A 69-year-old retiree in Geraldton, Western Australia, endures ongoing housing instability after authorities forced her out of a rental property purchased for public housing. The home sat unoccupied for over a year, while she relocated twice more amid rising local pressures.
The Vacant Public Housing Unit
Linda Braam vacated her rental on Sixth Street in Wonthella, part of a six-unit complex acquired by the Department of Housing and Works in late 2024 to expand public housing stock. The property remained empty for more than a year, despite her view that residents could have moved in immediately.
“That was an ideal unit,” Braam stated. “They could have had people in them the week after I moved out.”
Officials confirm the site now operates under a new public housing initiative, contracted to the Salvation Army in January 2025. A Salvation Army spokesperson notes the organization took possession in early March and fully tenanted all six units that month.
Persistent Rental Instability
Braam, a former aged care worker, has faced three forced moves in three years. Her challenges began in 2023 when her husband entered a nursing home, prompting the sale of their six-year rental. Subsequent landlords sold or reclaimed properties, including her latest home, sold to an interstate investor just two months after she moved in.
“You’ve got to be kidding me, I’ve only been here two months,” she remarked. “How do I feel? Frustrated. Annoyed.”
The stress took a toll: “My hair was falling out, I wasn’t sleeping, I was getting up two o’clock in the morning and staying awake till 11 o’clock at night.” Her current lease expires next year, leaving uncertainty about rent hikes or eviction.
Public Housing Vacancies and Delays
In Greater Geraldton, 124 of 1,107 public housing properties stand vacant, primarily due to maintenance needs. Statewide, 1,817 of 37,914 units were empty as of January. A department spokesperson attributes delays to graffiti, vandalism, and limited tradespeople availability.
“The length of time between a house being tenanted and re-let can be affected by a range of factors, such as the scale of maintenance work required,” the spokesperson explained.
Local Market Challenges
Braam consulted a mortgage broker but could not secure a loan due to her age and expenses. Local real estate experts highlight investor dominance, with many buyers from interstate or eastern states prioritizing income.
Lara Sadowski of Geraldton Property Team reports rents rising by up to $200 upon lease renewal or sale. “The lease expires, the home sells to a new investor, and then the new owner puts the rent up significantly,” she said. “It’s outpricing some tenants, so they’ve had to inevitably move out.”
Will Mackenzie from Professionals adds that first-home buyers increasingly get priced out as investors secure assets for rental returns.
