Overview
- June quarter 2026 data show combined capital-city rents reached all-time highs with Cotality reporting a national median of about $705 a week.
- Vacancy rates remain extremely tight, reported at roughly 1.0–1.6 percent by major datasets, leaving far fewer homes available for lease and giving landlords more pricing power.
- House rents are climbing faster than unit rents, with Sydney recording a record $850 a week for houses and the Gold Coast seeing median house rents near $950 a week.
- Typical renters are now spending about one third of household income on rent, driving hardship such as skipped meals, delayed medication and rising arrears for lower-income households.
- Treasury modelling forecasts only a small immediate rent impact from this year’s tax changes, but experts warn higher interest rates and fewer new investor purchases could reduce future supply and push rents higher over time.