m looking for a new place to stay and let’s look at what’s on the market at the moment.”

The property that sparked his outrage is a narrow loft-style tiny home north of Brisbane, advertised online for $480 a week with a $1920 bond.

“This is crazy. $480. Let’s look at the photos, let’s see what we’re working with here,” Jadon says.

“We’re literally living in someone’s driveway. It is not a big space. Sure, it’s by yourself, but this is insane.

“What, the person’s just going to park the car there? The kids are going to be playing ball right there, bouncing a ball while you’re trying to have a nap in the afternoon.

“Is this what we’ve come to in Australia? The cost of living is crazy at the moment. So many people struggling.”

TikTokker Jadon has been living in his car

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Jadon says he made the tough call to live in his car so he could save enough money to eventually get back into the rental market, but the listing left him stunned.

He also points to the steep rise in median rents over the past five years, alongside soaring fuel costs, as pressure continues to mount on Australians already doing it tough.

“Is this what we can expect the future of Australia to look like?” he says.

“This is not even in a nice area. This is still quite far from the CBD.

“I understand a lot of people are doing it tough, and I can understand landlords are forced to try to make ends meet.

“But putting a granny flat on your driveway and charging near $500 a week, that is not acceptable. That is disgusting.”

It has been erected at the end of a suburban driveway

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He then asked his more than 2300 followers whether the price was reasonable, saying he had contacted the real estate agent and hoped to inspect the property.

The online listing includes six photos and says the tiny home will be available from October 30.

According to the advertisement, “the property is currently undergoing works”, with open home times to be confirmed once those works are complete.

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Despite its modest footprint, the rental is marketed as offering “open plan style living with a fresh feeling” and includes airconditioning, ceiling fans, a kitchen with an oven and stovetop, an internal laundry, a loft-style bedroom, bathroom and a front porch “to enjoy your early mornings or late afternoons”.

It has a loft-style bedroom.

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The listing comes after the latest REA Rental Report revealed that while rent growth had slowed and vacancies had edged up in the last quarter, prices remained at record highs.

The report found the national median advertised rent reached $675 a week in September, up 1.5 per cent over the quarter and 5.5 per cent over the year.

That’s about $10 a week more than in June, but a slower rise than the 2.3 per cent recorded in the June quarter.

Capital cities are driving the increase, with a median rent of $700 a week, up 1.4 per cent over the quarter and 7.7 per cent on a year ago.

The median rent per week for all dwellings – houses and units combined – are currently: $800 in Sydney, $600 in Melbourne, $700 in Brisbane, $630 in Adelaide, $750 in Perth, $600 in Hobart, $740 in Darwin and $635 in Canberra.