Free Rent in Sydney

Well its February and therefore time to discuss the obligatory unaffordable rental crises. This story is about how to get free rent in Sydney - one of the most expensive rental markets in the country.

Every year the same headlines hit the newspapers in Australia and New Zealand. Pathos-ridden stories of families of two hardworking parents with 5 off-spring under the age of 10 plus 2 dogs, 3 cats and a turtle can't find accommodation anywhere in Sydney for their budget of $250/week.

Several flatmate finding websites are under fire for allow ads along the following lines to be published:

"$0 to share flat, wanted flatmate/girlfriend to share unit in Griffith, ACT. "Free accommodation in exchange for relationship.''

Or a little more coy:

"free rent for someone special: instead of rent, I am looking for someone to help me with certain needs/requirements on a regular basis''.

Maybe he just wants the vacuuming done on a Saturday morning?

Its offensive to some apparently - but no one's bothered to work out the economics of it.

Is it a good deal for free rent?

Let's think about this as a business proposition - what does a prostitute earn? Well according to the well-known Red House in Kalgoorlie - around $250/hour is the rate - lets say the girl gets at least $100 of that - though remember she will have expenses and have to pay tax - so lets say $70/hr net.

What's the average rent in Sydney for a nice apartment in a inner suburb would have to be at least $350/week. In other word's the girl is expected to "work" for equivalent of 5 hours a week's worth of free rent.

Lets face it with the sort of losers who are running these ads - its hardly gonna take 5 hours This could be an excellent deal for the right woman!  Sign me up!

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