Rental crisis hits new low with backyard tent offer

Australians are divided after spotting a backyard tent being rented out for over $80 a night on a popular accommodation site.

A prospective Sydney visitor was looking through the options on booking.com when they stumbled across the unusual offer.

“Just looking at accommodation for Saturday night and came across this ‘hotel’ – a tent in some random backyard,” the person said on social media before joking that it looked “in ‘tents’”.

According to booking.com, the rental offers visitors their very own “soundproofed tent,” flush with a jacuzzi, terrace, and flatscreen TV.

“Set in Doonside, 18 km from Western Sydney Stadium … an outdoor tent, shared bathroom offers airconditioned accommodation with a terrace and free Wi-Fi,” the listing reads.

“The property has quiet street views and is 25 km from Qudos Bank Arena and 25 km from Sydney Showground.

“The homestay has a flat-screen TV. Towels and bed linen are offered in the homestay. This homestay is non-smoking and soundproof.”

While some commenters have sympathised with the need to make money amid the cost-of-living crisis, others have slammed the set up as an illegal cash-grab that should be reported to the local council.

“Like do they have council approval for a start, who are the people in the house? So many questions!,” one person replied.

“I’d believe it, cost of living crisis is real. People doing whatever they can to earn more income,” wrote another.

“Can you share the link please? Happy to give the council a call,” a third posted.

Other commenters turned their attention to the homestay conditions and questioned how visitors would survive the heatwave set to sweep across the city this week.

“It’s going to be 43 and thunderstorms on Saturday in parts of Sydney. Last place I’d want to be baking in a tent!,” a person wrote.

“$86 to be cooked alive in a bed of your own juices!?!? F***ing hell. Should be taken down by the website as part of quality control.”

“Ha ha wow this is bold. Asking $86 is an absolute stretch too,” a third wrote.

The post received no shortage of comments as other Aussies debated whether they would stay at the booking for that price.

“I mean it’s kinda a good use of space, but holy s*** $86 is a lot. You could rent a 1 person studio for the same (price) in a more convenient area,” one person remarked.

“People are renting tents in a lounge room as a long term rental! I guess they thought ‘why not?’” another wrote.

“Airconditioning, soundproofing and flat screen TV??! Living the high life with this one,” someone else joked.

For a five night stay from Monday to Friday, the tent would set you back $247 but the owners ask for higher rates over the weekend.

Its unique selling points certainly got people talking.

“Soundproofed tent. Interesting,” a commenter noted.