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Report Private rental Housing markets Housing assistance and policy

Private rental in transition: institutional change, technology and innovation in Australia

Final Report No. 296

Date Published: 04 Apr 2018

Authors: Kath Hulse Chris Martin Amity James Wendy Stone

This research is a comprehensive analysis of the private rental sector (PRS) and explores the interplay between regulation, organisations and structures, and social norms and practices of prevailing policies. It also explores the impact of innovation and digital technology on the sector.

The Australian PRS increased by 38 per cent over 10 years (2006–16), more than twice the rate of household growth. In the PRS, there are now more private renters on lower and higher incomes, more households with children; more households renting at mid-life, and more long-term renters (10+ years), as well as households in a wide range of other circumstances, including international students and new migrants. There is increasing realisation that the PRS in Australia may not be ‘fit for purpose’ for this changing and expanded role, being grounded in its historical role as a transitional sector where people moved on from rental housing to home ownership. 

There are also longstanding concerns about the relatively large proportion of landlords who are in the sector for only short periods, contributing to insecurity and a lack of professionalism across the sector.
The effectiveness of regulatory approaches to residential tenancies should be reviewed, with a view to learning between jurisdictions and nationally. One option would be for the Australian Government to revisit national minimum standards in this area as part of its negotiations with the states/territories about a new National Housing and Homelessness Agreement.

DOI: 10.18408/ahuri-5112101

Published by: Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Limited

ISSN: 1834-7223

ISBN: 978-1-925334-61-6

 

Citation: Hulse, K., Martin, C., James, A., and Stone, W. (2018) Private rental in transition: institutional change, technology and innovation in Australia, AHURI Final Report No. 296, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Limited, Melbourne, https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/296, doi:10.18408/ahuri-5112101.

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