Not one room available in WA for those on JobSeeker, youth allowance or disability pension

Western Australia’s affordable housing crisis has hit a grim new low, with a new analysis of rentals in the state suggesting anyone on JobSeeker, youth allowance or the disability pension was totally locked out of every single private rental in the state.

Anglicare WA’s Rental Affordability Snapshot, released on Wednesday, looked at the 3523 private rentals available on March 15 and 16 and found the median rental cost was up 5 per cent from last year to $680 per week.

Perth is in the midst of a rental housing crisis.Credit: Peter Rae

Of these houses, there were none affordable for people living with government income support – including single rooms.

There were four affordable listings for a couple with two children with income support, but only one for single parents.

West Australians on aged pensions only had seven properties in their price range.

For single West Australians on the minimum wage, there were only 14 affordable rentals and 42 that were affordable for a single parent with two children.

Anglicare considers a property “affordable” if it requires less than 30 per cent of a household income.

Paying more than that is considered as being in household stress, and spending more than 50 per cent of a household’s income on housing is considered severe housing stress.

The snapshot found the lower-priced rentals were mostly for single rooms in share houses, but even those were pricey, ranging from $200 to $450 per week.

A case study of single mum of three Kristy, from the Busselton suburb of Geographe, highlighted the reality faced by renters across the state.

Kristy, who asked her last name not be used, was forced to leave her three-bedroom rental when her rent increased from $400 to $550 per week.

She now pays $500 a week for a two-bedroom property and is facing another rent increase when her lease ends in six months.

“I’m worried all the time. About if we’ll have to leave, what it means for the kids and school,” she said.

Kristy’s life, friends, and future plans are all based in the South West, but her hopes are fading.

“There’s just nothing, nothing affordable in Busselton or even the region,” she said.

Anglicare chief executive Mark Glasson said the snapshot painted a bleak picture for people on low incomes.

“There might have been some minor increases in supply, but they’re well outweighed by additional demand, and affordability has not improved for anyone,” he said.

Glasson said all government payments needed to be lifted so those receiving them weren’t being held in poverty.

He also reiterated the need for “no cause” evictions to be outlawed, and boosted government rental support.

“State and federal governments have walked away from their responsibilities to house the population of Australia and Western Australia over many years, and we’re paying the price for that now,” he said.

“We absolutely need governments of all persuasions to see themselves as the answer to our supply problem and take responsibility for housing the population.

“Finally, we have to wind back capital gains and negative gearing. We are giving a free kick to income investors to use housing as a wealth generator, rather than housing as a human right that everyone needs to live a good life.”

Anglicare also conducted a breakdown of rents by federal electorate, finding Curtin, which includes Perth’s wealthy western suburbs, Perth has the highest median rent at $800.

This is a 14.3 per cent increase from 2023 rents, where the median was $700.

Tangney, which includes the south of the river suburbs of Applecross, Mount Pleasant, Attadale and Shelley, was close behind at $795 – a 32.5 per cent increase since 2023.

The cheapest electorate in the state is O’Connor, which covers the Great Southern and Goldfields regions.

The median rent there is $570, up from $450 in 2023.

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