00:00 So, we've been given about, well, three months' notice. We now have about 10 weeks left of
00:08 which to find another property. Our rent has been increased by $110 a week, which is completely
00:14 unattainable and we believe it's actually beyond market value for this property. I'm
00:19 trying to negotiate with the property managers and the owners. I'm not hearing anything favourable
00:26 back at this stage. So, my daughter and I have been forced to try and find accessible
00:31 and affordable property and in this market, there really just isn't anything, not what
00:37 we need and not in the area that we need.
00:38 What do you need, Rachel?
00:42 Something that's affordable. We're even looking at downsizing to a one bedroom or one bedroom
00:47 plus study, trying to make that work, turning the lounge room into the second bedroom. We
00:51 need something accessible, so that has no stairs, maybe it will have a lift, a landlord
00:57 that's open to us installing a grab rail in the bathroom or any other very minor modifications
01:03 that I need with my disability. Really, we're looking for something that's close to transport,
01:11 close to doctors, shops, the things that we need, the vital services that I need to access
01:17 with my health. It's just really hard in this market to be up against able-bodied people,
01:26 to find a property that doesn't have stairs, to find a property that is accessible, that
01:32 doesn't have a tilt lift garage, that actually has a remote garage, that's difficult as well.
01:39 So, it's been a bit of a struggle. I didn't think my list of needs was that long, but
01:44 evidently it's getting harder and harder to find.
01:48 What is your condition, Rachel, and what are the specific things that you require in a
01:52 rental when you're looking?
01:55 So I have functional neurological disorder, FND. I was diagnosed in December 21, so while
02:01 I was already living here. So we were very blessed to live in a unit, so it's a one level.
02:09 The sort of things I do need are accessible, so if there's a step into the property, I
02:14 need to be able to put a small ramp in. There are times my legs don't work where I'll be
02:20 needing a wheelchair, so just to be able to access the property itself, to have wide enough
02:26 hallways and door frames that if I need to be on a walk or in a wheelchair, that I can
02:30 access those rooms as needed. Things like putting a grab rail in the shower and just
02:39 being able to access the property itself, so making sure it's either ground level or
02:43 it's a unit that has a lift.
02:44 So Rachel, when you go to a property agent, what sort of information are they required?
02:51 Do they provide saying whether a potential property is accessible?
02:57 Unfortunately, no. I'm always searching on realestate.com and the agents just advertise
03:03 the property. They don't tend to state any more than how many bedrooms, bathrooms and
03:07 if there is a garage, so they don't state whether there's a remote control garage. Sometimes
03:12 if it's a unit, they don't state if there are external stairs into the property. Occasionally
03:17 you'll see where it says that it is a ground floor property. That does help. I've tried
03:22 writing to agents before and asking about the property so as not to waste their time
03:26 or mine prior to an inspection and they just don't have the capacity at the moment to get
03:31 back to you because of the floods of enquiries in this housing market.
03:34 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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