97 Wilkinson Avenue, Birmingham Gardens NSW 2287

This place was freezing in winter. The house just didn’t hold heat, no matter what you did. The landlord was one of those tradie types who did the upkeep himself, and while it was just enough to get by, it never felt properly maintained. The bathroom looked alright at first, but the way the shower was designed meant water wouldn’t drain properly and it constantly led to mould on the floor. The kitchen hadn’t been touched since the 80s and felt every bit of it. They provided a washing machine, but it seemed to have a mind of its own, sometimes just refusing to run the load you’d put in. That wasn’t even the biggest issue though. The price was the main thing. Rent in this part of Newcastle near the uni is just outrageous. For what we were paying for three bedrooms, you could get a room in brand new student apartments with actual perks and a way better setup. The agency wasn’t the worst, but if you needed anything passed on to someone higher up, don’t bother going through the front desk staff. They’d just dismiss it. The bond took the full two weeks to come back and I had to chase it myself. They’d told me multiple times it was already submitted when it hadn’t been. If you’re looking for somewhere liveable without the inflated price, your best bet is to look at the newer apartments out in Waratah or North Lambton, still pricey, but way better value than this.