My first job after leaving school was to manage 34 blocks of flatettes in Sydney. What’s a flatette, you say? A flatette was a bedroom with basic furniture in a big, old home that provided accommodation to somebody typically on a one- to six-month basis, where the occupants would share kitchens and bathrooms at a reasonable rent.
Every Monday, I would make the rounds to collect rents, check in with superintendents and ensure everything was in order. These old homes were owned by investors who wanted to develop in the future but needed income until such time. Each bedroom had a lock, and the city health inspector would visit every six months to ensure sanitary conditions, etc. These properties were licensed by the city. A superintendent typically was another resident who would be responsible for basic cleaning of common areas, changing a light bulb or tap washer, and doing odd jobs in exchange for a free room.
Anyhow, these accommodations were very popular and got people off the street, put a roof over their heads, and provided somewhere clean and comfortable to rebuild their lives.
Flatettes were basic but worked. They were very popular back in the ’70s. When you think of Rehoboth/Lewes and surrounding areas, we have thousands of vacant bedrooms, particularly after the holiday season, that could easily accommodate our brothers and sisters in need.
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