Stunning footage has emerged summarizing Australia's rental crisis, with dozens of potential tenants queuing on the street to inspect a property.
A two-bedroom apartment for rent in Flemington, in Melbourne's northwest, attracted a huge crowd during a recent open inspection.
Images posted to social media by a potential tenant showed the long line snaking out of the covered carport and running hundreds of meters along the sidewalk into the street.
The unit was advertised at $370 per week, almost $40 below the average apartment rental price in Flemington.
“Rent crisis in Melbourne,” the prospective tenant captioned the video.
The apartment consists of two spacious bedrooms with built-in wardrobes, a bright living room, dining area and kitchen
The potential tenant cited cheap rent and a good location less than 10km from Melbourne's CBD as reasons for the huge inspection queue.
'Comprising two spacious bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, a bright lounge and dining area, trendy kitchen with electric oven, dishwasher and plenty of cupboard and bench space plus a modern bathroom with extra large sunken shower, toilet and combined laundry facilities with enough space for a dryer ', says the advertisement for the property.
'Enhanced by a split system heating and cooling unit, polished wooden floorboards and a much sought after lockable garage, ideal for storage and extra complex parking
Many Australians agreed the images summed up the country's “brutal” housing crisis.
“Australia is hell,” one person wrote.
Another added: 'You might as well buy a caravan and park it in a church car park right now.'
A third said: 'The most liveable city in the world.'
Some suggested there was a better chance of winning the Lotto than securing a loan deal and wouldn't have bothered queuing.
“I'd rather live under a bridge than stand in line in one,” one viewer commented.
Others shared their tips on how to stay ahead of the housing crisis.
“I wouldn't even bother going to the inspections, I would just apply for everything and if I get it, ask for a 'second' inspection before I sign,” one viewer wrote.
Some renewed calls for governments to intervene and do more to solve the housing shortage.
“They let anyone into the country and don't worry about the people here,” one person wrote.
The line to inspect the unit snaked out of the building's carport and spilled onto the street
Others suggested alternatives to escape the housing crisis.
“There are houses out of the big smoke,” someone suggested.
Another said: 'And that's why I still live with my parents.'
On Thursday morning, the status of the real estate listing for the unit to be rented changed from available to 'pending'.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the broker for comment.
It comes after a British woman living in one of Australia's toughest rental markets shared her advice on how to ensure your rental application is accepted after her nightmarish ordeal trying to secure housing.
Ellie shared tips she wishes she had known when she first arrived in Sydney, which could have saved her weeks of heartache and dozens of rental rejections.
'The first thing I wish I knew was how much evidence and documentation rental agents need to apply for a flat,' Ellie explained.
“I've been advised by officers along the way that the more documentation you provide, the better.”
The huge crowd was thanks to the unit's ideal location, minutes from Melbourne's CBD and cheap rent of $370 per week
Ellie's only regret was not asking her previous landlords for a tenant to prove that she was a reliable tenant and could pay her rent on time.
“Oh my God, it was so annoying having to deal with old landlords. “I couldn't actually contact them,” she said.
'I had a private landlord and he completely fooled me.
“If you have an agency, that's fine because they'll send it.”
Ellie had to find old bank statements and take a screenshot of each rent payment to show that she was an ideal tenant.
References from a previous property or a landlord and employer can also help.
Proof of savings and/or employment and offering to pay several months' rent will also increase your chances, especially for travelers on a working holiday visa like Ellie.
“Some people won't like this, but money wins,” Ellie continued.
If you are unemployed or on an unfavorable visa, like me, you have to give them things to compensate.
'So I offered three months' rent and gave the assurance that I was good for the money.'
Renters who want to live in high-demand areas such as beachside suburbs may have to make compromises and reduce their wish list to places without balconies and air conditioning.
Offering to pay more than the advertised rent will also likely put you at the front of the application process, a tip Ellie admitted was “gross.”
“I got comments from people saying, 'If you don't do it, you'll miss the apartment,'” she recalled.
'We offered the asking price and got nowhere.'
“I didn't have the money (to offer more) in the price range we were looking at, so we started looking at apartments under our budget so we had the money to offer more.”