Latest news with #MoniqueMuskens
News.com.au
6 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
24-year-old drives for five days to new home only to be left ‘homeless' and scrambling
Monique Muskens drove across Australia for five days only to become 'homeless' because she couldn't move into the room she'd been promised. Ms Muskens, 24, accepted a three-month job in Perth working on a television program in the make-up department. She immediately knew she would have trouble finding a suitable short-term rental, so she went online to find a match. She found an advertisement onnline for a room for rent in Perth from a man who claimed the house was filled with 'adventure people' who are 'normal straight blokes', with the property close to all amenities. The 24-year-old and her potential housemate began messaging and negotiating logistics, such as when she could move in. Eventually, he told her, '100 per cent it'll be fine to stay here when you get here', and she was delighted. 'We had agreed on the rental rate, move-in date, and my room. He even asked me where the coffee machine should go,' she told The makeup artist claimed that she and her new housemate had texted frequently in the weeks leading up to her move-in date. 'He was texting me life updates, sending me photos, calling me, we were face-timing,' she said. 'I thought I was going to be best friends with my future flatmate.' Ms Muskens left her hometown of Sydney and embarked on a five-day drive across the country to move into her new place in Perth. 'I was five hours into the drive when I got a text that was so rogue. It was like, 'Hey, your room won't be ready until Monday',' she said. She says she immediately tried to call him, but he didn't answer. She recalled thinking it was weird, but she figured if her room wasn't ready, she could sleep on the couch until it was. When she arrived in Perth on Saturday May 31, she went to the address and asked what was going on. The 24-year-old alleges the occupant told her a bizarre story about an issue with her mattress that he had originally agreed to supply, which she said made zero sense. 'He was just like 'nah mate' and it was like 5pm on a Saturday. I was like, 'what? Where am I meant to sleep?'' she said. Ms Muskens said the long Western Australian long weekend compounded the issue, as it made it difficult to find last-minute accommodation. The makeup artist couldn't find anywhere she could stay two nights in a row, so she had to stay in two separate hotels over the weekend. On Sunday, she messaged the man and joked, 'Will I be homeless tomorrow?' and, to her shock, he replied and said she could no longer move in. 'I was just about to message you. My wife had a meltdown over me bringing a woman into the house,' the text read. 'Definitely check on a few different platforms it is f**ked because I've held the room for ages and now she's pulled this.' Ms Muskens said she was devastated. She initially thought he was joking, but he wasn't, and now she was in a brand new state with no housing. 'All my paper for this job has that address on it. I was shocked and in disbelief at first, and then I was so angry my body was shaking,' she said. 'My emotions were so high.' Ms Muskens then returned to the house to confront him because, at this point, she just wanted answers. She claims the man came to the door and confirmed that she wouldn't be living with him. She argued that she was meant to move in 'two days ago' and she was confused why the plans had changed so drastically to which she claims he responded, 'My marriage comes first mate.' The door was then shut in Ms Muskens face, she alleges, and, even now, several days later, she is couch surfing and has yet to find accommodation.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Monique found a room to rent before driving almost 4,000km across Australia… then came the awkward conversation when she rocked up to the front door
A make-up artist has filmed herself confronting the man who promised to rent her a room in his house but reneged on a few hours' notice, leaving her homeless after relocating to the other side of the country. Monique Muskens had driven her pink Tesla from Sydney to Perth for a new job and was set to move into a rented room she had secured over a month earlier. She had been in regular contact with the homeowner, Jamie, who had sent her photos and updates via text and FaceTime. When Ms Muskens was just four hours away from Perth, Jamie texted her to say she could no longer move in on Saturday as planned, but her room would be ready for Monday. 'I went to the house thinking that I'd sleep on the couch or something but he fully turned me away and said the bed fell off the roof of the car so they're sorting that and moving some stuff around,' she said. On Sunday, Ms Muskens checked in with Jamie to make sure the room was ready for the following day only to be told she couldn't move in anymore. She wrote: 'Will I still be homeless tomorrow?' 'I was just about to message you,' Jamie replied. 'My wife had a meltdown over me bringing a woman into this house. 'Definitely check on a few different platforms. It's f***ed cause I held the room for ages and she's pulled this.' Ms Muskens, whose plight was worsened by the fact she was due to start a new job the next day, decided to confront Jamie and turned up at the house unannounced. She recorded a video showing the confrontation. 'I'm meant to be living here but apparently not anymore,' she said to which the unknown man replied: 'I don't know anything about that.' Jamie then came to the door and said 'that's true'. The make-up artist hit back: 'What's true? That I'm not living here? That's hectic so when did you want to tell me that?' 'I told you today,' Jamie replied. Ms Muskens said: 'You told me half an hour ago I was meant to move in two days ago.' Ms Muskens then questioned whether the bed in the advertised room was actually broken, as Jamie had previously claimed. He confirmed that it was. 'And you've decided today that I can't move in tomorrow? I'm mean to start work tomorrow,' she said while Jamie gave her a thumbs up. 'You're looking me in the eye and saying, "Hey I've agreed to let you live here and now you're homeless,"' she said. 'Unfortunately that's the outcome,' Jamie said. He then told her he had to prioritise his wife's wishes before saying, "It's time to go," and shutting the door in her face. Ms Muskens later explained that she turned up at Jamie's house to force him to take some accountability for his actions. She said it was difficult given it was a public holiday weekend for Western Australia Day, and many hotels were fully booked. Having secured a hotel room, she has shared footage of the encounter online, drawing a strong response from social media users. 'That's actually cooked - I hope you find somewhere soon and hopefully this doesn't ruin your opinion on how beautiful Perth is,' one wrote. 'If there's no contractual agreement you're cooked. Time to find a new house mate,' a second added. 'I absolutely love that you confronted him,' a third said. Others sided with Jamie 'No means no,' one wrote. 'Anyone can change their mind at any point.'
