Only one rental market in Queensland is classed as healthy, according to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland's September quarter vacancy report. The Bay Islands, near Redland, recorded a vacancy rate of 3.5 per cent. Forty-eight of the 50 regions tracked remain tight, with vacancy rates of 2.5 per cent or below. Thirty-four regions recorded rates of 1 per cent or less. Antonia Mercorella, the institute's chief executive, said the shortage was changing how Queenslanders live, with more multigenerational households forming and more friends sharing homes to split costs.
A South Australian parliamentary inquiry has heard that some real estate agents use computer programs to screen rental applications before tenants can inspect a property. Flinders University associate professor Selina Tually told the inquiry the programs assess income, family circumstances and cultural background. Some applicants have reportedly been asked whether they identify as Aboriginal or have children. Inquiry chair and Greens MP Robert Simms said the practice was deeply concerning. The inquiry will also examine underquoting, rent bidding and building fault disclosure. The Real Estate Institute of SA said it supports evidence-based scrutiny of the sector.
House prices in Victoria's regions rose 6.7 per cent over the past year, even as the Melbourne market slowed after interest rate rises. Glenelg recorded the biggest jump, with prices climbing more than a quarter in 12 months. Agents in Portland and Ararat say interstate investors are driving demand, while limited listings push prices up. Mansfield was one of the few areas where the median house price fell, dropping by more than $75,000 in the September quarter. Experts say regional areas are attracting buyers through relative affordability and more job options.
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Housing advocates want annual rent increases capped across Western Australia. The Make Renting Fair Alliance released a report arguing Perth tenants could save almost $33,000 over five years under a 2 per cent cap. A Broome financial counsellor said her rent rose from $480 to $740 a week since 2021, before her lease ended and the only suitable unit was offered at $1,000 a week. The state government has ruled out rent caps, citing concerns they could reduce investment and supply. It plans to introduce further rental reforms to parliament this year.
Sydney renter Peter Temby, 78, says he has sometimes gone without meals to afford rent in Glenhaven. He says his weekly rent has risen from $270 in 2011 to $400, and he claims the home has mould and little sunlight. A new Everybody's Home report found that over 60 per cent of surveyed NSW households spend more than 30 per cent of their income on housing. Many respondents also reported skipping meals, cutting energy use and avoiding doctor visits.
A Queensland man who has been living in his car for three months has criticised a tiny home listed for $480 a week in a suburban driveway north of Brisbane. Jadon, who posted about the listing on TikTok, said he began sleeping in his car after a $200-a-week rent rise. The listing, which includes a $1920 bond, is set to be available from October 30. A recent REA Rental Report found the national median advertised rent reached $675 a week in September, up 5.5 per cent over the year, though growth had slowed.
Melbourne's median advertised rent has reached a record $600 a week, according to REA Group. A new Everybody's Home survey found 43 per cent of Victorian respondents would have to cut essentials or could not afford a $20 weekly rise. Renters already report skipping meals, heating, medical appointments and medication. Housing advocate Maiy Azize has called for limits on Victorian rent increases. Ray White's Luke Banitsiotis warned tighter limits could push landlords to sell, reducing rental options.
Extended families and friends are teaming up to apply for rental properties as tight supply pushes prices higher. Brisbane real estate agent Avi Khan says multigenerational families and friendship groups now make up one in five rental applications to his agency. Perth renter Grady Toomath shares a home with his brother and another housemate, with rent rising from $315 to $715 a week since 2019. Property economist Lyndall Bryant says renters have been overlooked by recent housing policy, while the national rental vacancy rate sat at 1 per cent in the September quarter.
Melbourne rents were unchanged in the September quarter, with the median asking rent for houses and units at $600 a week. Domain's September 2026 Rental Report found no quarterly growth in either category, though rents still rose over the year. Economists say tenants' ability to pay is now limiting further increases. Melbourne's vacancy rate stayed at 1.4 per cent. Some renters are moving to cheaper areas, sharing homes or staying with family for longer. Victorian rules allow most rent increases only once every 12 months.
Asking rents for houses in regional New South Wales have risen over the past year, led by smaller towns, according to Domain data. The median weekly rent reached $640 in the September quarter, up 4.9 per cent. Berrigan recorded the steepest rise at 18.5 per cent, followed by Bellingen at 18.2 per cent. Experts say tenants priced out of nearby areas are moving further afield, while new workers and limited housing supply add pressure. Local agents report strong demand and few available rentals.
Sydney investor Kaisser Khater, 38, has bought three houses in regional New South Wales for $340,000 over the past six months. He paid cash for homes in Moree, Cobar and Bourke, which were found off-market through buyers agency Charlies Properties. Local tradespeople are renovating the properties before they are rented out long term. Khater said Sydney no longer made sense for investors because of high interest rates, negative gearing and changes to capital gains tax. He also raised concerns that recent tax changes could make it harder for ordinary Australians to build retirement investment portfolios.
Darwin rents have risen almost 14 per cent over the past year, the strongest rent price growth in the country. The latest realestate.com.au Rental Report shows the median weekly rent reached a record $740 in September. Darwin renters are now paying an extra $4680 a year compared with September 2025. Darwin's vacancy rate also rose the most of any market, climbing 0.6 percentage points to 1.5 per cent in the September quarter.
Victoria's Greens have called for landlords to need a licence to rent out homes, with a three-strike system leading to bans. The party says the policy would tackle dodgy landlords and make rentals more affordable. The same day, new state rental reforms took effect, including a requirement for landlords to warn renters before claiming on bonds. Industry groups warned the Greens' proposal could drive investors out of Victoria and reduce rental supply.
Investors made up more than 40 per cent of newly listed homes for sale in Melbourne following federal budget changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax. A new PropTrack report shows fewer investors are buying established homes, with investor loans down 9 per cent over the June quarter. Investor loans for new homes rose 24 per cent nationally. About 85 per cent of recent Melbourne investor sales were profitable, according to realestate.com.au economist Luc Redman. Melbourne's median rent rose 5.3 per cent in the past year to a record $600 a week.
