Latest news with #livingconditions
BBC News
23-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Concerns as Douglas care home repairs take over six weeks
Concerns have been raised about the state of a residential home's living room after it has been left cordoned off for repairs for more than six work on front room windows is being carried out at Thie Milan residential home in Douglas, which is maintained by the Department of Infrastructure. Frances Tinkler, who's 29-year-old daughter Elizabeth is among the residents, said they "shouldn't have to get used to part of their living room being cordoned off like an accident site".A DOI spokesman said the repairs had "taken longer than anticipated due to the building being located in a conservation area". Ms Tinkler's daughter has Down's Syndrome and autism and has lived in the home for five years. "She is incredibly independent and able in so many ways, but needs quite a bit of support in other ways," she said. She said the living room was like a "building site" and it sent a message that the residents were "less worthy, or it is less important than it would be in a private home". She continued: "Parents in a home would have that work remediated fairly quickly, but this just seems to be put on the back burner, you shouldn't have to jump through a million hoops for something to be repaired."Her concerns came following the publication of an independent review which found some residential homes had been "poorly maintained" and there were cases in which "inappropriate workarounds" had become the norm. Ms Tinkler is also a director of local learning disability charity Manx home, which is owned by the Department for Health and Social Care, is run by Manx Care and has one member of staff responsible for the residents at a time, who Ms Tinkler said had been chasing up the situation with the said the cordon had meant her daughter had been going up to her room earlier as the residents were "squashed" in their communal area. "These are people who like structure, who like things in the right place, who are organised, so chaos does not go down well," she said."If it is dangerous, then residents should not be in that room, a bit of cordon is not going to stop them from going in that area."The DOI spokesman said the department had been working with an engineer at Thie team had been liaising with the building conservation officer to ensure the proposed works were "sympathetic to the character of the area", he expect to install new windows by the end of the week while masonry repairs would be completed by mid-August, the spokesman added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
News.com.au
22-07-2025
- General
- News.com.au
The exposed horror reality for tenants in NSW
A Sydney rental is getting attention for all the wrong reasons, with one disturbing feature leaving potential tenants in shock. A video tour of a Sydney home recently listed for rent has exposed the living conditions some tenants have been expected to endure, with the home alleged to have a trashed kitchen and leaking ceiling. Posted to Instagram by online content creator Jordan van den Lamb, who has garnered a large following from exposing less-than-desirable listings, the video casts the spotlight on a $550 a week listing in the inner west suburb of Burwood. Images reveal a deteriorating kitchen missing cupboards and drawers below the sink. Some of the last remaining doors appear to be hanging barely from hinges. 'So (the agents) describe this place as having a good condition kitchen and bathroom,' Mr Van den Lamb stated in the video. 'But this is the kitchen – if by good they mean, bad, then maybe.' Mr Van den Lamb, who often posts content under the tag 'Sh*t Rentals', revealed in the video that the images were taken from someone from the group's subreddit, who inspected the residence. 'This is a photo of the bedroom ceiling, which just reminds me of really bad psoriasis,' he said. 'So anyways, thanks for wasting this person's time.' The Burwood listing comes off the back of revelations of another Sydney rental in squalid condition, shared via TikTok video. The former tenant alleged that the Petersham rental included a bug infestation throughout the house, a window that could be opened from the outside as well as a random shipping container in the backyard. The creator said she spent $240 a week on rent which was the least out of the sharehouse's nine tenants, with some people paying $350 a week. These rentals have been listed as a prominent tenants' rights group warned recent regulation changes have given NSW tenants a raw deal. The June changes have made it easier for landlords to evict tenants and undermine earlier reforms which sought to make it illegal for tenants to be evicted without reason, according to the Tenants Union of NSW. The Tenants Union pointed to previous requirements for landlords wanting to evict tenants for major repairs or renovations to give a written statement, tradie quotes for required works or proof of development approval. This measure was intended to ensure landlord claims of renovations were genuine and significant enough to warrant eviction and not simply a tactic to unfairly evict tenants, the union said. It claims a move by the NSW government in June to quietly remove this key safeguard, which means landlords do not have to provide the same level of renovations evidence as before, has opened the way for unjust 'renovictions'. The NSW Tenants' Union said the changes open the door to non-genuine 'renovictions'.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
