They\u2019re bombing tobacco shops in Melbourne.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s just an example \u2013 though hardly related \u2013 to just how mad it is for renters in this pressure-cooker nation.<\/p>\n
The PropTrack Rental Report for the December 2023 quarter is out and however well-written, I can report the reading of it is rather unpleasant.<\/p>\n
To save you Victorians the time, as you drive interstate for a safe vape \u2013 in short the last three months of 2023 on the Aussie rental market were a familiar story of maddeningly low supply and stonkingly strong demand.<\/p>\n
These kind of crap conditions made it even harder for renters to find a decent place and \u2013 more importantly \u2013 saw landlords start to really increase rents for anyone not locked in on a long-term contracts.<\/p>\n
From first-hand reports up here in Sydney \u2013 the gouging has well and truly begun and, according to PropTrack Director of Economic Research and report author, Cameron Kusher, rent hikes are a trend likely to continue through the new year.<\/p>\n
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Given the persistent low supply of rental stock and the significant demand for accommodation, there is a critical need for additional housing, particularly in the major capital cities.<\/p>\n
Ok, there\u2019s a solution Cameron says, and the best way to address insufficient supply is to build more homes.<\/p>\n
So, the Albo government has a goal to build 1.2 million new homes over the coming five years.<\/p>\n
But dwelling approvals and commencements are evaporating. Cam says both metrics are at decade lows and it\u2019s unlikely this will change substantially in the near-term.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, other solutions should encourage better use of current properties and further investment in the housing market, or dig up more support to get first-time buyers into homeownership, which would likely free up the rental stock they currently occupy.<\/p>\n
Either way \u2013 Cameron says it appears unlikely that there will be \u201cany significant relief from the tough rental market conditions in the major capital cities in the coming months.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe expect supply to remain tight and demand to stay strong, which is likely to push rents higher.\u201d<\/p>\n
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At the end of 2023, the median rent on realestate.com.au was recorded at $580 per week, an increase of 1.8% over the quarter and 11.5% over the year.<\/p>\n
In dollar terms, median advertised rents nationally increased by $60 per week.<\/p>\n
Rental growth was varied across Australia. It was much stronger in capital cities \u2013 particularly major capital cities \u2013 than it was in regional markets.<\/p>\n
For renters hoping to purchase a property, higher rents made it difficult to save a deposit, while higher interest rates make servicing a mortgage more expensive.<\/p>\n
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Let\u2019s not muck about, Australis. So here\u2019s the key takeouts from the last quarter:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Rental stock is at historic low levels while population growth is driving strong demand, exacerbating tough conditions for renters.<\/p>\n New rental listings on realestate.com.au in December were 4.6% lower than a year ago, and 20.7% lower than the ten-year average for the month.<\/p>\n Total rental listings were at a record low, falling 4.7% annually to sit 30.2% below the December decade average.<\/p>\n Demand based on the number of enquiries per rental listing on realestate.com.au remained at elevated levels after climbing 3.3% over the year.<\/p>\n Limited supply and high demand saw rental prices skyrocket in 2023, with the median advertised rent on realestate.com.au rising 11.5% over the year to sit at $580 per week.<\/p>\n However, 2023 saw a slower rate of rental price growth than the 15.6% increase in 2022.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n\n In December 2023, new rental listings reached a historic low and were 4.6% below the previous year.<\/p>\n The number of new rental listings in December 2023 was 20.7% lower than the 10-year average for the month. On that, Kusher says while he expects rents to continue to rise this year, it\u2019s likely the rate of growth will slow.<\/p>\n \u201cThe already higher cost of renting and overall increase in the cost of living will limit rent price increases moving forward.<\/p>\n \u201cFor renters hoping to purchase a property, higher rents are making it difficult to save a deposit, while higher interest rates will make servicing a mortgage more expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n PropTrack concludes that nationally, investors are still exiting the market.<\/p>\n \u201cThere has been a rebound in new investor lending this year but it is not enough to sufficiently improve stock levels,\u201d Cameron adds.<\/p>\n The national rental vacancy rate remained near record lows at 1.1% and was lower than the 1.3% recorded in December 2022.<\/p>\n Across the combined capital cities, annual rental growth slowed from 17.8% in 2022 to 13.2% in 2023. In regional markets, it slowed from 11.6% to 4.2%.<\/p>\n The number of days a rental property is listed on realestate.com.au remains at historically low levels, reflecting tightness in the rental market.<\/p>\n The median days on site nationally in December 2023 was 19 days.<\/p>\n \u201cWith total rental listing volumes at historic lows and well below their decade average, rental conditions are likely to remain challenged, Cameron says.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a critical need for additional housing, particularly in the major capital cities. Serious consideration needs to be given to the financing of these projects and the capacity to build the volume of housing we need.\u201d<\/p>\n The key metrics for the report include rental prices, rental yields, new rental listings, total rental listings, rental vacancy, rental days on site and enquiry per listing.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The post Rent! Nothing musical about this performance as new Aussie property listings hit record low<\/a> appeared first on Stockhead<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\n\u00a0<\/p>\nOut the back door<\/h2>\n