It’s hard to get a rental in Hobart but even harder in state’s north

We have long heard how Hobart is the tightest capital rental market in the nation. Now, new data shows it is even harder to get an affordable place to live outside the capital >>

THE current housing crisis is impacting all Tasmanians but it is most acute outside the capital, a new study shows.

The Community Housing Industry Association has worked with the University of NSW to calculate the areas around the country including Tasmania where the housing crisis is at its worst.

The study has prompted calls for the Federal Government to back up Tasmania’s investment in more social housing.

The association and the UNSW City Futures Research Centre used census data to find 6.2 percent of Hobart households and 6.5 percent of Launceston and North East households are not appropriately housed.

This means they are either experiencing homelessness, living in overcrowded homes or spending over 30 per cent of their income on rent.

The West and North West of Tasmania followed closely behind Launceston with 6.3 percent of households experiencing unmet need.

Photo: File.

Shelter Tas CEO Pattie Chugg said the new report provides more evidence of the chronic shortage of affordable rentals across Tasmania.

“People on lowest incomes face unprecedented cost and competition in the private rental market,” Ms Chugg said.

Rental hardship has spread to the entire state, showing the importance of increasing the supply of public and social housing to at least 10 percent of all dwellings.

“Hobart in particular has one of the lowest vacancy rates in the country, and is the least affordable capital city in Australia for renters,” Ms Chugg said.

“Recent investment from the Tasmanian State Government has made a difference, but we need the Federal Government to step in as well.”

CHIA CEO Wendy Hayhurst said the report highlighted the importance of a long-term national housing strategy with clear targets to address the housing need right across Australia.

“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.

“It is hard to think of a higher priority than giving all Australians a stable and secure home.”