The median weekly rent across Western Australia has increased by more than 100 per cent over the past five years, a new report warns, from $339 in 2021 to $716.
The report If the Cap Fits, from the WA Make Renting Fair Alliance, has found renters across the state are paying on average $20,000 more per year as a result.
Renters are paying thousands more each year. Credit: Getty/WAtoday
Advocates from various housing groups have now called for urgent intervention from the state government to resolve the crisis, including caps on rent increases, longer notice periods for increases, and an end to no grounds evictions.
They are also calling for the onus to be on landlords, to prove why higher rent increases are justified, rather than tenants having to prove they are excessive.
“We are also calling for the WA government to commit to continue the WA Rent Relief Program for at least two years from its current 30 June 2026 end date, to provide rent relief for vulnerable WA renters until these legislative changes can be enacted,” the report reads.
Make Renting Fair WA spokeswoman Alice Pennycott said suburbs that were once considered affordable had all but disappeared.
“Rent increases in WA have been relentless over the past five years, and there are no signs of the pressure easing,” she said.
“This data shows a system that is failing renters, pushing more and more people into poverty and homelessness.
“Low and medium-income renters aren’t just priced out of certain suburbs any more, they’re priced out of the entire state.
“This isn’t a problem the state government can build its way out of – supply is important, but WA renters need protection now, not in 10 years’ time.”
Shelter WA chief executive Kath Snell said many renters were making difficult trade-offs, skimping on essentials or uprooting their lives by moving back with family or leaving their communities because they had been priced out.
“Some people are having to go without medications, or basic food for all their family, in order to pay rent. We should not be seeing this in a state like WA,” she said.
Anglicare WA chief executive Mark Glasson said it was teachers, nurses and childcare workers who could not afford to rent in the communities they served.
Part of the problem is the vacancy rate which is currently sitting at 0.7 per cent.
A vacancy rate of between 2.5 and 3.5 per cent is considered a healthy rental market.
The news comes after this masthead reported on the National Shelter Economics and Planning Rental Affordability Index, which found that Perth had retained its position as Australia’s most unaffordable capital city for renters for the second year running.
The city climbed to the top of the list after once being listed as the country’s most affordable.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
