Housing & Renting

We Face A Housing Emergency

Australia has one of the most expensive housing markets in the world.

Rents increased an average of 10% in 2021, and a further 10% in 2022, with huge rent rises continuing into 2023 and 2024. But this isn’t a new problem, rents have been rapidly increasing for years, and Adelaide’s got one of the tightest rental markets in the country, with a vacancy rate of less than 1%.

Less than 10% of advertised rentals were available for under $400 per week in Feb 2023. In February 2022, this was closer to 20%.

There are over 7,000 people homeless in SA, and over 15,000 on the public housing waiting list, with over 3,000 of those people on Category 1.

This is unfortunately not surprising, when the state government has sold over 20,000 public homes over the last 2 decades to private buyers or investors. And to make matters worse, there are currently 86,000 privately owned homes that ae vacant in SA, with no reason aside from the whim of investors.

It’s been great times for landlords and investors, with huge, generous tax reductions like the ‘Negative Gearing’ and the ‘Capital Gains’ concessions, that not only cost us billions of dollars, but have contributed directly to this runaway housing market.

It’s not been so great for everyone else, especially those looking for somewhere to live, who are on the lowest incomes. Only 1% of rentals are affordable for someone on JobSeeker, according to Anglicare’s annual Rental Affordability Snapshots, and those on other Centrelink payments are struggling just as much.

Some Progress, But Rent Rises Are Still Out Of Control

We’ve seen some progress, but it’s not enough to fully address our rental affordability emergency.

The Malinauskas Government has committed to building several hundred new public homes, over the new few years, a start, but it barely make a dent to the level of demand. Even with the reverising of the the previous state government’s plans to sell 500 public homes, it’s still just a fraction of what we need, especially when analysis by Homelessness Australia indicates that SA, ultimately, has a shortage of 32,000 public housing homes.

We’ve seen action, thanks to community pressure, on making renting fairer, particularly the state government’s decision, as part of the Review of the Residential Tenancy Act, to end no-cause evictions and lease non-renewals, meaning landlords and real estate agents will have to provide a specific reason.

More is needed, including around ensuring that our homes are healthy homes, well-insulated, and well-maintained, but most of all, we need an end to unlimited rent rises. We need rent controls.

We know there are people being forced out of rentals, not because they are being evicted, but because it is impossible for them to afford the rent.

We cannot have a fair rental system, until we no longer have the huge, unlimited rent rises that are causing people to be unable to put food on the table or pay for medicines, or effectively be kicked out of their home, with nowhere to go.

Federally, the Albanese Government committed to building 30,000 public and ‘affordable’ homes, nationally, over the next 5 years. And while pressure from the Australian Greens and community organisations helped expand and strengthen this package, nevertheless, it is barely dent in the waitlist of over 163,500 people waiting for public housing, nationwide.

Australia has a public housing shortfall of over 520,000 homes, expected to grow to 671,000, by 2032. This is simply not good enough. We must fight for a housing system that puts people’s basic needs first.

Read our 2023 renters report, “I’m Scared Of My Next Rent Increase”, the results of a survey of 301 low-income renters.

Our Housing Factsheet also includes useful background info about the crisis, and the solutions we need.

Anti-Poverty Network SA is campaigning for:

An emergency rent-freeze, for at least 2 years, followed by strict rent controls.
The skyrocketing rents we have seen, have been devastating for renters, especially those on low incomes. A rent-freeze will allow struggling renters the chance to catch their breath.

A massive expansion of the public housing stock – at least doubling the current amount.
There simply aren’t enough public houses to meet demand, and demand is increasing faster than the government is expanding its stock. We need thousands of extra public homes, not hundreds.

An end to tax subsidies for investors – like ‘Negative Gearing’ and ‘Capital Gains’.
The revenue generated from scrapping these concessions can be used to fund the building of thousands of additional public homes.

A vacancy tax.
We cannot afford to have 84,000 vacant privately-owned homes during a housing crisis.

Healthy homes and stronger rights for renters.
This means minimum standards for energy efficiency, heating and cooling, and housing quality and maintenance. No one’s home should be freezing in winter, and scorching in summer.

The reintroduction of the Rent Evictions Moratorium that occurred doing the COVID-19 crisis.
Renters should not have to worry about evictions during the housing and cost-of-living crises.

Greater regulation of short-term rentals (e.g., AirBnBs), including licensing, and levys.
Read our Position Paper on short-term rentals.

Our Housing Factsheet also includes useful background info about the crisis, and the solutions we need.

There’s plenty of ways to help, and take action on Housing and Renting:

Contact your State MP – tell them why we need an emergency rent freeze, stronger protections for renters, and an expansion to public housing.
If you’re not sure who your state MP is, you can find out here.

If you can, request a meeting with them.

Contact the following key decision-making politicians:

SA Premier
Peter Malinauskas
e: premier@sa.gov.au
p: (08) 8429 3232

Housing and Urban Development Minister
Nick Champion
For the need for more public housing
e: ministerchampion@sa.gov.au
p: (08) 8235 5580

Consumer and Business Affairs Minister
Andrea Michaels
For an emergency rent freeze and renters rights
e: ministermichaels@sa.gov.au
p: (08) 7322 7060

We’ve got a Housing Factsheet (a must-read!!), resources to help you lobby and pressure politicians, and a range of other useful resources for getting active, as well as our 2023 renters report “I’m Scared Of My Next Rent Increase”.

If you’re writing to the Premier, Minister Michaels, or your local MP, about why we need rent controls, check out our rent controls letter-writing guide.

Become a member of Anti-Poverty Network SA, and join us in campaigning!