Illegal Boarding Houses !

We are well aware of a housing scam that targets both overseas students and those from country areas who are seeking qualifications from our universities.  Very ordinary homes and apartments are fitted out with false walls to create many cubicles containing just a bed and these are let at astronomical prices.  Councils are alarmed that there is a high fire danger when many people are crammed into limited spaces with no clear line of exit and most of these illegal  boarding houses simply refuse access to council inspectors.

Usually councils are tipped off by neighbours concerned at the high traffic flow in and out of such dwellings and the proliferation of cars swamping kerbside parking in adjacent streets, but the council needs proof to take the matter to court and these illegal tenants are sworn to silence.

Now what was seen as a city problem has reappeared in the town of Tamworth in country New South Wales.   The areas biggest employer is a meat processing factory that processes lamb and mutton for supermarket chains Woolworths, Coles and Aldi and fast food franchise McDonalds.

Its workforce seems mainly drawn from recently arrived migrants, despite the New England region having a  19.6% youth unemployment rate, and it seems that it is former migrants who have achieved home ownership who are now providing these illegal boarding houses and enriching themselves by providing sub standard accommodation.

The council has been successful in closing down one illegal boarding house but has another eight under scrutiny.  Its inspectors are facing a very effective " wall of silence ".  Approached tenants refuse to comment and the direct approach to such dwellings usually results in a door knock going unanswered.  It is proving almost impossible to gather the evidence necessary to pursue the matter in court.

It is also apparent that the main origin of this Tamworth work force is migrants from either Taiwan or Korea and that the proprietors of this illegal accommodation have a similar background.  New employees of the meat factory who arrive without trade skills start at the entrance rate of  $ 17.58 an hour which is part of an agreement signed in September 2015.

It is expected that they will progress to higher remuneration levels as their skills increase but many feel trapped when their accommodation needs dilutes their income and many leave after just six months.  The problem is that should the council succeed in closing these  illegal boarding houses there is no apparent alternative readily available.

It seems that the onus is now changing and the owners of property are given just thirty days to provide proof that their property is not being used for an illegal purpose.   There is an expectation that this may bring a work force disruption in the area and obviously no one wants the economics of the town to be damaged.

It seems that these job opportunities are not attractive to the areas unemployed young people and the meat processor is a valuable starting point for many migrants to be absorbed into the Australian life style.  Now we need to solve the accommodation problem !