Build to rent? The Melbourne apartments where a third of tenants are being kicked out or getting rent hikes

The homes at 221 Kerr Street in Fitzroy were pitched as a build-to-rent development ‘setting a new standard for apartments in the suburb’. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian

When tenants moved into 43 brand new apartments at a building in Melbourne’s inner north 12 months ago, some thought they would be there for years. The apartments at 221 Kerr Street, Fitzroy, were marketed as setting “a new standard for apartments in the suburb”. There was a competitive application process, with some prospective tenants asked to send in biographies explaining why they should live there.

A year later, some residents claim about one-third of the building has received either notices to vacate or rent increases. Of the 43 apartments, a group of residents claim the tenants of seven apartments have received notices to vacate and eight have received rent increases of between 9% and 17%.