Linda Braam, a 69-year-old retiree, has expressed her concerns about housing instability after her previous rental property in Geraldton, Western Australia, remained vacant for over a year following its acquisition by the state government for public housing development. Despite the government’s assurances of a new housing initiative aimed at addressing such issues, over 100 public housing units in the Greater Geraldton area are currently unoccupied.
Ms. Braam was compelled to leave her rental in late 2024, which was later designated for public housing, but it sat empty for an extended period. During this time, she had to relocate twice, adding to her housing stress. With her current rental recently sold, she is apprehensive about her future once her lease concludes next year.
Reflecting on her former home, which is part of a complex on Sixth Street in Wonthella, she lamented, “That was an ideal unit. They could have housed people there right after I left.” The state government confirmed that the property is part of an initiative contracted to the Salvation Army, which reported that all six units were occupied shortly after taking possession in March.
Currently, 124 out of 1,107 public housing properties in Geraldton are vacant, primarily due to maintenance delays. Across the state, there are 37,914 public housing units, with 1,817 reported vacant earlier this year. A spokesperson from the housing department noted that various challenges, including vandalism and the availability of maintenance workers, contribute to the delays in re-letting these properties.
Ms. Braam’s housing troubles began in 2023, coinciding with her husband’s admission to a nursing home. The couple had rented their previous home for six years until it was sold to a new owner who did not renew their lease. This forced her to leave that property and her subsequent rentals, as landlords frequently sold their homes or moved back in, which has taken a toll on her well-being.
She recounted, “My hair was falling out, I wasn’t sleeping well. I would wake up at two in the morning and stay awake until late at night.” With her current home sold to an out-of-state investor just two months after she moved in, her frustration is palpable. “I said: ‘You’ve got to be kidding me, I’ve only been here two months,’” she remarked.
Ms. Braam has consulted a mortgage broker in hopes of purchasing her own home, but her financial situation and age limit her borrowing capacity. “My expenses were too high for what I could manage monthly,” she explained. Now, she is anxious about the possibility of rent increases or the non-renewal of her lease when it expires in 2027.
Local real estate experts suggest that while investor buyers typically retain tenants, they often increase rent significantly. Lara Sadowski from Geraldton Property Team noted that some rents have climbed by as much as $200 in recent transactions. Will Mackenzie, a professional agent, remarked that many buyers in the area are investors seeking rental income, which could push first-time homebuyers out of the market due to rising prices.
