| 2) Finding Your Building | |
Finding an empty building is generally pretty easy. Sydney is full of empties ranging from totally destroyed shells to perfectly livable places that have nothing wrong with them. The best way to find a building is to simply walk around the streets and look for the signs.
Is there mail overflowing from the letterbox? An overgrown garden ? Broken and/or boarded-up windows and doors ? Is the power off ? [check at the electricity meter].
If unsure, you might want to ask a postie, a local shop owner or a neighbour if anyone is living in or using a place that you think is empty. It may help if you make out that you're looking to rent the place [or acquire it for use by a housing co-op, or research it as part of an 'architecture' or 'geography' project on housing or something - be inventive and plausible.
Being honest the neighbours and local residents about your intentions may be just as successful. If you decide to be honest, explain your case to them. Give them some figures on how many people are homeless and/or on the waiting list for public housing and unable to find affordable housing in the private rental market. Tell them how you came to be in the situation you're in.
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 Who
Owns It? |
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