Melbourne tenant takes drastic action after landlord raises rent – and why she thinks they were wrong
A young Australian claims she has been forced to move home after her landlord raised her rent – even though they don’t have a mortgage.
Gemma Upson-McPike, 27, shared her situation in a TikTok video with the caption: ‘Rental Crisis Rant’.
Ms Upson-McPike said she had been forced to move in with her parents after her landlord raised the rent to $450 a week – up from $280 when she moved into the one-bedroom Melbourne flat three years ago.
Ms Upson-McPike said what ‘really grinds her gears’ is that she is ’99 per cent sure’ the landlord doesn’t have a mortgage, ‘so it can’t even be an excuse’.
“I know for a fact that she has two investment properties,” Upson-McPike said, adding that the landlord had owned her rental since the 1980s.
In a viral video, Melbourne fitness trainer Gemma Upson-McPike complained about having to move back in with her parents after skyrocketing rent rises
She described the flat as ‘small’ and ‘no flash’ and said it was in an ‘old building’.
“Obviously I live in a good suburb, I’m probably just paying for location,” Upson-McPike said.
“I have to pay to do my laundry, there are cracks in the walls. It’s not worth $450 a week; it’s like two thousand a month.’
Ms Upson-McPike, who lists her occupation as a fitness trainer, said her salary was not ‘outstanding’.
“Rent has never been late, my inspections have always been absolutely spotless,” she said.
Ms Upson-McPike said it wasn’t the “plan I had for 27-year-old me to move back in with my parents, but that’s just how bad the rental crisis is at the moment”.
‘I’m so lucky and so grateful that I can move back in with my parents, but not everyone can do that, so what’s your alternative?’ she asked.
“You’re homeless.”
She said home ownership was a fading dream for people her age.
“That’s why my generation can’t get ahead, why we can’t buy houses,” she said.
‘I’ve been paying 20,000 a year in rent but if I went to get a mortgage they wouldn’t see it as she can pay 20,000 a year.
‘I have no savings because of what I’ve paid in rent and bills.
Ms Upson-McPike said she would try to save money now she moved back home, although she would have to pay for a much longer commute to Melbourne as her parents live ‘on the other side of Geelong’.
“The government needs to get on top of this because the state of the rental market at the moment is absolutely damning,” she said.
Many social media users agreed with her sentiments, with some admitting they were in a similar situation.
A number of those who commented on Ms Upson-McPike shared their stories of rental frustration
“I’m 31, I moved house because I can’t afford my mortgage anymore,” one person said.
‘I’m renting it out now. This is the new norm.’
“DW girl I’m 29 (30 in 5 months) and I live with my mom,” another replied.
“It’s horrible,” wrote another TikTok user.
‘I’m sorry you’re going through this. My 14-year-old son is already worrying about the kind of job he needs to afford the cost of living and that he’ll never move out, it’s sad,” said another.
“I’m 54, a renter and still trying to save up for a deposit on a house,” said another.
“I just started working and paying $500/week for my rent in a rural QLD town with a drug house around the corner,” read another comment.
However, not everyone was so sympathetic.
“Looks like a pretty new car and coffee in hand,” one person remarked.
“Like everything they want it all now and complain. Ps I’m only 37 .’
“Anyone who wants to mention the nice car and Starbucks coffee…” asked another.
Ms Upson-McPike replied that her car was only a 2012 Holden Barina and also clarified that her recent rent jump was from $390 a week to $450.
Some in the comments came out in defense of the landlord.
“The owner would pay increased council rates, increased bodies and increased insurance rates,” one person wrote.
“As a landlord I can tell you the cost of interest, insurance and repairs has gone up dramatically,” replied another.
“Then isn’t it fair to pass on such increases?”
Others thought Ms Upson-McPike’s rent didn’t sound so excessive considering the apartment was likely to cost $750,000.
Some argued that her financial understanding needed work.
‘Do you think $20,000 a year will pay off a mortgage?’ said one.
One commenter decided to contribute some dry humor.
“The problem is you don’t save money and only spend on Netflix, coffee and phones,” he said.
‘If you save this money, you can have the house in 1874 years.’