Overseas students overcrowding

Overcrowding in residential properties is rising amid claims that neglect and maintenance for overseas student accommodation is placing lives at risk.

City Hub found a two-bedroom apartment in Haymarket housing 15 overseas travellers: five in one bedroom, two in another and a further eight in the living room in makeshift segments consisting of sheets and furniture.

“There was nobody living in the living room when I moved in,” said one resident at the Haymarket apartment who refused to divulge his name.

“I didn’t notice what was happening with those segments because it is composed of bookshelves, so I guessed that some people would live there but I didn’t realise that it would be full.”

A 2011 parliamentary inquiry into international student accommodation in NSW found that 27 per cent of students live in overcrowded conditions.

“Overcrowding is quite prolific – I’m sure it’s much worse now than it was 18 months ago,” said City of Sydney Councillor Irene Doutney.

In 2006, Council introduced a condition of developmental consent in response to concerns about overcrowding for new residential buildings. The condition included a limit of two adults per room.

Comparable two-bedroom properties in Haymarket are advertised for rent between $700 and $800 per week. The overcrowded Haymarket property is costing upwards of $1,700 per week rent.

“I think it’s a huge problem,” said Ms Doutney. “I’ve heard of it in World Square, in Pyrmont, in Ultimo and near the universities – I think it’s endemic. Council is very aware of it.”

A spokesperson for the City of Sydney said Council is tackling the issue.

“Overcrowding is an ongoing and serious issue and we are doing what we can to ensure all residential buildings in the city are safe and liveable,” said the spokesperson.

Council has received numerous reports of overcrowding in recent years, most notably at World Square, but has found it difficult to gain entry into properties.

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act prevents Council officers from entering without a court order or unless agreed to by the tenant or owner.

“One of my friends lived with her [landlord],” said the resident living in housing at Haymarket. “My friend told me that some people knocked the door to inspect the apartment but she just kept absent.”

Overcrowding can occur when a landlord is unaware of the issue because the original tenant acts as a go-between in subletting the property and collecting rent.

“I don’t think she’s the real landlord – she’s just the co-renter and she rents the apartment and re-rents it again,” said the Haymarket resident.

“I think she’s probably got three or four properties – she’s just living next door to the building I’m living. A guy moved in [to my apartment] and the next day she required him to move to another apartment.”

A spokesperson for Fair Trading said that regular inspections of properties by a professional managing agent can detect the practice of overcrowding.

Overseas students often end up in overcrowded housing due to the existing lack of affordable housing, unfamiliarity with local conditions and a lack of experience when arriving in a foreign country.

“We are very conscious of the need to provide affordable, high quality campus accommodation for our students,” said Executive Director of University Services at UNSW, Neil Morris.

Manager of UTS Housing, Amit Mitra, said information was provided to prospective housing students.

“We provide several sessions to students on the dos and don’ts of renting in Sydney,” said Mr Mitra.

There are safety fears for those living in overcrowded properties following the death of a girl in Bankstown last year, who jumped from a burning building containing overcrowded properties.

“The smoke alarm doesn’t work in the kitchen,” said the Haymarket resident. “This one time I burnt something. It created a very big smoke but there’s not any alarm caused. No alarm went off.”