Bonnie Cameron was knocked back from a dozen rental properties, despite offering to pay six months of rent upfront. (Source: Instagram/@bonnieecameron)
A Melbourne single mum feared she and her two young kids would be homeless after she was knocked back for several rental properties. Australia’s rental market remains incredibly tight and single parents can face added pressures navigating the system.
Bonnie Cameron was recently knocked back for a dozen rental properties, despite offering to pay six months of rent upfront. The 27-year-old told Yahoo Finance she was looking for properties in the $550 to $600 per week range, meaning she was offering more than $17,000 upfront, including bond.
“To be honest, it was really terrifying. I actually reached out to Uniting and a few different shelters and housing places, but no one could help me,” Cameron said.
“That was really scary too because I couldn’t imagine if I had no savings. I don’t know what I would’ve done.”
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Cameron started looking for a new rental two months ago because the rent on her $800 per week Ringwood home had become too unaffordable.
She initially thought she would be able to find a property quickly, given she was downsizing and had proven she was able to pay a higher $800 per week for her property.
But, as she kept getting knocked back, she said “panic” started to set in.
“It got to the point where I was just applying for anything,” she said.
To make matters worse, Cameron lost her job as an independent sole trader under the NDIS due to funding issues.
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Cameron said she feels like single parents can be ‘put in a box’ and it can be hard to compete against double-income households. (Source: Instagram/@bonnieecameron)
While she receives the parenting payment from the government, along with child support, she said these “didn’t touch the sides” of what she and her two kids, aged 5 and 2, needed to get by.
While real estate agents did not tell Cameron why she was unsuccessful, she said she felt like single mums could be “put in a box” and people may be reluctant to rent to them.
“I understand it. I’m a single mum and people don’t want to rent to a single mum who is a single-income household. You’ve got children who may become sick,” she said.
“Whereas you’ve got two working professionals who have a really long working history. It’s very hard being stacked up against that sort of situation.”
Tenants Victoria senior research and evaluation officer Hannah Gray said single parents faced “real challenges” in securing housing and exercising their rights in the current market.
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“Often single parents are competing for limited housing options against other households who may have multiple income streams, including couples and share houses,” Gray told Yahoo Finance.
“This situation can become even more difficult if you need to find housing with bedrooms for kids, that is also close to schools, public transport, parks or existing community support networks.”
Tenants Victoria’s Hannah Gray said single parents faced ‘real challenges’ securing housing and exercising their rights in the current market. (Source: Tenants Victoria/NewsWire)
Recent research led by Gray found the limited housing options on offer meant single parents felt like they had to accept housing that was more than they could afford (between 34 to 64 per cent of their income), or homes with serious maintenance issues.
“Single parents tell us that they feel that they’re at a disadvantage in the application process due to the possibility of discriminatory attitudes among real estate agents and landlords, who may view them as less desirable candidates,” Gray said.
This means they may disclose additional information about their families through in-depth cover letters or get extra personal references to try and “convince” real estate agents they are a “viable choice”.
“It’s an unfair burden on single-parent renters, who may already be dealing with an overextended mental load, from the financial and physical responsibilities of solo caretaking,” Gray said.
Anglicare’s 2025 Rental Affordability Snapshot found single parents can face more obstacles when it comes to affordable housing options.
Just 2.6 per cent of the 51,238 rental listings analysed were found to be affordable for a single parent on the full-time minimum wage with two children.
It comes as rental vacancies remain low by historical standards and rents remain elevated, despite price growth easing.
SQM data found national advertised rents rose 0.4 per cent in August and 4.6 per cent over the year. Vacancy rates were unchanged at 1.2 per cent in August.
The national combined rent average reached $653.50 during the month, while the capital city average is sitting at $747.70 a week, reflecting a 2.85 per cent annual decrease.
Cameron was able to secure a rental property last week and is now in the process of moving. She has also started a new job.
Cameron has urged real estate agents and landlords to assess applicants individually and not to “judge a book by its cover” when it comes to renting to single parents.
Gray echoed this.
“I’d also say to real estate agents that single parents make great tenants,” she said.
“They often stay in properties longer, and single parents tend to pay their rent before anything else – having a home is so essential to keeping your family safe.”
For other single parents navigating the rental system, Cameron said not to give up hope.
Cameron said offering rent upfront had helped her to secure the property, but other options like getting a guarantor or writing a cover letter with personal references, could help applicants stand out.
“Just don’t get disheartened. Just keep on going, keep on applying and fingers crossed you will get something,” she said.
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