Overview

• National vacancy fell to a record 1.47%, with combined-capital median weekly rents surpassing $700 for the first time, according to Cotality.
• Regional rents rose 5.9% over the year versus 3.7% across the capitals, as listings sit about 25% below the five‑year average despite stronger investor lending.
• Domain reports house rents across the combined capitals were flat for a fifth straight quarter, leaving most city medians at or near record highs.
• Brisbane and Darwin bucked the broader pause, recording fresh quarterly increases, while Sydney’s unit median reached a record $750 and vacancy edged to 0.9%.
• Perth showed an unusual mix of a roughly 0.5% vacancy rate with steady house rents and the first unit rent fall since 2017, as economists flag rent momentum as a risk to CPI and rate-cut hopes.