Google AI

Weekend Times


The Times

Business News

Renters spend 10 times as much on housing as petrol. Where's their cost-of-living relief?

  • Written by: Joey Moloney, Senior Associate, Grattan Institute
Renters spend 10 times as much on housing as petrol. Where's their cost-of-living relief?

If the pre-election budget was designed to address the cost of living, it missed something. In an effort to help those whose wages aren’t growing as quickly as prices, it offered

But it failed to offer help to some of the Australians who need it the most.

Australians only spend 3 per cent of their incomes[1] on petrol. The typical renter spends more than 10 times[2] as much on rent.

After a minor and temporary reprieve early in the pandemic, advertised rents are again on the rise – up nearly 10%[3] over the last 12 months.

Weekly rents, national

SQM Research[4] Low-income renters are especially hard hit. More than half suffer rental stress[5], meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on rent. One-third have less than $500 of savings on hand[6] in the event of an emergency. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has responded to complaints about rent by saying the “best way to support people renting a house is to help them buy a house[7]”. Cutting deposits can’t cut it Morrison points to the federal government’s decision to more than double the size of the Home Guarantee Scheme[8], which helps people buy a home with less than the standard 20% deposit. From this year, up to 50,000 people will be able to access the scheme, under which the government offers a guarantee to the banks that cuts the up-front deposit to 5% for ordinary first home buyers and just 2% for 5,000 single parents. There are 10,000 places reserved for regional house buyers. Read more: The compelling case for a future fund for social housing[9] The expanded scheme will help some Australians buy their first home earlier, but for everyone else looking to buy a house, the extra demand created by the scheme risks pushing up prices even higher. And many renters won’t be able to find even the 5% deposit. Five per cent of $600,000 is $30,000. Rent assistance assists less If we really wanted to help low-income renters, we would boost rent assistance. Commonwealth Rent Assistance[10] is paid to pensioners, other beneficiaries and those receiving more than the base rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A who rent in the private rental market or community housing. Paid at the rate of 75 cents for every dollar of rent above a threshold until a maximum, it works out at up to for $72.90[11] a week for a single and $68.70 for each member of a couple. Read more: $1 billion per year (or less) could halve rental housing stress[12] It hasn’t kept pace with rent. Boosting it by 40%, (roughly $1,450 a year for a single), would restore it to where it was in relation to rent, albeit at a substantial cost – $2 billion per year[13]. If the new rate was linked to the rents low-income earners actually pay, rather than to overall inflation as it has been, renters would be protected in the future. Some argue this would lead to higher rents. But that’s unlikely[14]. Most low-income renters first pay what’s needed to put a roof over their heads, then use what they have left to cover food and other bills, rather than offering more rent. Rents needs properties The other thing governments can do is to increase the number of homes. Australian cities are not delivering denser forms of housing – townhouses and apartments[15] – in the quantities Australians say they want. The people who already live in a given suburb usually want it to stay as it is, whereas the people who would like to live there don’t get a say because they can’t vote in council elections. Their interests are left unrepresented, meaning housing isn’t built where it is needed. Read more: Older women often rent in poverty – shared home equity could help[16] The Commonwealth can help drive change by offering the states incentives[17] tied to how well housing supply keeps up with population growth. This will only reduce rents slowly, but low-income renters stand to gain the most since they are the first to lose out in the scramble today, just as they seem to have lost out in the pre-election budget. References^ 3 per cent of their incomes (www.abs.gov.au)^ 10 times (www.abs.gov.au)^ up nearly 10% (sqmresearch.com.au)^ SQM Research (theconversation.com)^ rental stress (grattan.edu.au)^ less than $500 of savings on hand (www.theguardian.com)^ best way to support people renting a house is to help them buy a house (www.theguardian.com)^ Home Guarantee Scheme (ministers.treasury.gov.au)^ The compelling case for a future fund for social housing (theconversation.com)^ Commonwealth Rent Assistance (www.dss.gov.au)^ $72.90 (www.servicesaustralia.gov.au)^ $1 billion per year (or less) could halve rental housing stress (theconversation.com)^ $2 billion per year (www.dss.gov.au)^ that’s unlikely (www.ahuri.edu.au)^ townhouses and apartments (www.afr.com)^ Older women often rent in poverty – shared home equity could help (theconversation.com)^ incentives (grattan.edu.au)Authors: Joey Moloney, Senior Associate, Grattan Institute

Read more https://theconversation.com/renters-spend-10-times-as-much-on-housing-as-petrol-wheres-their-cost-of-living-relief-180702

The Weekend Times Magazine

What To Look For In a Robot Pool Cleaner

Robotic pool cleaners are a stunning feat of modern technology, allowing you to keep your pools clean with minimal effort on your part. Pool cleaning and maintenance has always remained...

The Importance Of Professional Electrician Services Sydney For Safe And Reliable Electrical Work

Modern homes, workplaces, and commercial facilities depend on safe and efficient electrical systems. When electrical issues arise or new installations are required, relying on expert electrician services Sydney ensures that all...

Parrtjima opens in Australia’s Red Centre

Free event in Alice Springs will lift spirits every night until 20 September Parrtjima – A Festival in Light launched last night with an incredible display of lighting installations and interactive...

A Modern Approach to Superannuation: SMSF Setup Online

For Australians seeking greater control over their retirement savings, self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) remain an attractive option. Today, advances in digital platforms have streamlined the process, making SMSF setup online faster...

How Does Federal Finance Support Homeowners Using Equity to Invest Again?

Many Australians have built substantial equity in their homes over the past decade, but not everyone realises how that equity can help fund their next property purchase. The 2026 Federal...

How To Install PVC Shutters At Home

Homes are the best place for relaxing and refreshing after the hectic and tiring daily life routine. The home should be decorated so that it gives people a warm welcome...

The Best Tech Inventions to Cover the Next Decade

Online casino gaming is one piece of evidence to prove that the tech world is constantly evolving and becoming better. Thanks to the coming of technology you can get to...

Dark Mode Emails: How to Design for Visibility and Impact

Image by DC Studio on Freepik With dark mode rolling out on various devices and email service providers, the need for emails to render correctly and legibly is vital. Dark mode...

Unique and Trendy Christmas Gift Ideas for 2025 - Best Holiday Gifts Guide

?? Discover unique and trendy Christmas gift ideas for 2025! Your ultimate guide to the best holiday gifts is here! ?? The Importance of the Holiday Season The holiday season is a...

hacklink jojobetjojobetjojobethacklink panelBetimtürkiye yasal bahis siteleri