Tenant forced into extreme living conditions as report exposes growing distress in rental market

For Sydneysider Peter Temby, keeping a roof over his head has sometimes meant going without meals. The Glenhaven resident claims he pays $400 per week for an alleged mould-ridden rental with little sunlight – up from $270 when he moved into the home in 2011. “It’s an old house probably 1960s or so, the original owner converted under the verandah and under the pre-existing house into a unit,” he said. “When I moved in it was really filthy, I thought the stove was rusted out on top and then I realised later after doing a lot of cleaning that it was actually not rust but so solidly baked on.” Mr Temby, 78, uses his asthma puffer two to three times a day, and said when you stand in the bedroom you can look through slots in the brickwork and see daylight outside. “It’s impossible to heat in winter, also because it gets no sun through winter at all,” he said. “It has (mould) over the lounge room area, kitchen, under the upstairs verandah which gets water on it.” Peter Temby began renting his home in Glenhaven in 2011 for $270 per week, today he pays $400 per week. Picture: Supplied Mr Temby called the rate of rental increases this year “absurd” describing his own experience at times as “...