Rental cost in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane becoming more expensive trends now
Australians are being hit with unsustainable rent increases, with every capital city nationwide experiencing a decline in rental affordability, according to new data insight.
The annual Rental Affordability Index released this week revealed the low-income renters such as single parents, pensioners, and job seekers are most vulnerable and require more active and immediate support.
But it seems the rental crisis is impacting almost everyone applying for home.
Brisbane woman Laura said when she and her partner decided to move in together they never expected the stress of finding a rental to consume their every waking moment.
Despite the couple both earning a decent wage, Laura, who works in the travel industry, said she struggled since August to find somewhere to live.
A long line of would-be renters snakes down the side-path of a Sydney street waiting to see a $700 per week two-bedroom rental property in the eastern suburb of Clovelly
The rental crisis is impacting almost everyone applying for home (pictured, prospective renters tour a house)
'We looked at about 15 places and when we would go to apply for them, someone had already gotten it,' she said.
'(Agents) were telling us to apply for it before we even put a foot through the door.
'We were willing to go up tot $600 a week which hurts my soul to pay that on rent.'
The RAI found 30 per cent or more of a person´s income was generally spent on rent.
The report´s lead author Ellen Witte said this was extremely taxing for people on single income budgets, including single parents and pensioners.
'The situation is particularly bleak because in the past low income households if needed to could still move to the regions, but often far away from jobs so it´s not really a solution,' Ms Witte said.
The national rental vacancy rate is at a record low 0.9 per cent, according to recent Domain research. The housing shortage is being felt in every capital city and regional areas
'Vacancy rates for rental housing have dropped so sharply everywhere and is a key indicator for where prices go if they can see rates are low, they´re generally below 1 per cent.'
Ms Witte said rental stress effects many people´s day to day lives because they find themselves having insufficient funds to pay for other primary needs such as food, medicine, transport and heating.
YWCA Australia CEO Michelle Phillips said women are more likely dealing with rental stress.
'When you look at the research it´s exactly what it looks like, rents are rising faster than incomes around the country.
'More women are entering rental stress and can´t cover essentials like food and electricity.
In October a distressing photograph (above) appeared of a six-year-old boy who had been forced to sleep in a ute for months with his toys piled on his lap. Charlie's mother Mackay, from Perth, had previously couch-surfed with family for two years after leaving a bad relationship
'When you look at the research, it doesn´t have a gendered lens but they´re certainly over represented and also the most impacted because they´re mostly
