Australian Landlords Confess to Discriminating Against Large Families Amid Rental Crisis
A shocking admission has emerged from Australian landlords, who have openly acknowledged discriminating against large families when selecting tenants. This revelation comes as a family-of-six shares their distressing ordeal of being repeatedly rejected from rental properties, highlighting a systemic issue in the housing market.
A Family's Struggle to Secure a Home
Gemma and Jeremy, parents to four children all under the age of four, along with their dog, were forced to vacate their four-bedroom home in Geelong, southwest of Melbourne, due to a severe mould infestation. In their desperate search for a new rental, they applied to twelve different properties, only to face rejection from every single one. Gemma, the mother-of-four, was later astounded to discover that many of these homes remained vacant for months after her applications were denied.
"I understand that at the end of the day if landlords have the choice between multiple applicants, they are able to choose who they would prefer," Gemma told Yahoo. "However, my main concern was that they weren't accepting anyone. I never imagined people would build family-sized houses and then deny families a home."
Landlords Defend Their Decisions
In response to her plight, Gemma posted a TikTok video criticising landlords for being "so picky" in their tenant selection. Instead of support, she faced a barrage of justifications from landlords defending their discriminatory practices. Many cited concerns over potential damage and wear-and-tear as reasons to avoid renting to large families with pets.
- Risk of Damage: One landlord stated, "It's not worth the risk, because of damage to the building like walls, floors, and the backyard. You only pay four weeks bond and that's not enough to cover damage. I don't know you, so it's not worth the risk at all."
- Preference for Professional Couples: Another admitted, "Due to wear and tear, I'd personally prefer a professional couple."
- Protecting Investments: A third landlord explained, "I want to minimise the risk of damages to my house so I don't have to spend my hard-earned money to fix 'accidents' that happen."
Further comments revealed a deep-seated bias, with one landlord noting, "My husband and I renovated for 15 months before renting out our property, so of course we were picky when deciding on a tenant. It's our pride and joy and something we have worked very hard on. It's our home so we wouldn't just let anyone live there and trash it." Another bluntly added, "It's a choice to have four kids and a dog and it's also a choice a landlord can make to mitigate risks and choose the appropriate tenant for their asset."
Pets and Discrimination in the Rental Market
Pets emerged as another significant factor in rental discrimination. A report from the NSW Tenants Union indicated that pets accounted for nearly a quarter of all rental discrimination cases, exacerbating the challenges for families like Gemma's. Adam Flynn, a real estate professional with over two decades of experience, condemned these practices, stating, "It's wrong and it's discrimination. Each person should be decided upon based on their previous rental history and good references."
Flynn advised that renters could improve their chances by providing a strong cover letter and even attaching photos of their family to personalise their applications. Despite the hurdles, Gemma has since managed to secure a four-bedroom home for $460 a week, but her experience underscores a broader crisis in Australia's rental market, where discrimination against large families and pet owners remains rampant.
