Serious health concerns have been raised about a $1,400-a-month rental property in Australia built out of a 20-foot shipping container.
The Facebook Marketplace listing describes the renovated “one-bedroom en-suite space” as being located in “a gated compound well to the rear of the main house” near Munruben, Queensland, south-west of Brisbane. It is described as a “small house donga” with a Donga is a slang term for temporary housing or shelter, but it's the facilities that experts are concerned about.
“The situation with the outdoor kitchen and bathroom probably indicates that the property is not compliant with the council,” property lawyer Monica Roubelas told Yahoo News Australia.
“If you use an outdoor kitchen as your only kitchen, you're concerned about the health and safety of your tenants. It's not the same as having a covered and properly designed outdoor BBQ/kitchen area.”
In photos of the outdoor premises, a long kitchen bench with a refrigerator at one end can be seen placed on the veranda along with a barbecue, but it remains unclear whether there is a stove or oven.
An air conditioner, a washing machine, and a washing machine are installed on a very narrow balcony that wraps around the back of the container.
Inside, the situation is even more grim, with a small transparent glass bathroom placed next to the bed in the center of the room, offering no privacy whatsoever to the user.
“An attempt to profit from people's despair”
Luc McQueen, a TikToker known for his rental reviews, shared a video about the property on his profile, showing a “sold” sign on a $350-a-week property he claims is suitable for “single mature people.” pointed out.
“This place appears to be rented out, and it's disappointing to see their attempts to profit from people's desperation during this crisis succeed.”
In the approximately 10-minute video, she points out the shortcomings of the Bulls property, including the “bathroom in a glass box” and how tenants are “staring at the toilet at the foot of the bed 24/7. ” pointed out that there is a possibility. For outdoor kitchens that lack power and are impractical during storms.
“This place would be freezing in the middle of winter, so how comfortable would it be to get a drink out of the fridge or prepare a meal outside in the middle of winter?” Emphasized “sexuality”. ” Use the power adapter from mains power.
Is it legal?
According to Rouvellas, “converted containers may be legal if they meet the city council's requirements for a separate residence or granny flat.”
“The key question is whether this has been approved by Congress,” she said. “In the case of short-term fixed-term or fixed-term leases, tenants don't have to do any due diligence, so they don't actually know whether the property has council approval unless they ask the local authority. yeah.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) told Yahoo News that properties must receive development and construction approval and meet all health and safety regulations, including Queensland's new minimum housing standards. Told.
“Minimum housing standards include that the property is weatherproof and structurally sound, has adequate plumbing and drainage, and if equipped with a kitchen, a functional laundry and “This includes making sure that the countertops you plan to use include the necessary supplies,” the spokesperson said.
It also stipulates that rental properties must properly repair equipment and accessories that are unlikely to cause injury under normal use (such as appliances) and ensure privacy in bathroom areas. Masu.
“If a customer believes that a property manager or owner is not fulfilling their legal obligations, they can request that the RTA investigate the matter,” the spokesperson added.
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