Overview
- National median rent reached $681 a week in 2025, up 5.2% year on year, with a 1.3% rise in the December quarter after a 0.9% gain in September.
- Vacancy rates fell to 1.7% nationally in December as listings declined 11% from a year earlier and new dwelling completions trailed pre-pandemic norms.
- Australia’s rental index has climbed 42.9% over five years, adding about $204 a week to typical rents, with households now spending a record 33.4% of pre‑tax income on rent.
- Perth stands out as a pressure point with a $738 median, a 5.9% annual rise and a 1.3% vacancy rate, making it the second‑costliest market after Sydney.
- Advocates including Anglicare WA and Make Renting Fair WA are pushing for rent‑stabilisation, as Cotality’s Tim Lawless warns persistent rent growth will weigh on inflation.