• Rentlar@lemmy.ca
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    10 months ago

    what the fuck! paying over 30% of your income as rent, also paying some random person a hefty chunk of your salary, and a host of other incidental fees is normal in the US?

    Vancouver BC has a big problem with rent and housing, but I didn’t pay a broker and only half a months rent deposit, though 1 month is typical.

      • otp@sh.itjust.works
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        10 months ago

        Where I live, that’s only possible for the old and/or the privileged.

        The median household income here would just barely meet the 30% threshold…and that’s household income, which could be 2, 3, 4 or more adults.

        It would take 3 people making minimum wage to be able to afford to rent an apartment by that metric. Though they might be able to get a 3-bedroom. Not that a studio is much cheaper. And they’d be in trouble if they ever have to take any sick days off.

        In fact, it takes 3 people making minimum wage to be able to afford a studio apartment here too. 2 wouldn’t be able to cut it (again, using the 30% of pre-tax income metric).

        We have rent controls in place, so there are probably still people who are paying just 3 digits per month of rent (CAD). But if you want rent under $1000/mo (about what one person making minimum wage and using 30% of pre-tax income would make), you’d be looking at a single bedroom in a shared home. And you’d still have to do some searching.