Eden, Surf Beach, Ulladulla, Worrigee and Vincentia worst for renters

People are getting pushed out of the housing market and finding themselves homeless as five locations make the unenviable list of the 20 worst areas for renting in NSW. See which suburbs made the list.

The popular beachside locations of Eden and Surf Beach, near Batemans Bay, were among the five south coast suburbs ranked as some of the state’s worst for renters in 2022.

Ulladulla, Worrigee and Vincentia also made the list of suburbs potential tenants will find it hardest to get a rental, according to the research commissioned by Well Home Loans.

The report comes amid a housing crisis felt across the region, with many locals being forced out of the market, or into homelessness.

LJ Hooker Ulladulla property manager Michael Cooney says people are getting priced out of the market. Picture: LJ Hooker

Even before the pandemic, LJ Hooker Ulladulla property manager Michael Cooney said the market was strained, but with the influx of people emigrating from Sydney and Canberra, it was now at a boiling point.

“We have a housing crisis,” he said. “It’s a situation where the rent values have increased substantially over the last year because of the metropolitan incomes that are coming here.

“People working in hospitality that are on a regional income, they can’t afford to match it.”

In the wake of the pandemic, metropolitan areas are not seen as being as attractive, or as necessary, as they once were, Mr Cooney said.

“People are choosing to find a place that they would like to live and work, for those that can work from home,” he said.

“And, that’s exacerbated the problem.”

People are finding themselves homeless. Picture: Elders Real Estate Batemans Bay

Property manager Kait Moore. Picture: Elders Real Estate

Prior to the pandemic, Elders Real Estate Batemans Bay property manager Kait Moore said they had as many as 10 to 15 properties available to rent at any given time.

Now, they have just three.

“We’ve gone months with just a 0 per cent occupancy rate,” she said.

“In our area, people are becoming homeless, and it’s becoming quite a high number.

“We have 20 people apply for a rental property, so people are being pushed out of the rental market.”

The competitiveness among renters has forced some to offer above the asking price, while others have offered to pay a period of rent in advance, Mr Cooney said.

“We certainly don’t recommend that to anyone,” he said.

“We don’t like the sort of price gouging that can take place in these markets.

“It’s not good for anyone.”

Mr Cooney’s advice for would-be renters was to focus on their applications.

“Firstly, make sure it’s complete,” he said.

“Do everything, (including) all the attachments that are needed, all the references and income statements.

“And, for those people that expect to be contacted, make sure you’re available.

“The easiest applications are the ones that get the best chance of at least getting top consideration.”

As for when the crisis might subside, the region’s realtors are not optimistic.

“I don’t think this pandemic is going to ease anytime soon,” Ms Moore said.

“I think this year will be just as hard as the last two.”

Mr Cooney said he hope the market will readjust in the longer term, but was no less bleak in his predictions for the next few months.

“All those ebbs and flows that happen in a marketplace will probably, in time, bring back more balance,” he said.

“We are in an imbalanced situation, and that doesn’t mean it will stay forever.”

Mr Cooney welcomed discussions being had about housing policies ahead of upcoming elections.

“They won’t be able to eliminate the situation very quickly, and Covid has a lot to do with it,” he said.

“It creates hardship for everybody.

“Hopefully this is the start of the wave, and things will go back to normal in the next 12 months.”

THE 20 NSW SUBURBS WITH LEAST RENTALS
1. Casuarina
2. Swansea
3. Mardi
4. Bogangar
5. Tweed Heads South
6. Tweed Heads West
7. Pottsville
8. Mittagong
9. Eden
10. Bulli
11. Moama
12. Surf Beach
13. Terrigal
14. Vincentia
15. Wamberal
16. Thirroul
17. East Lismore
18. Worrigee
19. Ulladulla
20. Yamba