15 areas where housing costs are ‘surging’ over incomes

Housing costs are surging for both renters and mortgage holders. (Source: Getty)

Between half and three-quarters of renters are under housing stress in 15 eastern-seaboard electorates, according to heatmaps released today by Everybody’s Home.

The maps reveal the combined impact of surging rents and stagnant wages is particularly felt in outer-suburban and coastal communities.

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More than 150 organisations working at the coalface of the housing and homelessness crisis have released a joint letter calling on Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to invest in more social housing in the coming federal Budget.

Areas under most stress

Voters living in Australia’s three largest cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane were hardest hit by rent and mortgage stress, with rental stress between 40-70 per cent across a majority of electorates.

Australians in regional electorates were also feeling the squeeze of soaring housing costs with more than 60 per cent of renters in the NSW regional seats of Robertson, Dobell, Gilmore, Lyne, and flood-ravaged Cowper and Page, as well as the Geelong-based seat of Corio in Victoria living in rental stress.

Here are the top 15 worst-affected electorates by state.

New South Wales

1. Macarthur - 76.5 per cent

2. Chifley - 73.6 per cent

3. Mitchell - 73 per cent

4. Barton - 70.5 per cent

5. Robertson – 70 per cent

Victoria

1. Bruce – 64 per cent

2. Calwell - 63.3 per cent

3. Holt – 63.1 per cent

4. Lalor – 62.9 per cent

5. McEwen - 61.5 per cent

Queensland

1. Bowman – 59.8 per cent

2. Forde – 57.8 per cent

3. Wright - 57 per cent

4. Petrie – 53.5 per cent

5. Oxley – 52.9 per cent

Call for social housing

Everybody’s Home spokesperson Kate Colvin said the data demonstrated the need for investment in social housing had never been greater.

“Incomes are not keeping up with surging housing costs,” Colvin said.

“This is no longer an issue which impacts only those on modest incomes or those living in the major cities.

“Middle-income Australians can’t keep up with rent and mortgage payments. Regional communities are also experiencing housing crises never seen before.

“There is no time to waste. We need an urgent commitment from the Treasurer to invest in social housing in the upcoming federal Budget. Millions of Australians are counting on it.”

Colvin said an investment in social housing would do more than just alleviate housing stress. It would also boost the Australian economy, a fact referenced in the letter to the Treasurer.

“Investing in social housing is more than just providing everyone a place to call home, it will also provide our economy with a significant economic boost,” she said.

“Building just 25,000 social and affordable homes per year would generate annual economic output of $12.7 billion and create 15,700 jobs.”

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