'Only need one': Property investors called out on social media after revealing how many homes they own amid housing crisis

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A video of property investors cruising on a boat on the Sydney Harbour revealing how many homes they own has sparked criticism from social media users. 

The clip posted by Scouting Australia Podcast has been viewed 22K times on TikTok.

The person behind the camera goes around speaking to the investors, who are all employees of Australian Property Scout, and asks each one the same question – how many properties they own.

“We only have two,” one man replies.

This is followed by a range of other responses, with others saying five, six, seven and 12 when it came to their turn.

Some didn’t say a specific number, with their responses being, “lots” and “double figures”.

The highest figure was from a man revealing he owns 16 properties, while a woman reveals she owns one.

The clip drew some positive responses, with one Instagram user labelling the investors “legends” and another saying, “smashing it guys!”.

Another said, “weapons”, which was accompanied by four house emojis.

However the clip has also attracted backlash with some users accusing them of contributing to the housing crisis.

One told them they “only need one” property, pointing out Australians are “wondering why we have housing crises”.

Sam Gordon, the owner of Australian Property Scout, replied, “Australia needs private rental properties less than 1 per cent is provided by the government?”

The user responded that most people “can’t even afford one property and small groups of people have multiple expensive properties which are rented out for very high prices”.

Mr Gordon hit back, “ok so what’s the solution? If every landlord in Australia sold out there would be no rental properties and where would you or I live?”

“The government made the decision in the eighties to go away from social housing and turned to private investors to provide this.”

A second commenter shared the same thoughts as the first, saying, “The whole reason Australia is in a rental crisis right now all on one boat.”

Another person added, “What is wrong with this f**king country?”.

“You make it so easy to hate you,” another user wrote, to which Mr Gordon replied, “haha the feeling is so mutual!!”

It comes as housing affordability in Australia has reached a record low as mortgage rates and high home prices drive buyers out of the market.

The latest PropTrack Housing Affordability Report in September revealed the typical household earning just over $112,000 a year could afford only 14 per cent of homes sold nationwide.

It marks a massive decline from 2020-21 when a typical household could afford 43 per cent of homes sold.