Research Shows Families More Reliant on Insecure Rental Housing
16 January 2013 at 3:37 pm
Parents with children are increasingly foregoing home ownership, representing an increase in families in rental accommodation, according to new Not for Profit research.
Using 2011 census data, the Australians for Affordable Housing coalition research revealed that there were almost 35,000 more Victorian families with children in rental accommodation in 2011 than there were in 2006 representing an increase of 2.6% in the rate of families in rental accommodation.
As a result of the survey, Australians for Affordable Housing is calling on the Federal Government to use the upcoming budget to provide relief from housing costs.
“Not so long ago, settling down meant finding stable employment, purchasing your first home, and starting a family. High house prices and the large deposits now required are taking home ownership away from that dream,” Australians for Affordable Housing’s Joel Pringle said.
“The increase in renting is predominantly amongst young families who would otherwise be planning to buy their first home. Sadly, they are forced to choose between having children and purchasing a home. The housing crisis has made it increasingly difficult to do both.
According to census figures the average first home loan in Victoria rose $73,500 between 2006 and 2011 while the average rent in Melbourne also rose by more than 20%.
In 2011 there were 43,900 more households receiving Commonwealth rent assistance than in 2006.
Pringle said that it has been some years since a federal budget provided new relief from housing costs, in spite of the growing housing crisis.
“Renting is tough for families, rents are high and there is little security of tenure,” he said.
“Rent is not an affordable option for young families, but it’s the only option. Sky-high rents make saving for a loan deposit difficult, which is another barrier to home ownership.
“We’re asking the government to increase Commonwealth rent assistance by around $25 per week. This would put young families in a better position to get ahead.
“To address under-investment in affordable rental housing, an Affordable Housing Growth fund is required. This is the best-value way of addressing the supply gap in affordable housing.”
Australians for Affordable Housing is a coalition of national housing, welfare and community sector organisations to highlight the problem of housing affordability in Australia.
