Jordan van den Berg's vigilante-style approach has won him fans and critics amid a housing crisis.

Three years ago, lawyer Jordan van den Berg was an obscure TikTok creator who made videos that mocked real estate agents.

But today the 28-year-old is one of the most high-profile activists in Australia.

Posting under the moniker Purple Pingers, Mr van den Berg has been taking on the nation’s housing crisis by highlighting shocking renting conditions, poor behaviour from landlords, and what he calls government failures.

It is his vigilante-style approach - which includes helping people find vacant homes to squat in, and exposing bad rentals in a public database - that has won over a legion of fans.

Some have dubbed him the Robin Hood of renters.

  • andrewta@lemmy.worldEnglish
    14·
    7 months ago

    No if they are paying the person who holds the title to be in there, then there is no squatting. That is legal usage. The title holder gave permission for the user to be there for a given period of time. Big difference between renting and squatting

    • zalgotext@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      5·
      7 months ago

      But the inconvenience to you is the same, and that seems to be the thing you have a problem with.

      You’re taking issue with squatting, even though the effect on you is exactly the same as someone legally renting - ie, you can’t occupy that property. So what’s the big deal? How does a squatter steal from you, and a renter doesn’t? If the only difference is some legal definitions, maybe the two aren’t that different after all.

      • andrewta@lemmy.worldEnglish
        16·
        7 months ago

        If you haven’t figured it out by now I’d say that’s by choice not because you don’t understand.

        One is someone living there with permission (renter) one is there without permission(Squatting). Squatting is theft. Have a nice day. I’m out.