Melbourne's Real Estate Renting Rort.

Not more than five years ago, renting a place to live was a fundamentally elementary exercise. One would find a flat or house that filled their wants and needs, front up to the real estate agent, grab the key (usually handing over a small deposit of not less than $20), and personally inspect the property, to return with a decision: "I like the place. When can I move in?" Processes would be followed, that is, application, references, etc. If one's contacts proved worthy, approval usually would come back, at the latest, in a week. Deal done. Now, this has all changed for the worse.

Needless to say, the world economy has fallen into a recession.

The United States, the center of the world's financial global network, has taken a nosedive due, I expect, to greedy corporations (Covid 19) and the billions of dollars spent on the destruction and occupation of one of the oldest civilizations in recorded history: Iraq. And now forging a proxy war with Russia.

What has this war really accomplished? Absolutely nothing. (Except for the elites).

As has been happening since people have been documenting history, war and exploitation, always, the rich simply get richer, and the common man, woman, and child fall headlong into poverty. This reminds me of what my father used to say. "A white elephant is standing in the middle of the room, yet no one will talk about it!"

This brings me to the current rental real estate market.

There are three significant stresses that an individual must withstand: divorce, death, and shifting premises. What is currently happening in the Melbourne real estate market is a mirror reflection of the world economy. What does this mean?

Five to ten years ago, the economy was apparently in a boom. People with disposable income began to invest in "rental properties" to get rich. All was going great for a few years, but currently, these "investments" have become a burden because of growing interest rates and the price of land dwindling. So now the word is: Sell! Sell! Sell!

Unfortunately, as a renter for the last some years, my landlord and her incompetent real estate agent gave me 60 days to vacate the premises because she needed to SELL!

What is diabolically ironic is the real estate agents are creating a FALSE scarcity. That is to say, the only way you can see property is by "open for inspection," where, at times, 30 to 40 people show up to find a place to LIVE. We submit our applications, and may the best person win. This is rorting in the extreme. Despite it being damn against the law: a punter will bid above the advertised weekly price, and, of course, they will obtain the property.

Example: I was "promised a property" because of being asked to vacate. The estate agent said, "Don't worry about anything. If you want the apartment, it's yours – fill out an application just so it's on file." "Thanks, XXXX, we'll take it."

I stopped looking for places to live, stupidly assuming I had the apartment. No call from the agent. Just over four days later, thinking something must be "rotten in Demark," called to be told the landlord gave it to another punter! No call, nothing. Back to square one.

These agents are playing a game; in some cases, there are no "open for inspection" times advertised; thus, I ring them up, and the response is usually, "Give us your number, and we'll get back to you." For example, I made 10 calls and got one call back!

My point is that there is NOT a scarcity of homes for rent. One only needs to drive the city streets to see "For Lease" signs everywhere. Or peruse the newspaper or the Net to find literally hundreds of properties. But the agents, in their greed, are making it almost impossible for your average Joe to have what all of us need most – a roof over one's head!

To be honest, this is downright appalling if not bordering on fascism.

Out of pure luck or divine intervention, I found a place in the hills from a PRIVATE OWNER!

If anyone with authority reads this, please investigate, and the "white elephant" will be revealed.