Australia needs $115 billion in capital to build enough new homes over the next four years to simply keep vacancy rates steady and not worsen, as the country’s chronic undersupply and rising population drive the next development boom, non-bank lender Qualitas says.

With the country needing an estimated 300,000 new homes – or 75,000 a year – over the next four years just to keep vacancy rates constant, that was the required capital, based on a median unit value of $638,000 and a loan-to-value ratio of 60 per cent, Qualitas boss Andrew Schwartz said.