Rental affordability crisis continues

Across the state, there is not one affordable rental property or room available to an individual on JobSeeker, youth allowance or the disability support pension, according to Anglicare WA's latest Rental Affordability Snapshot. 

Released today, the annual snapshot taken on 15-16 March 2025 captured the number of affordable and suitable rentals available for Western Australians on low incomes. 

This year’s snapshot showed that many people miss out on a place to call home because very few affordable and appropriate rental properties are available on the WA rental market. 

There were 3,523 available private rentals listed across WA when the snapshot was taken, an 18 per cent increase on last year’s total of 2,989. Despite an additional 534 properties compared to 2024, most are still out of reach for households on income support or the minimum wage.

A property is considered affordable if it required less than 30 per cent of a household’s income and appropriate if it has an adequate number of bedrooms. Spending over 50 per cent of income on rent is considered severe rental stress, according to Anglicare WA. 

The WA median rent is $680 per week, up 5 per cent from 2024 and up 21 per cent from 2023, considered out of reach for most households on income support or the minimum wage. 

A couple with two children on income support could afford only four of the 3,523 appropriate rentals. Single parents with two children on income support face even tougher odds with only one property available. 

Only 14 properties were affordable and appropriate for a single person earning minimum wage and 42 properties for a single parent with two children on a minimum wage out of the more than 3,500 properties listed. 

Many of the available properties at the lower-priced end of the market are for a room in a share house. However, renting a room in a share house is unaffordable for many households on benefits, with rents for a room ranging from $200 to $450 per week.

“The snapshot paints a continuing bleak picture for people on low incomes in the private rental market," Anglicare WA chief executive Mark Glasson said in a statement. 

While there has been some recent progress in enhancing social housing supply and amending the Residential Tenancies Act, Mr Glasson believes it is essential to accelerate housing development, reform rental laws further, and substantially boost income support for renters.

"There might have been some minor increases in supply, but they're well outweighed by additional demand, and affordability has not improved for anyone," he said.

Anglicare WA is a proponent to JobSeeker payments being raised to $82 a day to look after people's immediate income needs and to avoid a deepening level of poverty, which is on the rise in WA. 

"We need to lift all levels of government payments so those receiving support, people who are really needing a hand, aren't being held in poverty," Mr Glasson said. 

Mark Glasson believes government policy should be shaped to help the less fortunate with essential living costs. Photo: Michael O'Brien

He added that there should be more protections for renters, including no cause evictions to be outlawed, NRAS reinstated, and the rent relief program continued. 

The $20 million WA rent relief program and the first phase of rent reforms were announced and established for 2023-2024.

"We also must look at longer lease terms, rent capping, and anything else that helps keep people where they are," he said. 

“State and federal governments have walked away from their responsibilities to house the population of Australia and Western Australia over many years and we're paying the price for that now. 

"We absolutely need governments of all persuasions to see themselves as the answer to our supply problem and take responsibility for housing the population."

Mr Glasson also commented that capital gains and negative gearing should be wound back at a time when the private rental market is impacting people and housing affordability has reached critical levels. 

"We are giving a free kick to income investors to use housing as a wealth generator, rather than housing as a human right that everyone needs to live a good life," he said. 

MercyCare general manager of youth wellbeing and accommodation Suzanne Caren said the agency has seen a spike in requests for emergency relief to help access basic living costs including food and transport. 

"We’re seeing families who, despite both people working, are facing homelessness due to unaffordable rents or the sale of properties they’ve been renting for years," she said.

"The pressure is being heightened by the lack of affordable housing options in the market, making it even harder for families to keep a roof over their head.

“The stories we’re hearing every day are heartbreaking, families are being forced to live in cars or couch surf as they desperately search for an affordable place to live,” Ms Caren said. 

Homelessness impacts around 10,000 people across WA daily. Photo: Business News

A Western Australian Government study, the WA Housing Strategy 2020-2030, estimated that in 2020 one in five households, roughly 200,000 people, needed some form of housing assistance. 

Data from MercyCare shows 80 per cent of individuals seeking support from their tenancy and accommodation services have reported that housing and financial stress are contributing to increased anxiety and other health issues. 

“The inability to meet basic needs due to the spiraling cost of living is taking a significant toll on the wellbeing of everyday West[ern] Australians,” Ms Caren said.

She said it is become increasingly difficult for the community service provider to keep up with increased demand. In 2024, MercyCare turned away 578 people from seeking access to crisis and transitional accommodation due to capacity limits. 

“In the first quarter of this year alone we have been unable to assist 277 families coming to us for help and we envisage the demand will continue to rise,” Ms Caren said. 

“Without more affordable housing and greater support for services that give people housing stability we’ll continue to see more families pushed to the brink.”

Weekly rent is now approximately 40 per cent of the average weekly income, up from under 20 per cent in 1981. Alongside population growth, this has pushed more households into housing stress and increased competition for rentals for those at the lower end of the market.

Despite an investment into social housing by the state and federal governments, there is still a significant shortfall in supply.

In the midst of the 2025 federal election campaign, homelessness support service St Bart’s is calling on all parties and candidates to act on housing affordability and homelessness. 

St Bart’s chief executive officer Samantha Drury explained that urgent action is needed with an influx of people experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity or rental distress while stock levels are at critical lows.

"Affordable housing is no longer a reality for Western Australians on minimum wage or those facing significant vulnerability. The current system is failing those who need it most," Ms Drury said. 

"Without significant investment to increase social housing supply, the gap between need and availability will continue to widen, leaving thousands at risk of homelessness."

Around 10,000 people are experience homelessness every day across WA and over 17,000 are on the waitlist for social housing.

"We're calling on the next parliament to build more social housing that people can afford," she said. 

"We must act now to ensure that every individual has access to a safe, secure, and affordable home."