Australian-first affordable rental scheme a ‘massive relief’ for Victorians faced with housing crisis

Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Miranda Templeman with dachshund Charlie at her Kensington apartment, which is part of Victoria’s affordable housing scheme. Photograph: Penny Stephens/The Guardian

After five months spent searching for a Melbourne rental, Miranda Templeman stumbled upon an online listing she thought was too good to be true. There was a whole block of brand new apartments in the inner-city suburb of Kensington, each offering three-year leases that were much cheaper than other properties in the area.

“I honestly wasn’t sure if it was a scam or not,” she said. “But we figured we had nothing to lose and we put ourselves down for as many spots as we could. When we got the call that we had been selected for one it was a massive relief.”