Tasmanian rentals: Suburbs where rents have climbed up to 35 per cent in a year
Median rents in some Tasmanian suburbs have soared by nearly one-third in the space of a year. Two suburbs’ median rents climbed by a whopping $100 per week. DATA DEEP DIVE >>
Tasmania
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The cost of renting a house has increased by more than 15 per cent year-on-year in 16 Tasmanian suburbs, with rent soaring by just shy of one-third in one North-West suburb.
The Mercury has obtained and analysed REA Group’s latest PropTrack report, which includes median rents for houses and units in every Tasmanian suburb as at February 1, 2023 (minimum 10 rentals).
Montello, an outer-suburb of Burnie, and Hadspen, a town of 2337 people on the South Esk River, a 15-minute drive to Launceston, were the two Tasmanian suburbs where rent soared the highest. – $100 each.
For Hadspen, this represented a 22.73 per cent rise, from $440 to $540/week, while in Montello it was a staggering 32.79 per cent rise – Tasmania’s steepest – from $305 to $405/week.
The other suburbs in Tasmania where median rent for houses increased by more than 15 per cent – there were 16 all up – are Hillcrest, Legana, Montrose, Geilston Bay, Mount Stuart, George Town, Longford, Perth, Lauderdale, Penguin, Zeehan, Prospect and Park Grove.
The median rent for houses in Tasmania increased an average of 8.67 per cent in the year to February 2023, the data shows.
For Tasmanian units, there were 12 suburbs where median rents increased by more than 15 per cent in the year to February 1.
They included George Town (35 per cent), New Norfolk (33.33 per cent), Newstead (23.31 per cent), Newnham (22.5 per cent) and Bridgewater (20.45 per cent).
The median rent for Tasmanian units increased an average of 9.45 per cent across the year.
Single mum Siobhan Quarry, 29, is currently living with her parents at their New Town residence, alongside her three-year-old son Campbell.
Ms Quarry, who worked permanent part-time in retail until recently, estimates she has applied for approximately 50 rentals since moving to her parents.
Being a full-time single mum on benefits, she said her budget is $400 per week - and she’s fast losing hope something will come along.
Even when she was working, and her budget was higher, she and Campbell never progressed far on leasing agents’ list of desirable tenants.
“When I had a job I thought it would be easier,” she said.
“But nothing’s ever good enough to get a good house. It’s stupid.
“My anxiety has gotten ten times worse wondering what I’m going to do about getting my son and I out into a place of our own and how I’m going to go about it.
“The prices for even the most simple, basic places to rent are barely affordable even for those with employment.
“I’m anxious and scared of what the future will use or tor both my son and I.
“It’s not okay with how things are at the moment.”
Bruny Island disability support pensioner Michael Findon said he and his housemate were forced to relocate from North Hobart when their landlord proposed increasing rent from $540 to $600/week. Mr Findon said when the pair first moved in three years ago, rent was $450/week.
Mr Findon said it was “very emotional” leaving their rental after so long.
“We were very upset,” he said.
Mr Findon claimed that life became intelorable at his former house due to basic maintenance remaining unperformed despite repeated requests – “Holes everywhere, no heating, no cooling, nothing,” – he said.
Life for he and his housemate on Bruny Island is tough. Neither can drive, Mr Findon because he is epileptic. Both are pensioners. Both are isolated from services. But their new rent, $450/week, is back to being manageable.
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