Thousands of Chinese students set to join Queensland’s rental rat race

Thousands of Chinese international students returning to Queensland are expected to soon join the rental rat race, putting increased pressure on the state’s embattled housing system.

Chinese international students returning to Queensland are expected to soon join the rental rat race alongside Brisbane residents, putting increased pressure on the state’s embattled housing system.

Thousands of students are set to return to Brisbane universities in coming weeks following a shock decision by the Chinese government last week forcing its citizens to return to overseas campuses if they wished to continue study abroad.

While the cashed-up students are a revenue-boosting win for Queensland universities there are fears that the thousands of Chinese students expected will be unable to find accommodation.

Student Accommodation Council president Torie Brown said Brisbane’s student accommodation market was the tightest in the country.

Serena Xiong and Clare Chen, pictured at Brisbane Airport on Monday, are two of thousands of international students returning to Queensland. Picture: Richard Walker

Brisbane’s rental vacancy rates were less than 1 per cent, according to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland data from the September quarter.

Ms Brown said Queensland universities would welcome back “thousands not hundreds” of Chinese students over the next month for the first semester.

About 40,000 Chinese students are expected to return to Australian universities.

She said the city’s accommodation providers were already meeting record demand with most buildings at capacity prior to the Chinese government’s decision.

“We are already seeing Chinese students booking flights and sorting out VISAs and while we don’t have official numbers, it will be thousands not hundreds for Queensland,” Ms Brown said.

“We really need international students to be booking now. Don’t wait. You can book online and secure a spot.

“It’s much harder once you’re here and competing with domestic students or mums and dads in the rental market.”

The cost of student accommodation in the CBD has soared, with Student One and Iglu rates increasing in some cases by more than $100 a week.

Tenants Queensland chief executive Penny Carr said the tight markets could lead to longer term issues if international students had poor experiences battling to find accommodation.

“If we can’t resolve these issues over time, it may influence long-term study issues for international students,” Ms Carr said.

“One might hope there might be a few opportunities for students to find rooms in share houses or private accommodation but for those who haven’t been to Brisbane, it’s likely to be quite difficult and stressful.”

International students Zhang Yitong, Sheng Yu and Yang Xinyi at Brisbane Airport on Monday. Picture: Richard Walker

Ms Carr said she knew of some students who had remained in the same student accommodation prior to Covid-19 despite already graduating.

“It’s created a bit of a backlog,” she said.

“I don’t know what will happen to the students if they don’t find accommodation before they start studying.”

Federal Department of Education data for 2022 showed of Queensland’s 102,564 student VISA holders, 19,493 were from China followed by 11,426 from India, 6274 from Brazil and 5218 from Colombia.

Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said international students had steadily returned to Australia throughout the past 12 months.

Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said the sudden influx of students would create logistical pressures which she said had been acknowledged by the government.

Ms Jackson said the body would work closely with government officials to help facilitate the safe return of students from China and other nations.

“We know that securing a rental anywhere in Australia is challenging, and universities are continuing to support students by providing information on accommodation options before they arrive in Australia, along with various other support services,” Ms Jackson said.

Ms Jackson encouraged any students struggling to secure housing or those facing financial pressure to reach out to their university for assistance.

“Our universities offer a good product and students want to study here. We look forward to welcoming international students from around the world to our shores now and in the future,” she said.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data from 2019-2020 showed international education contributed more than $37m to the Australian economy.