Tree changes and short term holiday accommodation may be driving a tight rental market in Castlemaine.
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Sixteen properties are listed for rent on realestate.com.au in the Castlemaine region. More than 150 homes are listed on a short stay holiday accommodation website in the area.
Manager of Housing at Castlemaine District Community Health Michael McMahon said the town's rental market was getting increasingly restrictive for those on a fixed income.
Mr McMahon said the lack of affordable housing, lack of social housing, and the fact people's incomes weren't rising to meet the cost of rents, drove the tight market.
He said Castlemaine was desirable place to live or stay, meaning many homes were listed for short stay accommodation, which had been likely taken off the rental market.
"Last time I looked there was nothing available for anyone on a low income like Newstart and not even for anyone on the DSP and family payments or aged pension," Mr McMahon said.
"For anyone struggling, even if there was one or two available, there's always a really strong competition from people who are working, or people with double incomes or people, who look more secure in the eyes of real estate agent."
Difficulty finding an affordable and appropriate rental drove church-worker Travis Barnes to rent in Newstead with his family, instead of Castlemaine.
Read more: Affordable rentals scarce in Bendigo
Mr Barnes was surprised to discover it was difficult to find a rental when he moved with his wife and children from Armidale, NSW, last year.
The family faced a choice between homes that were too expensive, or too small for their needs.
They settled on a house in Newstead - about 15 or 20 minutes away from Mr Barnes' work and his daughter's school.
While the compromise works for the Barnes family, it would be more difficult for people in other circumstances.
"We found that there weren't many options at all. If you look up rentals in Castlemaine there's about 15 houses that come up, and I think only about seven or eight of them are in Castlemaine itself," he said.
"Everyone accepts the market is very tight. The situation's not that bad for us, our situation we've been able to make work.
"It would be obviously more difficult for people who didn't have cars, or couldn't drive, obviously people on really tight budgets have to make some really tricky decisions."
Mr Barnes said the strain on the rental market seemed to be caused by an inflow of treechangers from Melbourne to Castlemaine, and people putting investment properties on short stay accommodation websites rather than renting them out.
Inevitably this would affect the people who are not as well off, Mr Barnes said.
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