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A cancer patient had her lease terminated by a “heartless realtor” while undergoing chemotherapy, a federal inquiry into Australia’s rental crisis has heard.
The inquiry was in Brisbane today hearing personal stories from renters who are struggling to get by during the housing crisis.
Brisbane doctor Catriona was issued a lease termination while undergoing chemotherapy treatment for stage-3 breast cancer, despite previously asking for an extension.
She says she was kicked out of her rental property “thanks to the new laws on rental increases.”
“Whilst commencing cancer treatment I had the additional stress of becoming homeless mid-chemotherapy.”
Renters who spoke during the inquiry said they felt “exploited”, “exhausted” and “angry.”
One tenant, Janet, explained that she had to move from Tasmania to live with her brother in Queensland to avoid being homeless.
“I had a choice to make: [one choice was] living in a tent with the other guys, [the second was] living in my car, [the third was] finding a bridge to live under or [I could] move to Brisbane and live in a caravan on my brother’s property,” she told the inquiry committee.
The inquiry also heard that the Queensland Government are building 1300 social houses per year, but they would need to build 2700 to make a difference.
Although, to solve the issue, 11,000 social homes would need to be built per year.
Aimee McVeigh, spokesperson for the Queensland Council of Social Service, said the state “clearly” needs to “do things really differently”.
The inquiry will head to Sydney and then Canberra before reporting its findings.
