The First Home That Wasn’t Home

The Tide was supposed to make the landing easier.

Room 202 was $625 a week and the lease ran from 5 June to 4 September. It was furnished, near the coast, included utilities and gave me somewhere to start while I worked out what permanent life in Perth might look like.

Within the first week, however, I was already raising concerns.

There was evidence of historical water damage around the entry and a musty smell I could not seem to get rid of. I opened the window and burned scented candles when I was home, but the smell remained.

Keeping the window open created another problem. Room 202 sat beside West Coast Highway, and the traffic and late-night noise made sleep difficult.

On 13 June, barely a week after moving in, I emailed the property manager and asked about my options. Could I move rooms? Could I source alternative accommodation? Could I leave without being penalised?

I was not there on holiday. I had moved to Perth to lead a major basketball association, and I wanted to walk into work each morning sharp, focused and ready.

Over the following weeks I raised further concerns about the room and common areas, including carpet staining, the condition of washing-machine seals, a pothole near my allocated car space and the air-conditioning unit.

Management disputed my belief that the water-stained area represented mould and later advised that a contractor had found no evidence of mould. They also offered another room and maintained that I remained liable for rent until a replacement tenant could be found.

That distinction matters. I can say what I saw, what concerned me and how I felt while living there. I cannot say as fact that the room caused me to become unwell.

Some of the issues I raised were subsequently addressed. The pothole was repaired, cleaners were reminded about the washing machines, the air-conditioning was to be investigated and the carpet was being considered for replacement.

But by then I had lost confidence in the accommodation. I offered to surrender my bond in an effort to resolve the matter and eventually left.

The Tide was a false start.

When I was later approved for Adelaide Terrace, East Perth at $635 a week, I signed a twelve-month lease, paid the bond and rent, organised internet and started dealing with the ordinary frustrations of making an apartment home.

That was different.

I had decided to live in Perth.

That is why handing those keys back tomorrow means something. The first place had been temporary. Adelaide Terrace was supposed to be home.