Jayme Levy and her 5-year-old daughter Faith struggled to find a new rental home. Picture: Tertius Pickard
Gold Coast mum Jayme Levy was plunged into the city’s rental crisis when the house she had leased for two years was suddenly sold to a buyer who wanted to move in themselves.
The three-bedroom house in Pimpama was snapped up by an owner-occupier just six days after hitting the market in July — but for Ms Levy, the struggle to find a new home took months.
They were up against at least 50 other applicants for every rental property. Picture: Tertius Pickard
“Before Covid hit, having a dog was our issue. We had missed out before because blue Staffies generally get judged very quickly,” Ms Levy said.
“But back then it was very easy compared with now. We were the only ones who walked through at the inspection.
“This time, every house we went to for an inspection, there were at least 50 people there easily.
“I was very nervous — application after application was unsuccessful,” she said.
Demand in the area has surged. This former builder’s display home at 32 Candlebark Cct, Upper Coomera is available through LJ Hooker for $720 a week.
Ms Levy and her daughter, Faith, 5, are finally preparing to move into their new home at Coomera after securing a lease with help from LJ Hooker property manager, Cindy Blissenden.
The northern corridor suburbs of Coomera, Ormeau, Pimpama and Upper Coomera now face the worst shortage of rental properties on the Gold Coast, REA Group data shows.
Traditionally regarded as a renter’s haven, surging levels of interstate migration have put the squeeze on this area, with existing rental properties sold to owner-occupiers, and would-be home buyers forced to rent due to soaring house prices and a lack of supply.
Coomera is home to the Coast’s worst rental shortage. This three-bedroom home at 12 Moonie Dr, Coomera is available to rent through Realty Max for $485 a week.
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In Coomera, total rental listings were down 48 per cent since last year, while views per listing on www.realestate.com.au were up a whopping 153 per cent.
Tracy Whelan, new client manager at LJ Hooker Coomera/Ormeau, said rents had “skyrocketed” in the area, with increases of up to $160 per week for a house with a pool.
A four-bedroom, two-bathroom house in Pimpama which rented for $440 last year would now average $550, Ms Whelan said.
A brand-new home at 7 Sarabah Way, Pimpama is renting through Ellie Jean Real Estate for $710 a week.
“There are a lot of tenants that are trying to move home who don’t even get a look in because there is an average of 30-60 people applying for every rental property,” she said.
Those without a proven rental history, such as young people moving out for the first time, were struggling most.
Ms Whelan said the potential for strong rental returns had also led to an increase in interstate investment in the area.
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