Toowoomba vacancy rate for rentals hits 0.3 per cent, Southern Downs at 0.1 per cent

The Darling Downs is home to the lowest vacancy rates in Queensland, a new report has revealed. See the locations where it’s the hardest to find a place to live.

A region within the Darling Downs now holds the tightest vacancy rate in the state, and the startling numbers come as more than 1900 people wait in desperation for social housing in Toowoomba and the Darling Downs.

The Real Estate Institute of Queensland revealed this week that the vacancy rate in the Southern Downs now sits as a minuscule 0.1 per cent, while the South Burnett and Goondiwindi regions sit at just 0.2 per cent.

Toowoomba’s vacancy rate is at 0.3 per cent.

Toowoomba CBD view of Margaret Street east from Grand Central. Photo Kevin Farmer/The Chronicle

The dismal numbers have been shared just days after the Queensland Council of Social Service revealed that families with children were waiting an average of 22.8 months on a social housing register, desperate for accommodation in Toowoomba and the South West.

Darling Downs Affordable Housing Association Inc. and Maranoa Greens candidate Ellisa Parker said her organisation was working towards finding a solution for people sleeping rough in the region, in light of the current housing crisis and lack of vacancy.

“What we want to establish is sustainable and affordable housing throughout the region, in all of the towns that we have, so that everybody has a roof over their head,” she said.

“We’re trying to access whatever land that is available, or if there’s someone who’s generous out there with a block of land that they’d like to lease so we can put living pods on them to put people into houses.”

REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella said a number of factors contributed to the tight market, saying the floods earlier this year have displaced people from their homes and forced them into rentals.

Another factor is the migration of interstate residents making the move to Queensland following the pandemic.

Ms Mercorella said more investors are selling to purchasers who intend on occupying the properties, effectively removing rentals from the market.

“With the second stage of rental reforms looming, the last thing we need right now in the midst of a rental crisis, is legislative reform which undermines investor confidence,” she said.

“With record low vacancy rates, and 36% of our population renting their homes, we can’t afford to reduce the appeal of investing in Queensland.

“That’s why we’ll continue to advocate for fair and balanced legislation that maintains a level playing field for both investors and tenants.”

Originally published as Toowoomba vacancy rate for rentals hits 0.3 per cent, Southern Downs at 0.1 per cent