Social housing tenant takes refuge in car over squalid conditions
A woman placed into a Homes NSW apartment in Wollongong after fleeing domestic violence has been forced to sleep in a hire car for more than a week, claiming the property is uninhabitable due to squalid conditions and a major infestation of nesting birds.
Becky Andrews says she was overwhelmed with relief when offered the Wollongong unit in late November 2025 after being moved between temporary accommodations since August. However, her hope quickly turned to despair upon inspection.
"I actually started crying, thinking, yes, something's going right," Ms Andrews said. "It was very, very hard going in and out of these other properties."
Broken doors, sparks, and a flock of pigeons
Ms Andrews alleges the apartment complex was littered with rubbish, including used needles and household waste. She reported a broken garage door, a sliding door without a lock, and power points that sparked when switched on.
The most persistent issue, however, is a large flock of pigeons that have fully nested within the building's structure. "They've eaten tiles away, brickwork, plasterboard, and the unit has lice in it," Ms Andrews stated, citing this as a primary reason she cannot move in. She claims other tenants have previously complained about the birds without action from the housing authority.
Despite advice from a domestic violence case worker not to be "too fussy," Ms Andrews is standing her ground. "I'm not going to be made to feel subservient... or that I have to live in some kind of squalor, because that's just not right," she said.
Living under the office cameras while rent is deducted
For the past fortnight, Ms Andrews has been sleeping in a hire car parked outside the Homes NSW office in Coniston, with her father covering the cost while rent continues to be deducted from her payments.
In response, a Homes NSW spokesperson said the department had made "multiple attempts" to arrange a joint inspection with Ms Andrews to address the problems. "After multiple attempts, the tenant has finally agreed to meet Homes NSW at the property, and a joint inspection has been locked in at her earliest convenience," the spokesperson said.
The department asserted its commitment to providing safe, well-maintained homes and stated that "vacant restoration works, including pest control was completed in November" to ensure the property was habitable before being relet. They confirmed receiving two weeks of rent in advance and said reimbursement or other options would be discussed after the inspection.
The situation highlights ongoing challenges within the social housing system, particularly for vulnerable individuals seeking safe and secure accommodation.
