
New Rental Affordability Index shows dire picture for Australian households
Australia’s first ever Rental Affordability Index reveals the depth and extremity of housing stress faced by renters in the current market. Both low income and moderate income households suffer poverty due to high rental costs.
Housing stress occurs when households pay 30% of income or more on rent. Low income households are required to pay around 65% of income on rent to access a tenancy. This means that rents are extremely unaffordable.
The Rental Affordability Index has been created by National Shelter, Community Sector Banking and SGS Economics & Planning. It will be released on a quarterly basis.
Low income households – according to the report – are in a dire situation, single income households are the worst off and rent costs are now locking low and moderate income households out of inner cities. The report gives a blow by blow account of rental affordability in Australia’s major cities.