The Australian rental crisis peaks on the Gold Coast with a wardrobe being offered for $180 a month

Desperate tenants had the opportunity to live like Harry Potter after a landlord tried to rent out a closet that resembled the room under Uncle Vernon’s stairs.

A Gold Coast rental popped up online for the low price of $180 a month, or $45 a week, with one thong attached: It’s a converted closet.

The audacity of the offer received mixed reactions, with some tenants finding it opportunistic and others saying it was an acceptable last resort.

Many were quick to point out that it shared some key features with Harry Potter’s cramped room from the first two films of JK Rowling’s titular film franchise.

But while Potter’s uncle had no qualms about cramming his wizard cousin into a room under the stairs, Australia’s National Construction Code might deem it unfit for habitation.

The room quickly drew comparisons to the malnourished room Harry Potter lived in during the first two of JK Rowling’s blockbuster film franchise (pictured)

Photos from the ad showed that the small walk-in closet had a single bed, no windows, a clothes rack and a plastic chest of drawers.

The “fully furnished” room didn’t last long before it was removed from the rental site, but while it stayed, the owner did his best to make it sound like a bargain.

‘5G internet and bills are included. Unit is modern, clean and tidy, with pool, gym. You share your bathroom. Street parking,” the listing reads.

Despite the gym access and high-speed internet, the room was being ripped to pieces by people wanting to rent.

“When did Harry Potter move?” someone asked.

“Is that a prison cell?” asked another.

“It is sad that it has come to this. Vultures feed on down and out,” a third added.

The landlord behind the ad tried to counter the criticism, saying it was “better than sleeping in the car.”

Others agreed, noting that people can’t be too picky with the current state of the rental market.

“It’s a dry place for someone with no money,” someone said.

“This would be a haven for some people and in today’s market the rent is very reasonable although I believe by law a bedroom must have a window,” said another.

Shortly after comments began to focus on the suitability of the rooms to accommodate someone, it was quickly removed from the website on which it was listed.

According to the Building Decree, walk-in closets, corridors and halls are never suitable for housing a tenant for a longer period of time.

Potter (center) was a 10-year-old kid at the time, before going to Hogwarts with Hermione Granger (left) and Ron Weasley (right), and the room was barely livable for him

Australia’s National Construction Code requires natural light to make a room livable, which the Gold Coast cabinet didn’t have (Photo: A suitable rental property in Pimpama, Queenland)

The rental crisis is widespread across Australia and Queensland is no exception to the trend.

The vacancy rate on the Gold Coast was just above 1 percent after a three-year slump in the city.

From December 2020 through June 2023, the vacancy rate was a constant 1 percent, until it recently decreased to 1.2 percent.

A ‘healthy’ indicator for the housing supply is a vacancy rate of between 2.6 and 3.5 percent.

Antonia Mercorella, CEO of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland told Realestate.com that she was ‘well aware of the rent crisis in Queensland’.

Ms Mercorella said educating landlords on what is technically livable is a top priority of hers.

“We have called for more education on how people can free up rooms in their homes or granny flats and rent them out in a way that is legally compliant,” Ms Mercorella told the website.

To do this, people need the relevant tools, resources and information to allay the fear of breaking laws, influencing insurance or paying capital gains taxes.

While people may try to be helpful in rental crises, it is important to understand that there are certain legal and regulatory obligations that must be met in order for a room to be fit for occupancy and legally classified as a bedroom, including ceiling height, room size and the availability of natural light and ventilation,” she said.