UPDATE: New data reveals that renters in Western Australia are facing an alarming increase in housing costs, with the median weekly rent skyrocketing from $339 in 2021 to $716 today. This surge of over 50% has compelled advocates to urgently call for government intervention, including potential rent caps and protections against evictions.
The latest report from the WA Make Renting Fair Alliance underscores a staggering reality: on average, families are now paying an extra $377 each week, totaling nearly $20,000 a year. Previously affordable suburbs are rapidly disappearing, exacerbating the housing crisis. The pressure on renters follows several years of extreme shortages, with Perth’s vacancy rate plummeting to a record low of 0.4% in 2022, forcing desperate tenants to offer up to 20% above asking prices.
While the vacancy rate has recently improved to approximately 2-2.5%, this remains insufficient to stabilize prices. Many inner-city areas still hover at vacancy rates near 1% or lower. Shockingly, no electoral district now offers median rents below $400, with only 17% of apartment markets remaining in that range.
Alice Pennycott, spokesperson for Make Renting Fair WA, expressed deep concern over the relentless rent increases. “Suburbs that were previously considered affordable have basically disappeared,” she stated. “Low- and medium-income renters aren’t just priced out of certain neighborhoods anymore — they’re being priced out of the entire state.”
Families are feeling the strain, with essential workers like teachers and nurses unable to afford housing in the communities they serve. Mark Glasson, chief executive of Anglicare WA, highlighted the dire situation, stating, “Rising rents are driving overcrowding and homelessness. Some people are going without medications or basic food just to keep a roof over their heads.”
Shelter WA chief executive Kath Snell echoed these sentiments, noting that many households are being drawn into debt or forced to abandon essential needs. The crisis is affecting the entire metropolitan area, with suburbs such as Cottesloe, Carine, Nedlands, and Churchlands experiencing some of the largest rent hikes.
The Western Australian Council of Social Service chief executive, Louise Giolitto, emphasized the urgent need for government action, drawing comparisons to the government’s swift responses during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The WA Government showed that during the COVID-19 pandemic it was willing to try new solutions,” she noted. “We think now’s the time to try rent stabilisation measures and ensure housing remains affordable amid rising living costs.”
Advocates warn that without immediate intervention, Western Australia’s housing crisis may escalate further, putting more families at risk of losing their homes. As the situation develops, all eyes will be on government officials to see if they will respond to these urgent calls for action to protect vulnerable renters.
Stay tuned for updates as this story unfolds, with many families anxiously awaiting a resolution to this growing crisis.
