Local: Kensington offers speed dating for housemates in bid to tackle roommate horror stories, rental crisis

Comfy atmosphere, city views – forget finding the perfect partner, finding the perfect roommate is on offer at this tenants-only Melbourne development.

Tenants desperate to escape Melbourne’s rental crisis are being offered an unexpected solution: speed dating for housemates.

In a city where one corporate landlord has already offered to waive lease-breaking fees for tenants who decide to shack up with their neighbour, a new build-to-rent operator is planing events to get like-minded tenants partnered up.

With the housing crisis and rising rents driving a growing number of Victorians to seek out flatmates, the novel idea of a speed dating-style event was drummed up for the new tenants-only Local: Kensington complex.

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People looking for the perfect person to share their life with, romance not included, will be given the chance to connect with a group of like-minded individuals in June.

Developer Local’s marketing general manager Megan Hondromatidis said after an initial online registration, matchmakers would group people with similar interests and needs for scheduled events where they tour the building — then move on to dinner and drinks.

“It will be helping to break the ice, so it’s not all just people having awkward conversations,” Ms Hondromatidis said.

“And we will have targeted questions to help them get to know each other.

“Ultimately, we are trying to provide the best experience possible. And hopefully we can mitigate the rental pain points.”

Communal spaces include areas to cook with friends and neighbours.

An example of one of the complex’s apartments.

Topics at the events dubbed “Housemate Huddles” are expected to include: how pet friendly you are, whether you’re a night or morning person, how you like your home furnished and what your typical day looks like.

The goal is to then find someone else to compliment your lifestyle, and minimise the risk of a messy break-up as you fight over custody of the apartment and the Netflix account because one of you gets up at 5am and the other hasn’t seen the sun rise in seven years.

Ms Hondromatidis said while it would be interesting to see who would attend, they were expecting new arrivals to Melbourne, those looking to move out of their parents’ home and others wanting to try sharehousing out for the first time.

Specialty women-only nights and queer-friendly events will also be a part of the schedule.

Ms Hondromatidis added that with the completion of new build-to-rent projects creating short-term waves of new apartments for the rental market, Melbourne was now primed for more similar events.

Communal spaces have been designed to encourage residents to catch up together.

The 477-apartment complex is the first build-to-rent complex by developer Local, but they have additional sites on their way around Melbourne — and are aiming to have some launched, most likely with similar events for tenants, interstate in the next year or two.

“I don’t think house sharing is going anywhere, so I think we will start here and see where we go,” Ms Hondromatidis said.

The building’s two-bedroom apartments starting from $822 a week and three-bedroom offerings from $1258 a week.

Amenities around the building include a cinema, fitness studio, working hub and residents’ lounge with its own kitchen.

Apartments are furnished with kitchen and laundry appliances, as well as split-system heating and cooling.

The build-to-rent complex is very pet friendly, encourages residents to paint walls and live there long term.

When you speed date for a flat mate, you get to keep your bedroom all to yourself.

Events will be held at the 348 Macaulay Rd, Kensington, building on June 17, 18 and 24.

Earlier this year, build-to-rent developer Greystar announced an offer to allow tenants who found a romantic partner or their ideal flatmate among their neighbours to make their relationship official and move in together — without a lease break fee.

Considered a novel solution to Melbourne’s rental crisis, build-to-rent development is defined as a corporate group that creates a new building with the intent of offering it as a long-term rental site.

The system is common in other nations, particularly the United States of America.

It has had significant backing as part of Victoria’s housing solution from both state and federal governments, but remains a small fraction of Melbourne’s rental supply.

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