Vacancy Rates Fall in October

Figures released by SQM Research this week reveal that the number of national residential vacancies edged down in October, with 74,368 rental homes available, giving a national vacancy rate of 2.3%, down from 2.4% in September 2016.

The biggest capital cities Sydney and Melbourne recorded vacancies rates of 1.7% and 1.9%, respectively, down marginally from September 2016, while Brisbane’s vacancy rate rose to 3.0%, up from 2.9%, one of only two capital cities to record a rise, along with Darwin (up to 3.2% from 3.1%).

Perth reported the highest vacancy rate at 4.9%, though it was down slightly from the previous month.

Hobart had the tightest rate at just 0.5%, down from 0.6%.

Year-on-year results demonstrate that the national vacancy rate is steady.

Key Points  

• Nationally, vacancies rose edged down during October 2016, recording a rate of 2.3%.
• Perth recorded the highest vacancy rate in October 2016 of 4.9% based on 10,292 vacancies. Year-on-year, vacancy rates climbed 1.2 percentage points.
• Hobart recorded the lowest vacancy rate during October 2016 of 0.5%.
• Over the past 12 months, Perth has recorded ongoing falls in asking rents of 11.0% for houses and 10.7% for units.
• Yearly falls have also been posted in Darwin, with asking rents down 2.5% for houses and 3.1% for units
• The vacancy rate rose in Darwin in October to 3.2% from 3.1%.

Asking rents

Sydney remains the most expensive city for rents in Australia, where asking rents for houses sitting at $738 a week and $510 for units.

Asking rents have surged in Canberra, up 9.3% for houses and 8.0% for units from a year earlier.

Despite a tight vacancy rate, Hobart continues to offer the most affordable rental accommodation, with houses costing just $356 a week and units averaging $297 a week.

Reflecting its high vacancy rate, Perth has recorded falls in asking rents of 11.0% for houses and 10.7% for units over the past 12 months.

Yearly falls have also been posted in Darwin, with asking rents down 2.5% for houses and 3.1% for units.

In Brisbane too, asking rents are down 1.8% for houses and up just 1.1% for units.

Asking rents have slipped back in Brisbane as vacancy rates have continued to rise this year.

At 3.0%, the rental market is finally favouring tenants and given the surge in new apartment supply, rents in Brisbane could continue to fall from here, particularly in the inner city.

Vacancies are likely to rise in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney over 2017 as more new high-rise apartment developments come onto the market.

However, we believe that oversupply will largely be limited to inner-city areas where apartment supply is rising the most, which will temper rental growth.