Housing stress: New data shows most unaffordable places to live in Queensland

A concerning number of Queenslanders are struggling to survive in the state’s crippling housing market, with new data showing which areas are now the most unaffordable. CHECK THE TABLE.

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An alarming number of Queenslanders are homeless, living in overcrowded dwellings or spending more than 30 per cent of their income on rent, a new report has found, revealing the state’s deepening housing crisis.

According to census data, 7.5 per cent of households in Brisbane and 8.1 per cent in regional Queensland are not “appropriately housed” as low and vulnerable income earners struggle to live in an increasingly unaffordable housing market.

Analysis by the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) and the University of NSW (UNSW) showed Greater Brisbane and the Gold Coast were the hardest places to live due to rent rises and population influx, which had made traditionally affordable areas too expensive to live in.

Worst-affected areas were Logan and Beaudesert where 10 per cent, or 12,500 households, were struggling to live affordably.

The inner city Brisbane suburb of New Farm, which has some of the Queensland capital’s most expensive real estate. Picture: Brendan Radke

This was followed by Moreton Bay North at 9.9 per cent, equivalent to 10,000 households, and Ipswich with nine per cent or 11,600 households.

Outside Greater Brisbane, the Gold Coast faced the worst housing pressure, with 24,400 (9.9 per cent) of households struggling to keep up – one of the highest “regional” housing stress rates in the country.

Meanwhile, Cairns also showed significantly high levels of unaffordable housing at 8.8 per cent, or 8800 households.

QShelter chief executive Fiona Caniglia said while Queensland was experiencing some of the worst housing stress in Australia, measures introduced at the state’s housing summit would eventually alleviate some pressures.

“Queensland faces high net inward migration, which is adding pressure to the market,” Ms Caniglia said.

“Federal government investment, combined with various measures under way since the Queensland Housing Summit, will help accelerate growth in housing supply.”

At the Queensland Government Housing Housing Summit at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in October 2022 are Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with attendees Jody Currie, QShelter chief executive Fiona Caniglia, Kevin Mercer, Jen Williams, Aimee McVeigh, Antonia Mercorella and Karyn Walsh. Picture David Clark

The report warned that an inability to provide more affordable housing to Queensland, and all of Australia, would lead to severe levels of rental stress and homelessness, with more than 220,000 additional houses needed in Queensland by 2041.

CHIA chief executive Wendy Hayhurst said Australia desperately needed to implement a long-term national housing strategy.

“There are currently 640,000 Australian households whose housing needs are not being met, and this figure is projected to increase to 940,000 by 2041,” she said.

“The commonwealth has laid important foundations for expanding social and affordable housing and it is reassuring to see them seriously grapple with this challenge.

“However, we will need to muster additional investment from all levels of government and superannuation funds to meet this challenge.”

Originally published as Housing stress: New data shows most unaffordable places to live in Queensland