SGS Self-Funded Research Project
Australia
Annual research tracks rental affordability across Australia and highlights the experiences of disadvantaged households.
The annual rental affordability index (RAI) report is an easy to understand indicator of rental affordability relative to household incomes. It is a crucial tool for policy makers to track rental affordability trends and inform evidence-based policy responses -- highlighting nuances between places and the experiences of disadvantaged households.
We have partnered with National Shelter, Beyond Bank, and Brotherhood St Laurence on the RAI since 2015.
Background
Studies of housing affordability in Australia have focused primarily on purchase affordability (e.g. housing affordability index) and measuring housing stress at different points in time for different household types. However, a gap existed in tracking rental affordability over time across Australia.
The RAI fills this gap, providing insights into how rental affordability impacts different places and household types. Its basis is customised data and analysis revealing affordability trends in the rental market, with a particular focus on low-income households. Rental affordability concerns a growing and already large proportion of Australians as households increasingly face constraints in purchasing their first house. Renting households on average have lower-incomes, and therefore affordability issues affect renting households more than homeowners.
Past reports
Browse our previous Rental Affordability Index reports