This report aims to inform the ongoing discussion of rental housing policy with new evidence about the experience of renting in the Australian private rental sector. Special attention is paid to the experience of survey participants from a range of groups who experience socio-economic disadvantage or who may be vulnerable to problems in the private rental sector.

Key findings

• Rents have surged by 47% in the past five years.
• Half of renters (50%) live in homes that need repairs and one in 10 need urgent repairs (10%).
• 68% of renters fear that asking for a repair would lead to a rent increase, and 56% fear it would lead to eviction.

Key recommendations

• Limit the rate of rent increases as well as their frequency.
• Improve the legal security of renters.
• More proactive action by regulators, to take the enforcement burden off renters.
• More funding for tenants advice services.
• Invest in more housing options beyond the private rental sector.