Melbourne single mum Anina Moser fumes on TikTok over rent increase

An single mum driven to breaking point by a $180-a-fortnight rent rise has divided the internet.

Anina Moser, 29, lives in Melbourne and works part-time as a barista.

She shared her frustration on TikTok after she recently learned that her rent would be increasing to $860 a fortnight. 

'The rental market is completely f***ed,' an emotional Ms Moser told viewers as she fought back tears. 

'Genuinely, what the f*** am I paying for? It's a two-bedroom, one-bathroom house that is so small and actually falling apart.' 

The young mum said the rental property was much cheaper and in better condition when she first moved in two years ago. 

'I just got another rent increase. I'm so angry. It makes no sense, it doesn't make sense,' she said.

'When I first moved in during Covid this place was $680 a fortnight. Guess what it is now? $860 a fortnight is what I'm now going to be paying.'

Rent in Melbourne has experienced an average increase of $70 a week in the last year alone, according to the latest PropTrack data.

Ms Moser said originally thought the price was 'worth it', but now she thinks it 'doesn't seem fair'. 

'It's a very small two bedroom and is very old, terribly built, mould, etc.,' she told news.com.au.

Ms Moser said the rent had increased every year, which is frustrating. 

While those in the rental market empathised with her situation, many homeowners with mortgages had little sympathy. 

'My mortgage used to be $500 a week. It's now $1,000 a week. Welcome to the real world,' one homeowner wrote. 

Another added: 'My mortgage is now $1,100 a fortnight. My husband died, and I'm on a single income with two kids. I have to rent out downstairs.' 

A third wrote: 'Start saving from your first pay check, don't do the coffees, holidays, music events, and fancy clothes, and trust me, you will own your own home. I did it, and it is all mine.'

Others gave the young mum some advice. 

'Live in a shared home and save up for a house deposit and buy your own place. I did this and now I'm in the market to buy,' one wrote.

One homeowner added: 'That's okay! I pay $820 per week as mortgages have increased!'

Unsurprisingly, tenants were much more understanding.

'Currently paying $770-a-week for a three bedroom apartment covered in mould and falling apart. I feel you, girl,' one person wrote.

Another added: 'It's ridiculous, my landlord refuses to do any maintenance but keeps rising the rent.'

A third viewer wrote: 'I get it girl. Our roof collapsed in the floods last year, and the second they fixed it, they put the rent up $1,300 a week.'

Ms Moser said she has no money left over to save for a house, and she fears she'll be renting forever.

She's also worried that she may even be priced out of the market if the rent rises continue.

'I'm just not being able to save at all anymore when before all the rent increases, I managed to save money to put away for things like buying a house or emergencies,' she said. 

'I do have some savings left, but not much. I try every pay to put money into savings, but most weeks now, I have to take it back out.'