A podcaster and social media influencer with more than a million followers across various platformers, Chris Griffin recently moved into his first home owned by a corporate landlord.
As a tenant for more than six years, it took Mr Griffin about a week from inspection to start moving into the St Kilda residence.
RELATED: Landlords fighting for tenants’ rent money with pools, bars, bowling alleys
Donald Trump’s potential election win pushes US home buyers to flee to Australia
Two out of five: Vic fails building test, costing buyers $10k a home
His most recent applications to traditional landlords had 50 competitors, and many were rejected as he was a single male and they prefer couples.
While his income and referrals were checked, more invasive details such as bank balances, often requested by mum and dad investors, were not.
Podcaster Chris Griffin has just moved into Melbourne’s newest build-to-rent complex. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
“A lot of mum and dad landlords can be very emotional and be looking over your shoulder,” he said.
“But here they have confidence in me being a good tenant, based on my track record.”
There’s also a wide list of amenities he’s putting to good use, particularly a co-working space, though a bowling alley, sauna and lounge have also been good when he finds time to relax.
“And I use the cold plunge pool every morning — you don’t need a coffee after that,” he said.
Griffin is known for The Pocket, a podcast with more than 44,000 listeners and 60,000 followers on TikTok that dives into the lives of business, wellness and mindfulness luminaries and what has made their life special.
A private pool for residents.
His social media following includes more than 660,000 fans on TikTok and at least 275,000 on Instagram.
With much of his life documented online, he has a full-time videographer who has moved into the second bedroom of his rental.
The third bedroom has been set up with TV-grade cameras, microphones, lighting and “studio-grade everything” as a home podcast space.
“And the building team were very supportive of adding that in,” Griffin said.
“The building team were very supportive of adding that in,” he said.
Griffin said the only other major difference he was expecting was greater security in his residency.
The Beach House by Gurner has bowling alleys available for tenants.
“I’ll be renting for a while yet, but I see value in renting as opposed to buying,” he said.
“And here I don’t have any concerns about being moved out like you might with a mum and dad investor.”
Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox.
MORE: Why Australia’s priciest home isn’t one of our best
$906m trend A-list celebrities are loving
Established Melbourne suburbs that have the most new homes on the way | PRD Research
English (US) · 