Boarding house closures in North Sydney

According to National Shelter (2011), approximately 75,000 Australians live in boarding houses and caravan parks, and the majority of these people are highly disadvantaged.

Boarding housing frequently serves as 'housing of last resort' for individuals and households who are on the verge of homelessness. Such housing is often available at a lower cost and with fewer barriers to entry than other private rental. However, the housing can be of poor quality, residents may have few tenancy rights and the property conditions may exacerbate health and social issues.

Here, we look at boarding houses and other forms of low cost rental accommodation in the North Sydney local government area, as well as offering a brief overview of the major changes and trends that have occurred in the last 30 years with regards to the provision of this type of accommodat'lon in the North Sydney area. Finally, we identify some of the major issues in the continued provision of this type of accommodation and offer some recommendations for consideration.