r/Eugene • u/Julesthewriter • Dec 01 '23
Is renting impossible?
Going through some renting struggles, wondering who can relate.
I already live here. I moved two years ago into a two bedroom for $1095 with two other adults who since moved out. The rent has since gone up to $1270, and I’ve managed to barely afford it on my own.
I now have two more adults I’m trying to get a place with. We found a spot in Eugene for $1370 (according to Zillow there’s 24 spots in Eugene Springfield right now for that amount or lower. Some of those “affordable spots” you have to contact the complex to find out what the rent is - probably not $1370.)
The company denied us, because we each individually need to qualify for the two bedroom apartment. I thought that was the point of applying with other people, to add up the incomes to make enough to pay rent.
Despite all three of us being adults (25+) with full time employment significantly above minimum wage, none of us qualify. Because of the rent increase, I no longer qualify for the apartment in which I currently reside.
Two of us don’t make enough, and they say the third doesn’t have enough rental history despite being a reliable tenant in the same unit for 8 years, despite making over $30 an hour.
At $1370, you need to work full time at $26 an hour to afford a place. Minimum wage is $14.20. If rent were to be affordable at minimum wage it shouldn’t exceed $760, yet there’s only two rental units on Zillow that much or cheaper in the entire Springfield Eugene area.
So are we just f*****? Is it just impossible to live and work in Eugene unless you want to move to the train tracks?
4
u/Global_Fig1310 Dec 02 '23
When myself and 2 friends moved down almost two years ago it took over a month to find a 3bd 1bath with a decent price $1656. But there’s no insulation, heat/ac, and literal rats living in the roof and walls. When it freezes the condensation in our house also freezes. We had to fight for this place, there was over 30 other applicants but thankfully we were the first so we lucked out there. We haven’t been able to find any other living situation we could afford so we’ve been stuck here. It’s finally gotten to the point where we all have to move back home. Sometimes it makes me sick to my stomach to see all these brand new apartments being built and knowing only the rich can afford them.