Rohan Beck knew it would be tough finding a place to rent in Sydney — but he did not think he would be flatting with a woman who lived in a "shed".
The university student had been desperately searching for a room when he found a representative for a "student housing provider" who had a share house room available for $340 per week in the inner west.
The room came with air conditioning and a balcony, and Mr Beck was told if he paid an up-front $600 "reservation fee" he would have his rent reduced by $40.
Redfern Legal Centre tenancy solicitor Alison Mackey said there had been an increase in people who rented from such providers seeking advice about their rights.
She said the housing option was used by first-time renters, university students, international workers and people on low incomes.
Ms Mackey said international students often signed accommodation agreements before arriving and when they did, they found the property in poor condition.
"It's difficult for them to get any action taken on those things and often those people will face eviction for no apparent reason,"
she said.
Leo Patterson Ross from the NSW Tenants Union said it was in consultation with the state government about a Shared Accommodation Act that could expand protections for people living in properties operating under the head tenant model.
The act could broaden fire safety and overcrowding protections, create new minimum standards and give NSW Fair Trading a greater regulatory role.
The government is expected to consult on the draft legislation sometime in 2026.
Read the full article published by ABC News on November 24 2025
