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Rent Cut to $1,000 Still Leaves Bondi Junction Unit Unaffordable

Advocates say inconsistent definitions paired with soaring market rates leave reduced rents consuming over 30% of tenants’ incomes

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Overview

  • HomeGround’s Bondi Junction apartment was listed at $1,100 per week under NSW’s scheme before dropping to $1,040 and then $1,000 after media queries
  • Tenants at the maximum eligible income would spend between 35% and 47% of their earnings on rent, surpassing the 30% affordability benchmark
  • Definitions and discounts for affordable housing differ across states, with NSW mandating a 20% rent reduction and Victoria capping rent at 30% of median income
  • Housing experts argue that the lack of a standardised national definition effectively subsidises private landlords without delivering genuine affordability
  • Everybody’s Home and the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute say Australia needs an additional 640,000 social homes and a unified, income-linked housing policy