‘Absolute crisis’: Cairns rent price hikes for every suburb revealed

Tenants are withstanding rent hikes of up to $130 over the past year with housing advocates saying the Far North is in a housing crisis. See our interactive table showing how much rent has gone up in your suburb.

Rents have skyrocketed by up to $130 per week in some Far North suburbs as a critical shortage of properties hits tenants where it hurts.

There is a 0.7 per cent vacancy rate in Cairns and on the Atherton Tablelands it is even tighter.

Renting a unit in Cairns North jumped from $460 to $550 over 12 months to February 2023, a 19.57 per cent increase – and an extra $90 a week for tenants to find.

At Trinity Beach, rent jumped by 16.98 per cent from $530 to $620 for a unit.

This three bedroom duplex at 2/35 Cleaver Street, Clifton Beach is for rent for $620 per week. Picture: Supplied

Some 19 suburbs recorded rent rises of more than 10 per cent for houses, according to PropTrack data to February 2023.

In Craiglie, near Port Douglas, the average cost of renting a home has jumped $130 in 12 months.

At Redlynch, median house rent jumped from $550 to $620, a 12.73 per cent rise.

Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) Far North chair Tom Quaid said the state government was working to address the rent crunch.

“They are making a move to pull what levers they can to show some degree of action in a crisis, but fundamentally this is a supply and demand equation,” Mr Quaid said.

This three bedroom home at 12 Quondong Close, Manoora, is for rent at $520 per week. Picture: Supplied

“The only way to make a meaningful difference to rental prices is to increase supply, including affordable supply,” he said.

“There is no magic solution to change this overnight, but good policy today will pay dividends later.”

Access Community Housing chief executive officer Liz Brown said the situation was critical.

“We have seen significant rental price increases over the last two years, with some properties increasing up to 30 per cent, putting enormous pressure on individuals and families,” Ms Brown said.

This four bedroom home at 25 Vetiver St, Trinity Park, is for rent for $700 per week. Picture: Supplied

“With a current rental vacancy rate in Cairns of 0.7 per cent, rental affordability and supply is at critical levels.”

She said a University of NSW study showed the need for social and affordable housing in the region by 2041 was 7500 dwellings.

Anglicare North Queensland chief executive Liz Colahan said low income families and individuals were coping with cost of living increases as well as rent increases.

“We are very aware of the issues the current rent hikes are having on individuals and families across our region and we are seeing a dramatic increase in people needing support in sustaining tenancies as well as in the homeless space,” Ms Colahan said.

This four bedroom home at 100 Petersen St, Freshwater, is for rent for $800 per week. Picture: Supplied

“Affordable housing supply is just not there and this is evident in the announcement of $28m for hotel accommodation as a crisis response.

“We are still no closer to a clear plan around building social and affordable housing and or additional supported crisis accommodation,” she said.

“We’re also seeing significant price increases in the hotel space as well making it less and less an option for people.

“Rental spikes are just one piece of the problem – this is coupled with significant price hikes in all areas of general living,” Ms Colahan said.

“We are in an absolute crisis.”

Originally published as ‘Absolute crisis’: Cairns rent price hikes for every suburb revealed