I agree with you but to lower rent we need to lower property taxes and the cost of Homeowners insurance

What about you leveling up your conditions: find a better job with a higher compensation so you can pay the rent.

Here is a thought buy your own place.

1 bedroom apartments need to be 1 weeks minimum wage for their area.

Life shouldn’t be this high…like literally how are people affording it right now?!

Supply & demand!

Yes, Holy shit! The Apartment I left in California was about $2,700 a month! No Utilities other than Trash were included. When I argued with the Landlord and got Evicted it was back in 2023 and it already costs about $1,975 a month. 850 sq Ft Studio Flat! This is why I prefer Vrbos and living in Hotels. At least you could save a lot of money on Utilities and House cleaners which some Hotels have Houskeeping as well as Wifi and everything else!

All cost of living needs to drop, it’s insane

I'm sorry to hear it's high for some. I paid $900 for rent + roughly $200 for BGE/monthly & $150 for water / 3 months. Other than that, I save my money, don't overspend, have 3 apps myself (2 others from friends), used blankets & space heater in winter & oscillating fans in summer (unit ability for window A/C.) Older building, however comms w/ landlord allows for upgrades at no addtl cost to renter (me.) 2bdrm, 1.5 bath, full basement & kitchen. Not Paradise, but it'll do.

It's greed, plain and simple. I've had a 30% increase in just over a year and they refused to do maintenance. Housing is a human right, well, except it seems in Australia where the power imbalance between the owner and tenant is the difference between not eating, or living on the street