Sign up here if you have a spare bedroom(s) you would consider renting to a tenant to help prevent them from becoming unhoused.
We have included a series of checkboxes in this form. Please tick as many as are relevant to your situation, to help us identify who would be a good match for your household.
We are aware that the information collected by this form is limited, so we expect that most people offering rooms will wish to provide additional information about the suitability of your home. If you have any information that we need to know in trying to match you with someone seeking housing, please sign up and then send us an email at [email protected].
We will not contact you right away, and we might not contact you at all unless we find someone seeking accommodation who's a good match for you.
We're conscious that opening your home to someone in need is not a decision to be taken lightly, and we're available to chat through any questions or concerns you might have.
Thanks for doing what you can!
[Image description: Rosie the Riveter meme with the words "Got Spare Bedrooms? We Want You! Help Keep People Housed!"]
[Image description: pink zine page with text (included below) and artwork by Mama See]
Do homeowners have a responsibility to rent spare bedrooms in a housing crisis?
Short answer: Yes!
Spare bedrooms can be handy. In an ideal world everyone would be housed, with a couple spare rooms for hobbies and visitors. But our world is far from ideal.
We're in an escalating housing crisis. Many renters and new mortgage holders are struggling to make ends meet, and risk becoming unhoused. Shouldn't we be willing to lend a hand?
Renting your spare room won't solve the housing crisis, but it might keep somebody housed.
Isn't the housing crisis a structural issue? Why should I rent my spare room?
Our society treats housing as a speculative commodity, not a human right – which ultimately drives the housing crisis.
Just because it's a structural problem, doesn't mean ordinary people are entirely powerless.
When governments pursue policies resulting in mass housing insecurity and people becoming unhoused, we think ordinary people have an ethical responsibility to act.
Did you know?
42% of Australian households have more bedrooms than people [ABS Data].
Australia has over 1 million empty homes and 13 million empty spare bedrooms [1].
[Image description: pink zine page with text (included below) and artwork by Mama See]
Shared housing arrangements come in many different shapes and sizes?
- Home-sharing: elderly person offers a spare bedroom to a younger housemate at low cost in exchange for companionship and practical support. [2]
- Co-housing: a rented granny-flat, self-contained dwelling, or tiny home parked in your backyard. You live as two unrelated dwellings on shared land.
- Share housing: groups of friends, friends of friends, or compatible people without a previous existing relationship live together in a single dwelling.
- Homeowner renting a room: a homeowner and tenant live mostly separate lives under one roof to make their housing cheaper, and negotiate how spaces and chores are shared.
Shared housing can be as typical or out-there as you and your housemate would like. What everyone gets out of it depends on having important conversations with your potential housemate up front.
Social connection is important to make these arrangements enjoyable: we recommend starting off with friends or extended family if possible!
[Image description: Image of a cosy living room in pink and yellow with a couch, pot plants, and books on a shelf by Mama See. Text included below]
Did you know 42% of Australian households have more bedrooms than people?
Would you consider renting your spare room to a tertiary student or older woman?
Find out how to get involved!
www.jonathansri.com/sparebedrooms