But despite the efforts of tribunal member Heather Barker, the Dawe family were forced to vacate their home on Friday and spent the weekend living in their car.

Ms Barker told real estate agent Vanessa Parkin at a residential tenancy tribunal hearing in Dandenong a fortnight ago that she could have been more "proactive" in helping the tenant after her client told her three months ago that her circumstances had changed and could no longer afford to pay rent.

Ms Barker said she would take the "unusual" order to postpone the eviction until last Friday.

"Since April she's told you she needed a cheaper place and if a cheaper place was found, the landlord wouldn't have lost any rent, nor the client got behind. In some cases you've got to be proactive to help everyone.

"Up until March she paid her rent on time until her circumstances changed - so why couldn't you say to other agents she had been a good tenant and paid her rent until her circumstances changed?

"I can't get through to you agents that you should discuss the situation."

After the hearing, tenant Debbie Dawe continued her desperate search for accommodation.

Ms Dawe said her plight began when she had an accident and broke her wrist and was unable to work for 16 weeks. At the same time her rent increased from $280 to $320 a week.

"I fell behind in my rent and it's been hard to catch up. The agent won't recommend me because I was in arrears.

"So I'm caught up in this without a good reference when it's so difficult to rent a property - as it is I'm a single mum and a low-income earner. That is all going against me.

"'It's been too competitive for the very few places I can afford. There is nothing to rent under $250 a week.

"I now am facing being turfed on

the street with my kids."

Ms Dawe said after a long search she found shared accommodation, a room for $300 a week.

"It's still expensive and unsuitable for the three of us. We are now preparing to sleep in the car. No wants to help me, because I'm not homeless yet."