No water, no ceiling, no power — Detroit sues Florida landlord in city's largest ever lawsuit of its kind
Imagine living in a home with no running water, or renting an apartment with ceilings that are caving in and electrical outlets that don't provide power. These are just some of the brutal living conditions at the center of a massive lawsuit filed by the city of Detroit. RealToken, a Florida-based blockchain real estate company, has been accused of public nuisance violations that involve hundreds of residential properties in Detroit. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it "This is the largest nuisance abatement lawsuit ever filed by the city of Detroit," Conrad Mallett, corporation counsel for the city of Detroit, shared with the Detroit Free Press. One RealToken tenant — an older American named Brenda Davis, who's lived in her apartment for 16 years with only one late rent payment — found herself facing eviction when she stopped paying rent after her water was shut off. "After being here 16 years, this is what you're going to do to an elderly person?" said Davis. "It makes no sense. And they should not be able to keep doing this and getting away with it." What is a blockchain real estate company? RealToken, or RealT, is a company that allows investors around the world to invest in the U.S. housing market by offering "fractional ownership of Detroit properties represented as digital tokens," according to the lawsuit. Launched in 2019, the company has garnered more than 65,000 investors who, based on the company's website, have invested in 'fully-compliant, fractional, tokenized ownership" of rental properties. Buying these 'representative tokens' gives investors an ownership share in the properties, which includes voting rights and regular payments of rental income. Despite RealToken being located in Florida, the company's properties are primarily located in Detroit. RealToken reportedly hired local management companies to support tenants in Detroit and ensure the units are properly maintained. In response to the lawsuit, RealToken blames these management companies for the poor living conditions in its properties. 'These companies were paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to oversee RealToken's properties, address tenant complaints and make repairs, and maintain each of our properties in accordance with City of Detroit municipal codes,' said RealToken in a statement shared with the Detroit Free Press. 'As it turns out, there are many instances where these goals were not achieved, and each management company, in its own way, stole these funds to the detriment of RealToken and more importantly, the tenants we serve.' Read more: Americans are 'revenge saving' to survive — but millions only get a measly 1% on their savings. City officials aren't buying it 'The landlords are pretty much faceless, the investors sometimes are overseas and the damage is very real,' Detroit City Councilwoman Angela Calloway shared with WXYZ. That damage has left tenants coping with a host of issues, including rodents, sinks that don't work, cracks in windows, structural issues and fire hazards. The lawsuit also alleges that RealToken owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in property taxes. "For years, we've seen a pattern that must end," said Mary Waters, an at-large Council Member. 'Slumlord and scam artists exploiting Detroit renters, unsafe housing, unreturned security deposits, illegal evictions. These are not just individual cases. They are systemic failures.' The city filed the lawsuit in Wayne County Circuit Court, alleging violations of health and safety codes as well as local building codes. The lawsuit is also seeking $500,000 in unpaid tickets. City officials are urging a judge to order that all RealToken rent payments must be put into an escrow account, and that no eviction notices will be sent out until all of RealToken's properties pass a compliance inspection. RealToken, however, claims it has not yet been served with a lawsuit. Meanwhile, the company claims in its statement that it's working on fixing the issue, but warns that "this process cannot happen overnight. It takes time. But we are committed to addressing every issue and finally execute on our original mission." What rights do tenants have in these situations? While the lawsuit works its way through the courts, many of the tenants are still suffering from RealToken's failure to provide a safe living environment. This is why it's important for tenants to understand their legal rights. The State of Michigan is very clear about tenants's rights, requiring landlords to ensure that properties are habitable, which means rented units must have: Walls and a roof that are structurally sound Hot and cold running water A working HVAC system Working toilets Working plumbing A working electrical system Safe stairs with railings No combustible materials If a landlord does not make any necessary repairs, tenants can: Make repairs themselves and deduct the cost from rent payments Withhold rent until the repairs are made Terminate the lease There are also low-cost or even free options in most states for tenants to get legal help with landlord issues. For example, Michigan Legal Help has resources that residents can use to find an advocate. