Apartment residents and renters across Victoria will be eligible for rooftop solar rebates under an expanded state government program. Eligible applicants can receive up to $2,800 per apartment, capped at $140,000 per building. The changes raise the maximum building size from 50 to 150 lots and let owners corporations allocate up to 20 per cent of generated solar energy to common property. Applications are open until June 2027. Savings for individual households will depend on installation costs, electricity use and how power is shared among residents.
Three in four Australians say a $20 weekly rise in rent or mortgage would force them to cut back, according to an Everybody’s Home survey of 1,150 people. Of those, 41 per cent said they could not afford it or would need to cut essentials such as food, medication or bills. Many respondents also said they had delayed major life decisions, including saving for retirement. Everybody’s Home has called for minimum standards for rental homes, limits on unfair rent increases and more public and community housing.
The NSW Greens have proposed a bill that would introduce a 12-month rent freeze and other rent controls for the state's renters. Presented to Parliament on Thursday, the bill is put forward by Jenny Leong, the party's housing spokesperson. It also proposes two-year fixed terms, a permanent 2% cap on annual rent rises, and automatic backpay for increases above that cap since June 30, 2026. Ms Leong says the Government must act, while the Greens argue the bill faces an uphill battle to win support from Labor and the Liberal Party.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Greens MP Jenny Leong claims Sydney renters could have saved almost $7,500 if a 2 per cent rent cap had applied from 2023. She will introduce a Rent Control Bill to NSW Parliament on Thursday. The proposed bill would impose a 12-month rent freeze, with backpay for increases paid since June 30, followed by a 2 per cent annual cap. It would also make two-year leases the standard. The Minns Labor Government and the Liberal-National Coalition have previously opposed rent freezes and caps, arguing they could reduce housing supply.
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.
Four in five Australians support limits on rent increases, according to a survey by Everybody's Home for The Australia Institute. Support held across renters and homeowners, and across party lines. Gen Z and the Silent Generation showed the strongest backing for more government help for renters. Spokesperson Maiy Azize said rent rises were affecting all Australians and called on the federal government to apply nationally consistent rules and build more public housing. Realestate.com.au data showed median national rents reached a record $675 a week.
Renters across Australia are hoping a property price downturn will open the way to home ownership. Cotality data shows national prices have fallen 5.2% from their March peak, with deeper falls in Sydney and Melbourne. Renters say the falls may not yet be enough, as first home buyers and investors still compete for homes. Many renters, including older and low-income tenants, say they still cannot qualify for loans. The decline is expected to continue into late 2027.
Victoria's Minister for Consumer Affairs and Renters, Tim Richardson, and Greens renters' rights spokesperson Gabrielle de Vietri will outline their renting policies ahead of the state election. The forum, held on International Tenants Day, is hosted by Tenants Victoria and focuses on dignity for almost 2 million Victorians who rent. Tenants Victoria CEO Jennifer Beveridge will also take part. The event runs from 2.30pm to 4.30pm on Monday 5 October at Fed Square in Melbourne.
Renters in Sydney are facing a tough market, with desirable properties leased within minutes of being listed. Domain's September quarter Rent Report shows vacancy rates have eased slightly to 1.2 per cent, the highest since September 2021, but the market remains very tight. Sydney rents overall are still at record highs, with 441 suburbs recording increases. Abbotsford recorded the largest rise in house rents, up 47.2 per cent in the year to September. Economists expect rents to keep rising as fewer investors remain in the market and interest rate rises add pressure.
