Shocking footage has emerged of the horrific conditions inside a boarding house that are so appalling vulnerable locals would rather sleep on the streets or in a tent.
Flint House is a privately-owned crisis boarding house in Hobart’s north where unhoused residents of all ages from the elderly to families with young children pay up to $450 a fortnight for a roof over their heads.
Alison Dunning had family members living there with children and was so disgusted by the conditions she filmed a walk-through of the facility now known as New Town Accommodation.
The three minute clip is every landlord’s worst nightmare with the premises covered in mould and graffiti while the living areas are strewn with rubbish, torn furniture, broken fixtures, general clutter and discarded belongings, including clothing and toys.
A tour of the ‘updated’ shared bathroom facilities shows broken toilets filled with faeces, filthy shower bays, overflowing sinks, cracked tiles and a used syringe lying on the floor with underwear and towels.
Families with children pay up to $450 a fortnight to live in these rooms at Flint House
The bedrooms are also in an inhabitable state with upended furniture and the floor covered with discarded possessions and garbage.
‘This is the situation children and adults have to live in,’ Ms Dunning begins as she enters the premises.
‘How are children, let alone adults meant to live in this situation! There’s a lot to show.’.
Ms Dunning is heard retching repeatedly within moments entering the building.
‘Oh my f*****g God, it stinks guys, it is really bad. I’ve never seen anyone in their right mind,’ she said
‘Okay, I’m getting out of there.’
A choice between living on the streets and Flint House was an easy one from Ms Dunning.
‘This is not suitable for any human being, in any way shape or form,’ she said.
‘I’ve never been so disgusted. I’ve been homeless and I’ll stay on the streets – don’t go to Flint House.’
The ‘upgraded’ shared bathroom facilities included broken and filthy toilets (pictured)
‘How is this good enough for children? No women or children or anything should live in this building.
Of a look of one bedroom, Ms Dunning said: ‘This is a room obviously vacant but I wouldn’t sleep in that, I’d sleep in a tent.’
She called on the authorities to intervene and claimed children under the care of the Child Safety Services were living there.
‘No one is safe here, the Tasmania government knows about this house and what goes down in flint house,’ she captioned the video.
‘We need something to be done about this so the homeless people can live in a clean safe environment.’
A syringe was found on the bathroom floor scattered with underwear and towels
The video posted to TikTok has since gone viral and sparked widespread outrage.
‘Oh my goodness! That’s disgusting!’ one woman posted.
Viewers were divided over whether the owners or residents was responsible.
‘This is so disgraceful and disgusting but if there are people that are living there they should try and clean it up the best that they can,’ one commented.
Another added: ‘If the residents cleaned up after themselves & respected the place, then the owners may be willing to repair & keep maintenance up on the place. But if it’s just going to continually get damaged, disrespected etc, then what’s the point!?’
Alison Dunning called on the Tasmanian government to intervene, even though the boarding house is privately owned (pictured are cracked tiles in the bathroom)
The privately owned boarding house is in the Hobart suburb of New Town in the city’s north
The divided comments prompted a reply from Ms Dunning.
‘I expect the people who pay too live in this place too have way better cleaner environment I expect the owners too able too be able too help them,’ she wrote.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted New Town Accommodation for comment.
The facility is described online as ‘crisis accommodation with individual rooms, free Wi-Fi, and continental breakfasts, with ‘upgraded’ shared bathroom facilities and access to an industrial kitchen and cooking areas.
A spokesperson for the Tasmania housing minister told The Mercury the government was unable to comment as the premises is privately owned.
Flint House was last sold three years ago for just under $1.115 million.
Around 30 residents had to be relocated to temporary alternate accommodation after the building was damaged by fire nine months ago.
Alison Dunning was horrified to discover the appalling condition family members with young children were living in Flint House. Pictured is one of the rooms