A Peel couple have been left homeless and forced to sleep in their car after water damage and a tree through their roof has left their rental property unlivable.
Wendy Basell and her husband Paul have been renting a property just east of Pinjarra since April 2020.
But due to the house being deemed uninhabitable by the Shire of Murray, they found themselves staying in temporary accommodation at the Pinjarra Caravan Park.
"All the trouble started with one drip in the back room," Mrs Basell said. "It's not a drip anymore, it's a waterfall. There's water running into power points. How I didn't get electrocuted I don't know. There were parts of the house we couldn't use because it was dangerous."
But the water leak wasn't the end of the couple's problems. On June 18 a tree was felled during maintenance work at the property and it hit the roof leaving substantial damage. By this point Mrs Basell, who was dealing with the situation by herself as her husband had flown out for work, was at her wit's end.
"I rang the [Shire of Murray] health department and they sent an inspector out. He put a notice on the door saying it's unfit for habitation."
The couple spent two nights at a motel and were then forced to move to the Pinjarra Caravan Park, but as of June 29 they will be sleeping in their car as their money has run out.
Mr Basell, who works FIFO, had just left for a two-week swing when the tree came down on their house and he rushed back after two days as he had to try and sort out their housing situation.
The couple say they have been left in a bad financial situation, having to spend so much money on temporary accommodation.
"We never, ever ask for help from anybody, but we're in dire straights right now. I've never seen my husband cry before, but he broke down yesterday in tears," Mrs Basell said, close to tears herself. "I don't know what to do. I have no money left."
Mr and Mrs Basell said they have good rental references, however, amid the current rental crisis, finding an another home was proving difficult.
"We've been trying for so many houses but there's nothing. We applied for a house in Pinjarra a few days ago and were rejected, but they didn't even ring our references. From tomorrow night we're going to be sleeping in our car," Mrs Basell said.
The couple also have two pets who have had to be re-homed with Mr Basell's daughter who is allergic to them, but they had been left with no other option.
Agencies such as WestAus Crisis and Welfare Services and Peel Passages Resource Centre offer assistance for people experiencing homelessness.
For crisis support call Lifeline 13 13 14.
