Why its time to stop blaming international students for housing crisis

It’s true that Australia’s rental market has never been so overheated, but the myth that international students are the cause of the rental crisis has been busted in a new report.

Torie Brown

2 min read

April 28, 2024 - 11:30AM

The myth that international students are the cause of the rental crisis has been busted in a new report.

—OPINION—

With people waiting to inspect rentals lining up around the block, much has been made of the current housing crisis.

It’s true that Australia’s rental market has never been so overheated. Vacancy rates across our major cities hover around one per cent while the cost of rent has skyrocketed. Put simply, there are less homes to rent and those renting are paying more.

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As the borders opened post-Covid and international students streamed back into Australian universities, many pointed the finger squarely at students. International students, some claimed, were the reason average Aussies couldn’t find a place to rent.

However that isn’t true. In a report released Friday by the Student Accommodation Council, the myth that international students are the cause of the rental crisis has been busted.

The causes of the housing crisis are many. There are structural problems exacerbated by changing lifestyles and family makeup, there are financial pressures and construction challenges, there are sluggish planning systems and cities that have grown in popularity but not housing availability.

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International students make up only four per cent of the entire rental market in Australia. Domestic Australian students make up just over six per cent.

People who live alone make up thirteen per cent. But no one is calling on local university students to move out of the share house and back in with mum and dad, any more than we are telling singletons to pair up and move out of their bachelor pads.

In fact, a far bigger impact on rental housing availability has been the post-Covid trend to work from home. Second bedrooms are reserved for zoom-calls and house plants, not flat mates.

International education is an economic boon for our nation – contributing $25.5 billion per annum. Australia needs a strong economy to build the homes we need, yet some have suggested that capping international students and reducing this revenue is the answer to the housing crisis.

Student Accommodation Council executive director Torie Brown. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

Australia’s reputation has also suffered as blame gets thrown around. The water cooler chat within student accommodation buildings reflects a fear that international students aren’t wanted here.

What gets said locally ripples overseas and into the countries we draw our biggest student populations from.

Australian households are changing. Fewer people are living in more homes. We have not built enough new houses and other living options to meet demand.

We need to grow the amount of student accommodation to provide greater housing options for students without forcing them to compete for private rentals.

It’s time to stop pointing the finger at international students, and instead point it at ourselves.

— Torie Brown is the Executive Director of the Student Accommodation Council.