Kelvin Grove, Brisbane: Why this photo of a ‘studio’ for sale for $280 a week has tenants furious

Tenants were shocked when a landlord converted a windowless garage into a “studio space” and demanded nearly $300 a week from prospective tenants.

The space was described as a “self-contained room” in a property in Kelvin Grove, Brisbane’s north, and came with a hefty price tag of $280 a week.

The rental house was listed on Facebook Marketplace and stood out for all the wrong reasons, including the fact that it had no windows.

The ‘room’ was described as a ‘quiet and safe place’ and was centrally located, with an Aldi store just 350 metres away.

The questionable rental property, which had water pipes running along the ceiling, also stated that it was located near a bus stop and was “available immediately.”

A photo shows a makeshift kitchen consisting of some shelves and a microwave. A sink and a refrigerator appear to be missing.

There was a desk with a chair, a bedside table, a fan and a room divider.

Potential tenants were shocked that the garage could even be considered a legal rental property, calling it “sloppy.”

The now-deleted Facebook Marketplace post advertising a “self-contained” garage that, despite a small curtain, appeared to have no windows (photo)

Australian renters are struggling to not only find a rental property, but also to afford one (pictured are potential renters queuing to view a property)

“Is this what I think it is?” someone asked.

“I wish people would stop thinking this is okay,” wrote another.

Another added: ‘I’m not sure but isn’t it a legal requirement for bedrooms and living areas to have windows?’

The garage is being offered for sale at a time when tenants are struggling with historically high weekly rents and low supply.

According to the median rent for Kelvin Grove, it is $525 for a one-bedroom apartment. Queensland Residential Tenancy Authority.

Although requirements vary by state and territory, a living space in Australia must have access to natural light and ventilation and have a ceiling height of 2.4m.

The window opens into another room, but since the garage is only one room, it’s hard to say if that’s actually the case. There was no photo of a bathroom window.

The Queensland Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 sets the minimum standards and requirements for rental housing.

Would you live in a garage? Desperate Australians are renting out ‘converted’ spaces, such as garages – but even they are expensive (Photo of a garage in a suburb)

“While the law does not define what makes something a room, the minimum standards require that rental properties have curtains or other window coverings,” a spokesperson said.

‘[These] ‘providing privacy in areas where the tenant may reasonably expect it, such as bedrooms or a bathroom.’

According to the Master Builders website, there is a window requirement for all rooms in Australia.

‘The Building Code of Australia has a minimum requirement for natural light in a living space. This is calculated based on the floor area of ​​a living space,’ the report said.

‘A window opening is required that covers 10% of the room’s floor area.’