A shortage of rental properties in the Barossa Valley is causing significant emotional stress for some local residents, with one lifetime Barossan being forced to move out of the area to put a roof over his head.
Matthew Jones has lived in the Barossa for almost 35 years, but due to the housing shortage and rising prices, has been forced to move to a humble unit at Gawler.
In the past 18 months Matthew has had to move twice, both times he has been on the brink of homelessness before a property became available.
“I don’t get stressed, but it was so stressful… I don’t cry either, but when I was handing the keys in to the Nuri place, as I passed the keys to the agent there, I was crying because, I don’t have a place to go.
“The place I’m going is only temporary, and they don’t want me there forever, of course.”
Matthew is not alone.
According to a South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS) report, in spite of a significant population growth of 14.4 per cent over the past decade (June 2013 to June 2023) the number of available rentals in the Barossa Valley has dropped by 34.6 per cent from 520 to 340.
Speaking to The Leader, Matthew explained the despair he felt when he was desperately searching for a place to rent in the Barossa, “I was in Nuri for 13 years, but the owner wanted to move in, so gave me the notice I needed to move around just after Christmas, and I spent over a month looking. They gave me a month and a half notice. Eventually I had to notify the agent that I was having no luck, and asked would I be able to have any chance of an extension?
“They gave me another month, but I still had no luck, and a week or two before I needed to move out, it was becoming a huge, real fear that I would be homeless, living out of my car, and not because I couldn’t afford it, not because I’m not a nice person or anything, because I just wouldn’t be approved,” said Matthew.
“I was preparing to live out of my car. I bought a battery pack and solar panel to charge things. I was looking into internet for my phone or wireless internet to use from the car and all that stuff. Thankfully, it never came to that.”
Matthew explained that a generous person offered him their spare room temporarily while he continued his search for a place to call home. Eventually he found somewhere to rent, but 12 months later his lease expired and due to the owner wanting to renovate, he was forced to again look for another home.
After weeks of applying for multiple properties to no avail, he explained his situation to a real estate agent in Gawler who fortunately was able to find him a place to stay.
“When I was looking last year, there (were) regular people I would see at each inspection. Some of them had already become homeless and living out of the car...they’re just needing to find somewhere.
“I was looking at hire as well, maybe renting a single room and putting my stuff in storage, which wasn’t ideal, because it then would mean I would have to be paying two lots of rent, and if I wanted anything that was in storage, I’d have to travel to it to get into it, which is partly why I want a unit to store everything I’ve got.”
Rising rental prices are particularly challenging for those on limited incomes, sometimes costing more than 30 per cent of household income according to the SACOSS report.
Rental prices for a three-bedroom house in the Barossa have also seen a 13.5 per cent increase from approximately $370 to $420 between June 2022 to June 2023.
And over the past decade the asking rents for a three-bedroom house in regional South Australia have exceeded the inflation rate in all areas except the Far North.
For Matthew, the tight rental market has given him a new perspective, because the problem has become so widespread.
“It has changed my view on who’s homeless,” said Matthew. “Before I was so close to being homeless, last year, I looked at people being homeless… (asking) Why are they homeless? ...
“Now I’m looking at it thinking they’re not necessarily there because they can’t afford a place. It’s because they can’t find somewhere that will allow them to live there.”
After living and working in the Barossa for the past two and a half years, Tanunda resident Damien Schifilliti fears the lack of housing may force him to move back to Adelaide. “I really want to stay here. I love living in Tanunda...
“It’s really frustrating to be honest. I’ve got a good job, and I’ve got good rental history, and I just can’t work out why I can’t even get like, a $250, $300 unit.”
“It is really stressful not knowing where you’re going to be next week,” said Damien.
“I’m 52 years old, I’m single at the moment. I don’t have any pets, I don’t drive and I’ll spend a lot of time at work, honestly, (I) regard myself as a perfect kind of candidate that you want in your house, because I’m not going to ruin it, I’m not going to do anything wrong. I match all the criteria and everything. But I just can’t even get a look.”
Damien explained that he knows many people in the Barossa who are also struggling to find rental properties.
“I can tell you a lot of people in exactly the same situation. You know, they’ve got a good job, good rental history, and they’re a couple, and they can’t even get a look in, so I don’t know what’s going on. Something’s not right.”
“I have one friend, he’s my age or a little bit older, great rental credentials, financially sound. Got the good job and everything…he applied in Angaston, Nuri, Greenock, Freeling and everywhere, and it took him almost 18 months to find a place.”