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Rental (un)affordability

May 1, 2018

The latest Anglicare Rental Affordability Snapshot available here shows that renting in the private market is still unaffordable for people on government income support.  For people on low incomes, the reality is that they must often choose to go without essentials like food or medication just to have a roof over their head.

This year’s snapshot report reveals that there are no properties available for rent across the whole of the Illawarra, South East NSW or in the capital region, which are affordable for a single person, or a single person with one child, living on Newstart or Youthstart Allowance. This includes shared accommodation.

Across Sydney, Illawarra and whole of South East NSW, there were only 26 properties suitable for a single person living on the aged pension, the majority of these in the South East and capital region of NSW.

Overall for people on low incomes, including singles and couples earning minimum wage, the opportunities to find somewhere to rent which is appropriate and won’t push them into housing stress are minimal. We need all three levels of government to commit to strategies which will support more social housing, more affordable rental properties, and the opportunity for people on low incomes to own a home.