Rental Affordability Index November 2025
The annual Rental Affordability Index (RAI) report is an easy-to-understand indicator of rental affordability relative to household incomes. Since its establishment in 2015, it has become a crucial tool for policymakers. It helps track rental affordability trends and informs evidence-based policy decisions – highlighting nuances between places and the experiences of disadvantaged households.
Background
Studies of housing affordability in Australia have focused primarily on purchase affordability (e.g. housing affordability index) and measuring housing stress at different points in time for different household types. However, a gap existed in tracking rental affordability over time across Australia.
The RAI fills this gap, providing insights into how rental affordability impacts different places and household types. Its basis is customised data and analysis revealing affordability trends in the rental market, with a particular focus on low-income households. Rental affordability concerns a growing and already large proportion of Australians as households increasingly face constraints in purchasing their first house. Renting households on average have lower-incomes, and therefore affordability issues affect renting households more than homeowners.
To view the interactive map, visit SGS Economics official website here: Rental Affordability Index | SGS Economics & Planning
