Latest news with #housemates
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Local: Kensington offers speed dating for housemates in bid to tackle roommate horror stories, rental crisis
Tenants desperate to escape Melbourne's rental crisis are being offered an unexpected solution: speed dating for housemates. In a city where one corporate landlord has already offered to waive lease-breaking fees for tenants who decide to shack up with their neighbour, a new build-to-rent operator is planing events to get like-minded tenants partnered up. With the housing crisis and rising rents driving a growing number of Victorians to seek out flatmates, the novel idea of a speed dating-style event was drummed up for the new tenants-only Local: Kensington complex. People looking for the perfect person to share their life with, romance not included, will be given the chance to connect with a group of like-minded individuals in June. Developer Local's marketing general manager Megan Hondromatidis said after an initial online registration, matchmakers would group people with similar interests and needs for scheduled events where they tour the building — then move on to dinner and drinks. 'It will be helping to break the ice, so it's not all just people having awkward conversations,' Ms Hondromatidis said. 'And we will have targeted questions to help them get to know each other. 'Ultimately, we are trying to provide the best experience possible. And hopefully we can mitigate the rental pain points.' Topics at the events dubbed 'Housemate Huddles' are expected to include: how pet friendly you are, whether you're a night or morning person, how you like your home furnished and what your typical day looks like. The goal is to then find someone else to compliment your lifestyle, and minimise the risk of a messy break-up as you fight over custody of the apartment and the Netflix account because one of you gets up at 5am and the other hasn't seen the sun rise in seven years. Ms Hondromatidis said while it would be interesting to see who would attend, they were expecting new arrivals to Melbourne, those looking to move out of their parents' home and others wanting to try sharehousing out for the first time. Specialty women-only nights and queer-friendly events will also be a part of the schedule. Ms Hondromatidis added that with the completion of new build-to-rent projects creating short-term waves of new apartments for the rental market, Melbourne was now primed for more similar events. The 477-apartment complex is the first build-to-rent complex by developer Local, but they have additional sites on their way around Melbourne — and are aiming to have some launched, most likely with similar events for tenants, interstate in the next year or two. 'I don't think house sharing is going anywhere, so I think we will start here and see where we go,' Ms Hondromatidis said. The building's two-bedroom apartments starting from $822 a week and three-bedroom offerings from $1258 a week. Amenities around the building include a cinema, fitness studio, working hub and residents' lounge with its own kitchen. Apartments are furnished with kitchen and laundry appliances, as well as split-system heating and cooling. The build-to-rent complex is very pet friendly, encourages residents to paint walls and live there long term. Events will be held at the 348 Macaulay Rd, Kensington, building on June 17, 18 and 24. Earlier this year, build-to-rent developer Greystar announced an offer to allow tenants who found a romantic partner or their ideal flatmate among their neighbours to make their relationship official and move in together — without a lease break fee. Considered a novel solution to Melbourne's rental crisis, build-to-rent development is defined as a corporate group that creates a new building with the intent of offering it as a long-term rental site. The system is common in other nations, particularly the United States of America. It has had significant backing as part of Victoria's housing solution from both state and federal governments, but remains a small fraction of Melbourne's rental supply.
Independent Singapore
27-05-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
‘I can't stop comparing my salary with others' — Fresh grad opens up about pay gap among peers
SINGAPORE: Salary comparison among peers is something many fresh graduates quietly struggle with, especially when everyone seems to be starting their careers at different speeds and pay scales. For one young man, this quiet struggle became overwhelming enough that he turned to Reddit to ask: 'How do I stop comparing my salary with my peers?' In a post on the r/AskSingapore subreddit on Monday (May 26), the man shared that he had recently graduated from university and secured a full-time job that pays a median salary. He rents a unit with a group of friends who, like him, have just entered the workforce. While he acknowledged that he earns enough to sustain himself and even save a little, he admitted that living with housemates who bring home noticeably higher salaries has made it difficult not to compare. 'I earn less compared to my housemates and can't seem to stop comparing my salary to them,' he wrote. 'I know I'm supposed to be grateful, but as a high-achieving student, it feels upsetting to be at the 'bottom' now, relative to my friends. I worked just as hard, studied just as hard, yet the outcome is different,' he added. Turning to the Reddit community, he asked others if they've ever experienced the same thing and how they managed to cope with the pressure of measuring up. 'Has anyone struggled with the same feelings? How to deal/cope with them? Advice is appreciated, thank you,' he wrote. 'Use it as inspiration for you to work harder.' Under his post, many users advised him to stop comparing himself to others, pointing out that career paths are rarely linear and that salary differences, especially early on, don't necessarily reflect long-term success or personal worth. One user stated, 'Everyone runs their own race! There isn't a need to compare. Just work hard to reach your own goals and be contented.' Another wrote, 'Comparison is the thief of joy. No point comparing. You get S$4,000 salary now, you'll think S$8,000 shiok. Then you get S$8,000, then you see people earn S$12,000, you get sad. What's the point?' To make the man feel better, a third user said, 'I suggest you not compare. For someone who started as a poly grad and has been in the workforce for 20 years. My starting pay was low compared to my friends in university. However, now at 42, I'm earning more than most of them.' Others, however, suggested that the man use this as motivation to improve his career prospects. One said, 'Use it as inspiration for you to work harder, or in strategising your way into a different industry, or in pursuing a side hustle.' In other news, a 31-year-old Singaporean woman who accepted a lower salary in hopes of gaining experience is now regretting her decision, less than a week into the job. In a post on the r/askSingapore forum on Friday (May 23), the woman shared that she had accepted a lower salary during the interview process because she believed this 'would help her secure the job, gain experience, and get higher negotiating power in the future.' Read more: 'Should I just leave this job?' — Woman regrets accepting lower salary in less than a week into the job, as her assignment turns out to be different from what she applied for Featured image by freepik (for illustration purposes only)
CBC
08-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Solution to housing crisis flails in practice as RareBirds calls it quits
The RareBirds Housing project in Kamloops was a pioneer in the world of co-op housing. But now, as CBC's Shelley Joyce reports, the 6,000 square foot home, which was once shared and co-owned by six housemates, is up for sale.
