19 hours ago
Final residents of Paddington boarding house face eviction, ahead of redevelopment
With eviction day fast approaching, long-time tenant Jeff Elliott reluctantly packed up his belongings over the weekend.
He spent years living on the streets after his mother died when he was 14.
He credits finding a room at a boarding house in Sydney's inner city with helping him turn his life around.
"It was like a family," he said.
"We all got on, we all helped each other out.
"If you had no money or something, they'd help you out. You had no food, they'd help you out."
He lived there for 21 years, working as a postman and paying $300 a week in rent for a room with a kitchen, shower and small living area attached.
Moving out, he said, has been the worst experience of his life.
"I don't want to go. To be honest, I'd rather stay here."
The boarding house, which is on a leafy street in the affluent suburb of Paddington, has been sold to a developer.
In October last year, the 30 residents were served with eviction orders, giving them until March to leave.
Since then, the developer has agreed to several extensions.
In that time, most have managed to find new places to live: in boarding houses, social housing or aged care homes dotted around the city.
But time has run out for two men who still have nowhere to go when the bailiffs arrive on Monday to change the locks.
Homes NSW said it was working to find accommodation for one of them after his plans to move in with family fell through.
The other resident has declined all offers of help.
A development application to turn the boarding house into luxury housing has been rejected by the City of Sydney Council, citing the social impact and the loss of affordable housing.
The developer has appealed against that decision in the NSW Land and Environment Court.
A ruling is expected any time now.
But whatever the outcome, the boarding house is unlikely to reopen.
Elaine Macnish from the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre said once a boarding house was sold off, that stock of affordable rentals was gone for good.
"Nobody ever opens up a boarding house and says, 'Let's charge $200 a week', so it is a permanent loss to the community when the boarding houses are closed."
She said these facilities played a vital role in the housing market, providing affordable housing for some of the marginalised in the community.
"Boarding houses are often that first step for people out of homelessness," she said.
"You can't go out and get a job: you can't contribute to society without having that essential roof over your head and that safety."
Ms Macnish said in recent years, there has been a marked decline in the the number of boarding houses in Sydney.
"The reason for that is the regulation and standards that come in around boarding houses.
"Landlords need to do renovations. They either do that and increase the rent, or they sell to developers."
She said the loss of boarding house rooms had contributed to a rise in the number of people living on the streets.
"The City of Sydney over the last year has seen a 25 per cent increase in street homelessness," she said.
"I think that's a direct impact from there not being enough affordable housing like boarding houses available in the inner city."
Neighbour Mike Mannix has been helping the boarding house residents facing eviction to connect with housing services.
"People have got to have somewhere to live, somewhere that's affordable and safe in the inner city.
"These areas shouldn't be enclaves for the rich."
Mr Elliott has given up looking for a place and is moving in with his former sister-in-law.
"It's the worst experience in the world," he said.
"There's nothing there.
"I looked at boarding houses, I looked at rentals; there's nowhere to go."
He's grateful to have the offer of a room to move into but said it won't be the same.
"I want to get my own place and my own life, even though I love family and I get on good with family, I need my own place."
