Australia’s capital cities record strongest annual rental increase in history | Latest CoreLogic Rental Pulse

Key takeaways

A surge in overseas migrants and international students has led to a significant shortfall in rental listings, pushing capital city rents higher. The combined capitals annual rental increase of 11.7% in the past year was a new record.

The rental market in Australian capital cities remains tight with vacancy rates near record lows. Melbourne recorded the strongest rental appreciation, up 1.4%, followed by Sydney, Perth and Adelaide.

Regional SA recorded the highest monthly rental increase across the rest-of-state markets, followed by regional Queensland and regional WA (both at 0.6%). Regional rents rose 1.3% over the past three months and 6.0% over the year to April.

Unit rents continue to outpace house rents in capital cities, with migrants and foreign students preferring more affordable accommodation.

Sydney and Melbourne recorded the strongest growth in unit rents across the capitals in April, increasing 5.8% and 19.1% respectively.

Renters will likely continue to have supply issues in the short to medium term, with the flow of migrants expected to remain high.

A surge in overseas migrants and international students coupled with a significant shortfall in rental listings has led to the strongest annual rental increase on record for Australia’s capitals.

CoreLogic's national dwelling rental index recorded an increase of 0.8% for April, up 2.8% over the past three months and 10.1% higher for the year.

The combined capitals annual rental increase of 11.7% in the past year was a new record and largely underpinned by increasing demand for capital city units.

The mismatch between supply and demand continues to be the driving force pushing capital city rents higher.

Over the four weeks to April 30th, the total supply of capital city rental listings was -20.9% below the level recorded this time last year and -39.8% below the five-year average.

Trends across Australian capital cities and regional Areas

With the exception of Hobart and Canberra, vacancy rates across the capitals remain near record lows, and well below the 3% to 5% average rate considered indicative of a balanced rental market.

Each capital city excluding Darwin (-0.3%) and Canberra (- 0.2%) recorded a rise in dwelling rental values in April.

Melbourne recorded the strongest rental appreciation, up 1.4%, followed by Sydney (1.3%), Perth (1.3%) and Adelaide (0.8%).

Regional SA (1.1%) recorded the highest monthly rental increase across the rest-of-state markets, followed by regional Queensland and regional WA (both at 0.6%).

Momentum is clearly easing across regional rental markets as internal migration rates normalise and vacancy rates move off recent record lows.

Regional rents rose 1.3% over the past three months and 6.0% over the year to April, down from a cyclical peak of 12.5% over the 12 months to November 2021.

Stronger rental growth through April saw Melbourne ($535 per week) lose its position as the country's most affordable rental capital to Adelaide ($534 per week), while Sydney ($711 per week) remains the country's most expensive capital to rent in after displacing Canberra three months ago.

Growth across capital city unit rents continues to outpace house rents, increasing 1.6% and 0.9% in April, respectively.

The continued preference for the unit sector reflects both the strong demand from migrants and foreign students, who typically first settle in medium to high-density housing, as well as a preference for more affordable accommodation.

Sydney and Melbourne continue to record the strongest growth in unit rents across the capitals.

In April, both cities recorded a new peak rate of growth in both quarterly and annual trends.

Sydney’s unit rents increased 5.8% for the rolling quarter and 19.1% for the year to April.

Melbourne’s unit rents rose 5.0% for the three months and 15.2% over the year.

Outlook

It's unlikely there will be much in the way of relief for renters in the short to medium term, with the flow of migrants expected to remain high and rental supply expected to remain low.

Given that the flow of new unit approvals has held below average since 2018, the rental market will likely continue to have supply issues over the medium to long term.

About Eliza Owen Eliza is head Of Residential Research Australia for Corelogic and a respected property market commentator. Eliza holds a first class honours degree in economics from the University of Sydney