A Perth single mum and registered nurse has received possibly one of the worst Christmas presents from her landlords.
Jakki Brooking, 28, shared an emotional video on Thursday explaining her desperate living situation as her rent has increased to more than double its original cost, and she may be homeless by New Year.
The TikTok video quickly went viral, boasting 140,000 views in three days.
Ms Brooking captioned the sombre video: “The Perth rental crisis is hitting hard — landlords are greedy — real estate is apathetic.”
She began speaking, looking as if she had been crying with her voice shaking, seeming to have just come home from a nursing shift in Christmas scrubs.
“Basically, I’ve lived in my rental for the last six years,” she explained.
The mother-of-one divulged the house is a part of the National Rental Affordability Scheme, or at least used to be.
According to the Australian Government, the National Rental Affordability Scheme was introduced in 2008 to decrease the rental costs for low-income earners and increase the supply of affordable rental housing.
But the hard-working mum said this is not the case anymore.
“The house was recently sold, and the new owners didn’t want to go ahead with the same low-income scheme,” she said.
Ms Brooking could barely keep tears from flowing down her face as she revealed how serious her circumstances had become.
“So they decided to increase the rent from $300 to $630 weekly.”
The rent increase of more than double the original amount has left Ms Brooking out of options.
“I obviously can’t afford to pay that… I feel so f*cking stupid doing this sh*t,” she said.
“I’m a single parent contacting my real estate agent trying to find somewhere else to go.”
“My lease is up on the 1st of January. I’ve applied to houses and been rejected for all of them.”
“Another rental was available that was also part of the NRAS scheme. If you transfer from one NRAS property to another, it doesn’t count as an existing tenant.”
She explained she meets the low-income earning requirements as an existing tenant but does not reach the requirements as a new tenant.
Ms Brooking desperately reached out to the real estate agent, explaining she and her son are “facing homelessness from the end of the lease”.
The real estate agent showed no sympathy when Ms Brooking said her response was: “If (you) don’t vacate the premises by January 1st, then the owners can take (you) to court.”
The single mum emphasised her permanent contract at a hospital in Perth, showing a stable income.
“I just don’t know what I’m meant to do now. This is literally so embarrassing.”
She revealed she had found somewhere for her son to go, however, still needs to find a home for her cat and dog and a storage unit to rent for all their gear.
At a loss for what to do, she asked viewers: “If you have any suggestions, let me know.”
The comments were filled with support from sympathetic viewers.
One exclaimed: “What has this world come to!”
Another wrote: “It should be illegal to evict a tenant until they have somewhere else to move into.”
More supportive commenters had some helpful advice: “Ring your state tenancy board. They can’t kick you out if you have nowhere to go. Ex-landlord here where tenant pleaded financial hardship.”
While another suggested moving in with another single mum.
Others had less sympathy: “I know it’s hard, but playing the victim isn’t a solution.”
Many commenters defended landlords, claiming mortgage repayments have more than tripled: “Greedy? Market rate. Market rent. Get a better job.”
One particular negative comment triggered a video response from Ms Brooking: “No, because you already had it good for so long while others struggle. Too bad, too sad, be homeless or pay what we all pay.”
