Overview
- Brisbane recorded the steepest December‑quarter rise of any capital, with median house rents up to $670 a week and units to $650, leaving just two suburbs with $400‑a‑week unit medians.
- Sydney’s median asking rent hit a record $800 a week for houses and $750 for units, with tenants moving to cheaper locations or sharing to manage costs.
- Melbourne unit rents reached a record $580 a week, matching house rents for the first time since 2012, as house asking rents edged lower over the year.
- Domain reports house rents were flat or fell in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin, reflecting a patchy market as tenants reach budget limits despite conditions still favouring landlords.
- Vacancy rates remain well below a balanced 3% in several cities, unit demand has narrowed the national gap with houses to about $15 a week, and Domain says expected rate rises could keep more people renting in 2026.