Melbourne’s rental crisis has thankfully been averted with a rental listing now advertising single bed capsules for just $900 a month - what a bargain.
The rental crisis in the city of Melbourne has become so bad that futuristic-looking pods are looking like a viable living arrangement - even though they cost an arm and a leg.
According to The Guardian, a landlord of a house in Abbotsford is seemingly taking advantage of the lacklustre availability of rental properties and offering people a ‘temporary’ option.
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They are offering up traditional rooms in the house for $400 a week or $1,500 a month, or, if you’re feeling like becoming an astronaut for a short period of time, you can rent out a pod capsule for $250 a week or $900 a month.
Don’t worry, you won’t be the only one sleeping in what could only be described as an oversized washing machine with a mattress in it.
There are currently six pods inside the house, all stacked on top of each other.
And if there’s any indication of how bad the rental crisis really is in Melbourne, well, they’re all currently full.
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Look, we’ll give the pods a bit of credit, they sure do look fun with their adjustable party lights akin to being at Revolver Upstairs.
The listing, which was posted on Facebook, states: “Each capsule pod fits a single bed (can sleep one person only), equipped with own mirror, ventilating fan, USB ports, digital control panels, adjustable colour reading lights, safe locker, clothes hanger & curtain door for privacy.
“They look like space shuttles.”
‘One person only’... you mean I can’t share my washing machine nightclub rave experience with anyone else?
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The advertisement has actually been up for over a year, with a capsule first being listed for $175 a week.
Inflation really is impacting every aspect of our lives.
The landlord, Frank Chan, justified the prices of his space shuttles, claiming that they could actually be a solution to the rental problem in Melbourne.
He told The Guardian: “I do not charge bond, no electricity charge, provide full furniture, full-time housekeeper, tenants have full flexibility when they want to leave, and my price is cheaper than 95% of comparable listings in booking.com, hotels.com and Airbnb the like.
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“I know there are many people who don’t understand much about the rental market and shout that my price is too high … but they really haven’t looked at how short-term accommodation functions.”
The people who get to sleep in these pods will get to access a shared bathroom and living area, so it's not too cramped.
He added: “I hope local councils can make it easier for landlords to install them.
"At the moment it’s quite hard to make it happen, I am the only pod provider in Melbourne.”
With vacancy rates at 1.7 per cent in Melbourne, according to SQM Research, having a monopoly on space shuttle sleeping options isn’t a bad business plan.
Jayden Collins