Cost of renting continues to rise in Australia
Tight rental markets in Australia’s capitals fuel further price increases, new data reveals
1 min
The cost of renting in Australia is continuing to climb according to new data released today.
PropTrack’s Market Insight report reveals a significant increase for all dwellings over the first quarter of 2023, up 2 percent to a median of $500 per week.
National figures reveal house rents have increased to a median of $530 per week while weekly rent on units now sits at $480. That represents a year-on-year increase of 10.4 percent for houses and 11.1 percent for units.
Unsurprisingly, renters in Australia’s capitals were hardest hit, up 4 percent on last quarter and 13 percent higher year on year. The ACT and regional South Australia were the only areas where rents remained steady over the past quarter.
The data follows on from yesterday’s announcement by the RBA not to increase interest rates, the first time it has decided to pause an increase in the cash rate since May 2022. Research released by the RBA last month in its Renters, Rent Inflation and Renter Stress report suggested there was little relief in sight for renters battling higher levels of rent inflation. While the rental market has traditionally been dominated by younger people, the RBA research found that that is no longer the case.
“Renting has always been more common among younger households; around half of all heads of renter households are between 25 and 44 years of age,” the RBA report said. “However, the share of older households renting has risen over time, and single older women are the fastest growing group in public housing.”
Author of the PropTrack report, senior economist Paul Ryan, said while regional growth has slowed following significant growth during COVID, conditions for renters remain ‘extremely tight’, particularly in capital cities. This is expected to continue to drive rents higher in the coming months.
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New detached-home sales fell 10% nationally in August, led by a 27% decline in Victoria, raising concerns about construction starts in 2027.
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Australia’s hoped-for recovery in housing construction is losing momentum before it has had time to close the national supply gap.
Sales of new detached homes fell 10 per cent nationally in August, according to the Housing Industry Association’s survey of major volume builders across the five largest mainland states. It was the fourth consecutive monthly decline.
The fall was broad rather than isolated. Victoria recorded the largest retreat, down 27 per cent, followed by Queensland at 20.2 per cent, New South Wales at 17.5 per cent, South Australia at 10.8 per cent and Western Australia at 8.2 per cent.
Across the three months to August, sales were 19.3 per cent below the preceding three-month period and 7.7 per cent lower than the equivalent period a year earlier.
New-home sales matter beyond the immediate fortunes of volume builders. They are an early indicator of future starts: buyers sign contracts, finance is finalised, approvals are secured and construction follows months later. A sustained sales decline during the middle of 2026 is therefore likely to weaken commencements during 2027.
The slowdown reflects the collision of several pressures. Households have absorbed multiple interest-rate rises, reducing borrowing capacity and increasing the repayment cost attached to a new build. Established-home prices have softened in some markets, weakening the relative appeal of waiting through a construction period. Builders continue to face elevated labour and material costs.
The Reserve Bank’s August analysis showed new-dwelling construction prices increased 1.8 per cent during the June quarter and 5.3 per cent over the year. It attributed part of the pressure to oil-derived building products and other conflict-related costs.
Policy uncertainty can also cause buyers and investors to defer large commitments. But the precise contribution of any single tax or regulatory change is difficult to isolate from rates, confidence, land prices and construction costs. The HIA survey should be read as an indicator from large builders rather than a complete count of every dwelling sale.
The figures complicate progress towards the Housing Accord target of 1.2 million homes. The National Housing Supply and Affordability Council reported 308,000 completions since the Accord began and 244,000 dwellings under construction in the March quarter. Approvals and commencements had improved, but falling sales risk undermining the next wave.
For developers and governments, the warning is that planning approvals alone do not create homes. Projects need finance, viable construction pricing and buyers able to settle. If one part fails, approved supply can remain on paper.
Data box
National August new-home sales: Down 10 per cent
Three months to August: Down 19.3 per cent from the preceding three months
Year-on-year three-month comparison: Down 7.7 per cent
Victoria: Down 27 per cent
Queensland: Down 20.2 per cent
New South Wales: Down 17.5 per cent
South Australia: Down 10.8 per cent
Western Australia: Down 8.2 per cent
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