Tasmanian couple says the high demand for rentals is making it too difficult to find a home

Tasmania’s housing crunch has been highlighted by a young couple’s extensive list of rejected rental applications.

Nikki Fischer, 25 and Zachary Snell, 26 of Huonville are finding it hard to find a home to rent in and around Hobart. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

THE state’s housing crunch has been highlighted by a couple’s long list of rejected rental applications, some about 50km apart.

Huonville couple Zachary Snell and Nikki Fischer said they had applied for 10 rentals in recent weeks across all corners of the state’s South as they seek to move closer to the city before they welcome a baby to the world.

Their most recent inspection, at a Risdon Vale property yesterday, is 48km from where they currently live.

“It’s absolutely crazy the amount of people trying to find a rental,” Mr Snell said.

“A rental inspection today had about 60 others looking at the property. It’s such a high demand trying to find a rental. The price of renting at the moment is just phenomenal.”

Tasmanian Council of Social Service chief executive Kym Goodes said access to safe, stable and affordable accommodation was now out of reach for an increasing number of Tasmanians.

The rental squeeze is only getting worse across the state,” she said.

“As unmet demand continues to rise, those who are unable to secure a rental property are being pushed onto the social housing wait list which continues to grow.”

Human Services data showed 3444 applicants on the state’s housing wait list.

Labor housing spokeswoman Alison Standen pointed to November Rental Affordability Index data which she said showed “Tasmania’s rental market remained the worst in the nation”.

“In Hobart, rental affordability has dropped below a critical threshold, meaning that even an average income household would be in rental stress, paying more than 30 per cent of their income or more on rent,” she said.

“At the very least, the Liberals must deliver the new homes they promised, but an acceleration of that program is essential for supply of affordable housing to keep up with demand. As well, they must produce a long-term plan to tackle the crisis, fully costed and with clear and measurable targets.”

Housing Minister Roger Jaensch said the Government had a strong pipeline of construction that will see “hundreds” of social houses come online in the next 18 months.

`”We will continue to build on this, through our Affordable Housing Strategy, with a total investment of $258 million over eight years to increase access to social housing, reduce homelessness, and improve housing supply across Tasmania,” he said.

“This includes funds made available through our groundbreaking agreement with the Morrison Government to waive Tasmania’s housing debt, which will result in around 400 additional households being housed over the next four years.”