Real Estate Institute of WA president Damian Collins said there was a "severe" shortage of housing nationwide, which was contributing to the rental crisis.And Mr Collins doesn't expect it to get better any time soon.
Canberra maintained its position as Australia's most expensive capital city rental market with a typical house renting for $733 per week in August.Meanwhile, Melbourne replaced Adelaide as the most affordable city to rent, with the typical house renting for $513, while Adelaide recorded the lowest price for units at $418 per week.
"The most important thing we can do at the moment is get more people who can be in the housing and construction sector, get more houses built, because we can't really stop the population growth so we need to get more supply as quickly as we can," Mr Collins said.Shelter WA CEO Michelle Mackenzie said the country's housing crisis was leading to an increase of people experiencing homelessness.
That's the reality for Stacey Garlett, who was left homeless after being evicted from her home in June, after her rent increased by $80 a week."I have always had a home since I was 17 years old and to become homeless at 41 is quite embarrassing," she said. Ms Mackenzie said those properties were needed immediately with services currently being severely stretched."The calls have increased, the number of people ringing for support has increased and the staff are just in tears because they cannot find solutions that people need when they call in desperate help.
It’s such a sad situation, politicians have little regard for this problem and the wealthy in society just get wealthier. There is such a gap now between these and the average joe. Nothing will ever change.