<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian renters are spending a record amount of their </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/cost-of-living" rel="" target="_blank" title="household income"><span>household income</span></a><span> on housing costs, new research shows.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rents rose 2.1 per cent over the three months to March, up from a 1.2 per cent hike during the past quarter, analysis by property research company Cotality shows.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The figures highlight the gathering pace of renting costs from the cyclical low of 0.9 per cent recorded midway last year.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/solo-living-housing-crisis-australians-moving-home/39c36ea3-4b72-4df0-8ca7-9095f31c5460" rel="" target="_blank" title="Millions turn to shared living arrangements amid skyrocketing costs"><strong><span>Millions turn to shared living arrangements amid skyrocketing costs</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A chronic shortage of rental properties is driving the uptick in rents.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Households are now forking out a record 33 per cent of median income to pay for rent, compared with a low of 26 per cent in September 2020.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Cotality Australia's head of research Gerard Burg says the sustained rental growth during the past five years had added an estimated $202 per week to typical rent commitments.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/australians-spending-record-amounts-on-renting-homes/cf9f08d1-ae2d-412f-b61a-228d153185a7" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Rent growth had moderated through much of 2024 and into mid-2025, but there's been a lack of supply to meet the demand, which is placing immense pressure on the rental market," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Vacancy rates remain very tight nationally and the volume of available rental properties is well below where it needs to be. Until supply catches up meaningfully with demand, rental growth is likely to stay elevated."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/energy-bills-cost-of-living-groceries-heaters-winter-australia/a502640a-dbf5-4f3e-911c-79bb7954d69d" rel="" target="_blank" title="The easy task millions are putting off that will slash hundreds from bills"><strong><span>The easy task millions are putting off that will slash hundreds from bills</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rental listings across Australia are 18 per cent below their five-year average.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The shortage is most severe in Sydney and Melbourne, where available stock is 27 per cent and 21 per cent below long-term levels, respectively.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Every capital city recorded a vacancy rate below 2 per cent in the March quarter with the national rate of 1.6 per cent half the 3.2 per cent average for the five years to March 2021.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"When vacancy rates fall to 1.5 per cent or less it leaves renters with very little negotiating power and fewer options," said Berg</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It means renters have to consider alternate options such as share houses, moving to a new area or back in with family."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>