Tasmanian boarding house for homeless and children live in horror conditions in New Town, Hobart
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Shocking images have emerged of the horrific conditions inside a pension that are so dire that locals would rather sleep on the streets or in a tent.
Flint House is a privately owned crisis guest house in North Hobart where vulnerable residents of all ages, from the elderly to families with young children, pay up to $450 a fortnight for a roof over their heads.
Alison Dunning had relatives living there with children and was so disgusted by the conditions that she filmed a tour of the facility now known as New Town Accommodation.
The three-minute clip is every landlord’s worst nightmare with the premises covered in mold and graffiti while the living areas are littered with trash, broken furniture, broken fixtures, general clutter and discarded belongings including clothes and toys.
A tour of the ‘updated’ shared bathrooms shows broken toilets filled with feces, dirty showers, overflowing sinks, cracked tiles and a syringe lying on the floor with underwear and towels.
Families with children pay up to $450 per fortnight to live in these rooms at Flint House
The bedrooms are also in a habitable state with overturned furniture and the floor covered with abandoned belongings.
“This is the situation that children and adults have to live in,” Ms Dunning begins as she enters the facility.
‘How are children, let alone adults, supposed to live in this situation! There is much to show.’
Ms Dunning is heard vomiting repeatedly within moments upon entering the premises.
‘Oh my gosh, it sucks guys, it’s really bad. I’ve never seen anyone in their right mind,” he said.
‘Okay, I’m out of there.’
The choice between living on the streets and Flint House was an easy one for Ms. Dunning.
“This is not suitable for any human being, in any way, shape or form,” he said.
I have never been so upset. I have been homeless and will be staying on the streets, don’t go to Flint House.
‘Upgraded’ shared bathrooms included broken and dirty toilets (pictured)
‘How is this good enough for kids? No women or children or anything should live in this building.
“This is an obviously empty room, but I wouldn’t sleep in it, I’d sleep in a tent.”
He asked the authorities to intervene and claimed that children were living there under the care of the Child Safety Service.
“No one is safe here, the Tasmanian government knows about this house and what goes on at Flint House,” he captioned the video.
“We need something done about this so that the homeless can live in a clean and safe environment.”
A syringe was found on the bathroom floor strewn with underwear and towels.
The video posted to TikTok went viral, sparking widespread outrage.
‘Oh my God! That’s gross!’ a woman posted.
Viewers were divided on whether the owners or the residents were responsible.
“This is so shameful and disgusting but if there are people living there they should try to clean it up as best they can,” one commented.
Another added: ‘If the residents cleaned up after themselves and respected the place, then the owners may be willing to repair and maintain the place. But if he’s going to be continually hurt, disrespected, etc., then what’s the point!?’
Alison Dunning called on the Tasmanian government to intervene, despite the guesthouse being privately owned (pictured is broken tiles in bathroom)
The divided comments prompted a response from Ms Dunning.
“I hope the people who pay also live in this place also have a much better and cleaner environment. I hope the owners can help them too,” he wrote.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted New Town Accommodation for comment.
The facility is described online as ‘crisis accommodation with single rooms, free Wi-Fi and continental breakfasts, with ‘upgraded’ shared bathrooms and access to an industrial kitchen and cooking areas.
A spokesman for Tasmania’s housing ministry told The Mercury that the government could not comment because the premises are privately owned.
The Flint House last sold three years ago for just under $1.115 million.
Alison Dunning was horrified to discover the appalling conditions in which members of a family with young children lived in Flint House. In the image, one of the rooms.