In December 2023, Perth nurse and single mother Jakki Brooking said the weekly rent on the home she had lived in for six years was due to rise from $300 to $630 after the property was sold. Her lease was expected to end on 1 January 2024, and contemporary reports said she had been unable to secure another rental. The reports described her fear of homelessness at the time; they do not establish what happened to her afterward.
What happened to Jakki Brooking’s rent?
PerthNow reported on 24 December 2023 that Brooking, then 28, was a registered nurse and single mother who had rented the Perth home for six years. After the house was sold to new owners, she said the rent would increase from $300 to $630 a week. “So they decided to increase the rent from $300 to $630 weekly,” she said in a video quoted by PerthNow. The report said her lease was due to end on 1 January 2024 and that she had applied for other rentals without success. PerthNow’s report
PerthNow described her search as complicated by the need to find a place for her son and pets, as well as storage for the family’s belongings. Its account is attributed reporting, not an independently verified tenancy record.
What did contemporary coverage say about her immediate plans?
In a follow-up published on 26 December 2023, 7NEWS described the home as a three-bedroom rental and reported that Brooking expected to stay temporarily in a friend’s spare room. It said her son was 11, described the proposed rent as unaffordable to her, and reported that she worked part-time as a nurse for nine days per fortnight. This follow-up also dates from 2023; the reviewed reports do not confirm her later housing circumstances. 7NEWS coverage
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What can renters in Western Australia check about a rent increase?
WA Consumer Protection says the rules depend on the tenancy agreement. Its guidance requires at least 60 days’ notice for a rent increase. For a periodic agreement, increases may be made no more than once every 12 months. A fixed-term agreement must specify the increase amount or how it will be calculated. A tenant may challenge an increase in court. WA Consumer Protection’s rent increase guidance
Those rules do not establish whether the proposed 2023 increase in Brooking’s case complied. For an individual tenancy, check the agreement, the form and timing of notice, and the rules applicable to that situation; the news reports alone do not supply enough information to reach a legal conclusion.
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What should tenants know if a lease is ending?
WA’s tenancy-ending guidance explains that the process and notice period vary according to whether the agreement is fixed-term or periodic and the reason the tenancy is ending. A landlord must not force a tenant out or change the locks without a court order. A lease end date by itself should not be taken to mean a landlord may physically evict a tenant without following the legal process. Read the WA tenancy-ending guidance for the relevant circumstances.
What rent-relief help may be available in WA?
The WA Rent Relief Program, whose official page was last updated on 4 May 2026, describes a one-off payment of up to $5,000 per household for eligible tenants at risk of termination because of rent arrears. The program page says the scheme was extended to 30 June 2027. It is conditional assistance for eligible arrears-related cases, not a general payment for every rent increase. WA Rent Relief Program details
The page directs tenants who are not already connected with financial counselling or housing support to enquire through the Emergency Relief Food Access Service on 1800 979 777, weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., option 3. Eligibility, funding and contact details can change, so check the official page before relying on them. Program enquiry information
How does NRAS fit into the broader housing context?
A WA Legislative Council answer dated 19 March 2026 stated that the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) would formally conclude on 30 June 2026, after which remaining incentives and obligations would cease. The answer encouraged tenants to consider available services and a housing options assessment. It does not establish whether Brooking’s property was part of NRAS or explain the legal consequences for any particular tenancy. WA Legislative Council answer
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What practical factors matter when comparing a move?
For a household facing a move, the rent alone does not show the full cost or suitability of an option. Brooking’s reported need to accommodate a child, pets and stored belongings illustrates why those constraints can matter. A useful comparison includes:
- Total weekly cost, including any regular expenses attached to the accommodation.
- Location and access to work, school and essential services.
- Whether children and pets can be accommodated.
- Lease duration and the upfront bond and moving costs.
- Whether belongings can be stored safely and affordably.
The 2023 reports do not evaluate particular housing alternatives or establish that any specific option would have worked for her.
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