URGENT UPDATE: Perth’s housing crisis is escalating as new reports reveal that rents are skyrocketing at an alarming rate, outpacing wage growth by a staggering five times. This crisis is pushing families like Elizabeth Wright’s to the brink of homelessness, with many forced to consider extreme living arrangements.
Elizabeth Wright, a 38-year-old single mother from Perth, has been facing the harsh realities of the rental market. After experiencing three evictions over the last year, she now contemplates converting her ute into a makeshift home. “It’s just about condensing life into a vehicle,” she says, highlighting the dire situation for renters in Western Australia.
According to the latest 2025 housing affordability study by the Bankwest Curtin Economic Centre (BCEC), capital city house prices have surged by 59 percent, an increase of over $373,000. Perth and Brisbane have recorded an astonishing 84 percent growth in housing prices, with the median house price in Perth soaring from $463,000 in 2019 to $851,000 in February 2025.
This dramatic increase is fueled by rising investor interest and population growth, leaving renters in a precarious position. The median advertised rent in Perth has jumped from $350 per week in 2019 to $650 by the end of 2024—an 86 percent increase, making Perth the least affordable capital city for renters in Australia.
The lack of tenant protections exacerbates the situation. Western Australia, along with the Northern Territory, still permits “no-grounds” evictions, where landlords can evict tenants without cause, provided they give 30 days’ notice. This leaves many renters vulnerable to sudden displacement, as Wright has experienced firsthand.
Recent Census data shows that 9,729 people were homeless in WA in 2021, a shocking 114 percent increase from the previous Census. The demand for housing support services is soaring, with nearly 25,000 people seeking assistance in the last financial year—an 18 percent rise over the last decade.
Housing advocate Jordan van den Lamb emphasizes the urgency of the crisis, stating, “We’re seeing 10,000 people experience homelessness each month.” Many families are left deciding between paying rent and affording necessities like food and medications.
Wright, currently couch-surfing at her sister’s rental, expresses her frustration: “I am so over moving things.” She dreams of providing her daughter with a stable home, not just a car or someone else’s couch.
Despite the WA government’s efforts to address the crisis, including the construction of 20,500 homes in 2024, they fell short of the National Housing Accord goal of 25,000 dwellings. With only 694 new rental properties added in Perth since March 2023, the city faces a rental shortfall of 7,700 homes against a rapidly growing population.
Advocates argue for comprehensive reforms, including the abolition of no-fault evictions, which have been criticized for their role in exacerbating the crisis. Alice Pennycott, a principal tenancy lawyer, notes that renters are increasingly afraid to voice concerns about their living conditions for fear of eviction.
The government has made some moves, such as limiting rent increases to once per year and banning rent bidding, but activists argue these measures do not adequately protect tenants. Pennycott insists, “We just want a reason for eviction,” urging the WA government to act before the crisis worsens.
The emotional toll on families like Wright’s is profound. “If you can’t have your children with you… that’s not just hard, it’s dehumanizing,” she says.
The latest BCEC report, titled ‘A Long Way from Home‘, calls for urgent investment in rental and public housing, recommending expansions to rental assistance programs and increased construction of social housing.
With more than 21,000 people currently waiting for public housing and an average wait time of 151 weeks, the situation is critical. As the housing crisis intensifies, the need for immediate and effective solutions is more pressing than ever.
Perth’s housing crisis is not just an economic issue; it represents a growing humanitarian emergency affecting families and individuals across the region. As Wright poignantly states, “I just want to give my daughter a secure place to grow up.”
