Renters Joanne, Barry and Lisa Roughead have lived in Inverloch for the past seven years.
While rents have increased incrementally over that time, the family members say when their current rental is sold by the owners in April, soaring rents mean they'll have to leave the town they call home.
"We can't afford to stay, and I feel we are being forced out due to the rents being so high." Said Joanne Roughead.
While the Rougheads agree it's the owner's right to sell the property, they say finding another home within their budget, is proving difficult.
"It's their total right to sell the property we are in, my argument actually is that we have nowhere to go." She said.
They put it down to the influx of cashed-up temporary workers at Wonthaggi's desalination plant.
Bass Coast Shire CEO Alan Bawden says housing affordability has been a growing problem, only made worse by construction of the desalination plant.
"What we are seeing is an ongoing increase in land and rental values that probably exceeds average wage increases." Said Alan Bawden, CEO Bass Coast Shire Council.
The Victorian Tenants Union says stories, like the Roughead family's, are being reported everyday. A union spokesperson described the the behaviour of some landlords and rental agents as ''shark-like'' with some reportedly resorting to intimidation to force up rental prices.
"Very. Very unfair. There's a lot of people being pushed out when they shouldn't be." Said Lisa Roughead.
A housing accord was signed earlier this year by the council and local estate agents, pledging to keep rents low.
A State Government spokesperson today said affordability is not a government issue.
http://www.wintv.com.au/gippsland/news/item/23524
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