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also has a list of all the different resources tenants can use to find legal services in their state. But before exploring legal options, if you're struggling with unsafe living conditions in your home, contact your landlord and inform them of the issues. Just remember to document everything during your correspondence. If the landlord proves to be less than helpful, you can decide whether you want to pay for the repairs yourself and deduct the cost from rent, withhold rent altogether, or seek legal assistance. What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of 'massive unemployment' in the US due to the 'biggest change' in history — and says this 1 group of 'smart' Americans will get hit extra hard. Are you one of them? How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you'll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Daily Telegraph
16-07-2025
- General
- Daily Telegraph
Horror conditions inside Sydney sharehouse exposed
A Sydney renter has shared her experience of the conditions she claims she lived through in a sharehouse via a video posted to TikTok. The renter claimed in the video that the property in the inner west suburb of Petersham had unaddressed bug infestation throughout the house and a window that could be opened from the outside. The home also allegedly featured a random shipping container in the backyard. MORE: Aus man forced to live in mould-infested hellhole The creator said she spent $240 a week on rent, the least out of the sharehouse's nine tenants. 'I paid the least as well, they would change the prices for each room, some people were paying 350!' she said. The video also showed an outdoor 'shared living room' that was essentially an alleyway, and a shower with pretty lacklustre water pressure. The creator also said that only two toilets were available for the nine tenants. MORE: Homeowner's insane $2m demand for driveway Commenters were appalled by the state of the home, with one user commenting 'Sydney is probably the worst place to live in Aus (sic)'. Another said: 'Saving this for whenever someone bothers me about living with my parents'. Others urged the user to seek out better options. 'You don't need to live in the city. Go outer like western suburbs you will find something more cleaner and descent,' one comment said. Many users urged the poster to take action, with one user commenting 'I would lodge a complaint with NSW Fair Trade for unliveable conditions'. Other users were not surprised by the conditions, with one commenting: 'That's exactly what $240 will get you in Sydney.' It is understood the poster no longer lives at the sharehouse and filmed the video before she left. 'I genuinely wanted to report the living conditions … but I had no idea where to start,' she commented. 'I've also moved out now so not sure there's much I can do now.' MORE: Wild sum Aussie renters are losing each year
Japan Times
16-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Living conditions index hits lowest level in 15 years in Japan
The proportion of people in Japan who think their living conditions are more comfortable than a year before has fallen to the lowest level in over 15 years, according to a Bank of Japan quarterly survey for June. The diffusion index on living conditions, or the percentage of respondents who said their living conditions improved from a year before minus that of those who said the opposite stood at minus 57.2, the worst level since the September 2009 survey. The figure worsened from minus 52.0 in the previous March survey, according to the latest survey released Monday. The share of respondents who said they have become worse off came to 61.0%, up 5.1 percentage points from the previous survey. By contrast, the proportion of people who said they have become better off fell by 0.1 point to 3.8%. Among respondents becoming worse off, the proportion of those who cited rising prices as a reason behind the deterioration reached 93.7%. The survey also showed that the share of respondents who think that economic conditions worsened from a year before stood at 70.5%. Asked how much prices would increase in a year, respondents answered 12.8%, on average, up from 12.2% in the previous survey and hitting the highest level since comparable data became available in September 2006. The share of respondents who said prices rose in the country from a year before came to 96.1%, almost unchanged from the previous survey. The latest survey was conducted between May 1 and June 3, covering people age 20 or over across the country. The June survey was the first since the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump imposed additional tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles as well as some "reciprocal" tariffs. "We cannot say anything for sure" about the potential impact from the tariffs, a BOJ official said.
