Inside the extreme measures young renters are taking so they can continue living in some of Australia's most expensive suburbs - where a two bedroom unit is now $930 a week

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Young Australians and foreign visitors have revealed the extreme lengths they are taking to secure a roof over their heads in some of the nation's most expensive suburbs as the national rental crisis worsens. 

Some workers are living in a hostel to save money, others are sharing a bedroom with mates and others are bidding up to $100 extra just to secure a place to live.

As landlords hike up rents in capital cities - sometimes by as much as $600 a month - shocking pictures have emerged showing long lines of hopefuls queuing to view properties across the country. 

Sales assistant Elvira Brillantes shares a two-bedroom apartment in Sydney's exclusive beachside suburb of Bronte with cafe worker Alice Wendel and a third housemate for $930 a week.

 Elvira Brillantes (left) and Alice Wendel (right), both from Sweden are sharing a bedroom so they can live in the beachside suburb of Bronte

'We raised (the price of our rent) by $100 more and that's how we got it,' Ms Brillantes said.

The friends moved over from Sweden last year and rather than give up on the dream of living by the city's iconic coastline, they settled for sharing a bedroom.

Ms Brillantes doesn't think her landlord will raise the rent because they already paying over the asking price but is worried about having to go back into the rental market.

Freelance videographer James Mort has been forced to weigh up his options after he received an email from his landlord last week.

Bondi renter James Mort (pictured) has been told by his landlord his rent is going up by $600 a month. Picture: NCA Newswire

His apartment, in the exclusive Sydney suburb of Bondi, is going up by almost $600 a month.

'I was expecting it but that doesn't get rid of the sting,' Mr Mort said.

He said he finds it frustrating more and more people are being priced out of their suburbs.

'I think Bondi has always had a reputation of being quite expensive compared to the rest of Sydney, but also has families who have lived here long before it was gentrified.'

'It feels very unfair that year on year we have to pay more as renters but we don't see any increase in the quality of what we're getting and what we're paying for.' 

Tradies Fin Empson and Ollie Chan, both 19, have also been sharing a bedroom for $500 a week.

Tradies Ollie Chan and Fin Empson say the rental crisis is just as dire back home in the UK

The pair from Leeds in the UK have been living and working in Australia for several months.

They have decided to live in a hostel rather than try their luck in Sydney's rental market.

'I'd much prefer to have my own room in a house than sharing a bedroom with my mate, but I can't afford it,' Mr Empsom said.

The two tradies will return home in the middle of the year to start their university courses but say the situation is just as dire back home.

'It's much worse over there,' Mr Empson said. 'It's just as high and the wage is worse.'

Waitress Phoebe Colson, 19, spent a month applying before she finally secured a rental

 Cafe waitress Phoebe Colson, 19, has only been a renter for two days.

'I've been here about a month now and I've been doing numerous viewings a day and I've only recently, literally two days ago, found somewhere,' she said.

She's sharing a $400 a week, two-bedroom apartment in Mascot which she says is a 'bit higher' than she'd like but it's been such a 'struggle' to find a place.

She described nightmare scenes of waiting in lines that wrapped around inner-city blocks just to inspect a property, a major concern as she found her footing in a new city.

'Oh my gosh, they were awful,' she said.

'There would be hundreds of people waiting for the worst, tiny apartment ever.'

Walid Mikhael, 41, (pictured) doesn't have to worry about rent hikes as he's renting a property owned by his cousin

Tailor Walid Mikhael, 41, is a landlord and a renter.

He owned and lived in a property when he was younger but after the arrival of his twins his young family decided to move to a larger home.

'I'm in a unique situation in that I'm renting a place that's owned by my cousin, so in terms of rent, I'm not really feeling it,' he said.

'He's not charging me as much as he should be and in return, I'm not charging my tenants as much.'

Even though interest rates have gone through the roof, he said he is still able to manage it and avoid passing these costs onto his tenants.

When asked if he is worried about the future of the city his kids will grow up in he said: 'I am, I don't like the way things are going'.

University student Anand Masih, 25 has been living at home with his parents until he can save up for a home. 

University student Anand Masih says he'll live at home with his parents until he can buy a place

Sydneysiders have faced nightmare scenes of waiting in lines that wrapped around inner-city blocks just to inspect a single property (pictured, a queue at a recent rental inspection)

Like a number of people spoken to, he said he had never even considered renting in Australia.

'I will stay at home with my parents until I save up enough money to buy a home,' he said.

'I know it might take me a bit longer but I will get there eventually.'

Other 20-somethings in a similar boat said they had always known renting was off the cards for a number of reasons.

'It takes too long to save up to buy a place, if you're spending all your money on rent,' one person said.

A growing portion of the younger generation have never even considered the prospect of leaving home before 25, if anything to get some space and independence from their parents or simply to live closer to where they work.