The aspiration of home ownership remains a significant goal for numerous Australians, yet the current rental market presents considerable challenges for a substantial portion of the population.
A recent video has brought into sharp focus the difficulties encountered by those seeking rental accommodation.
This footage serves as a stark illustration of the prevailing conditions within the rental sector and has elicited widespread concern regarding its impact on individuals and communities.
A short video captured the brutal reality of the rental crisis, leaving viewers disheartened and concerned.
The clip captured in the Gold Coast, which quickly went viral, shows a staggering queue of people lining up for an apartment inspection at the Qube unit block in Broadbeach, highlighting the fierce competition for housing.
The caption accompanying the video, ‘You’re trying to get a place at the Gold Coast,’ underscores the desperation many Australians feel as they navigate the cutthroat rental market.
The tongue-in-cheek audio that plays over the footage sarcastically encourages the crowd, ‘Keep putting in that work, keep putting in that work. You know why? You’re almost there,’ but the irony is not lost on anyone.
Social media users have expressed their dismay at the situation, with one commenting, ‘And people are trying to say there isn’t a rental crisis.’ Another shared their own experience, ‘Went to one rental recently and there was at least 200 people there.’
The frustration is palpable, with a third user pointing out the exorbitant costs, ‘Meanwhile it’s a 2 bed 1 bath going for $850 a week and the second bedroom is a small study.’
The rental market on the Gold Coast, like many parts of Australia, is under immense pressure. Property market analyst Propertyology’s 2025 outlook predicts a price rise of between 10 and 13 per cent in the area, with a vacancy rate of a mere 1.1 per cent.
Since June 2020, the weekly rent on the Gold Coast has surged by about $363, and Broadbeach currently has a tight two per cent rental vacancy rate.
Maiy Azize of Everybody’s Home, an advocacy group pushing for more social housing and support for renters, was not surprised by the video.
She highlighted that the Gold Coast has consistently topped the charts for the fastest rent increases in the country.
‘Rents are very, very high and they also go up very quickly,’ Azize said.
Azize pointed out several factors contributing to the rental crisis on the Gold Coast, including the lucrative short-term leasing market through platforms like Airbnb.
‘There are a lot of people with holiday homes who rent them out short term rather than long term and that’s having an impact.’
Additionally, government incentives for investors are exacerbating the issue by driving up housing costs and competing with first-home buyers.
The situation is dire, with many people owning second homes on the Gold Coast, further reducing the availability of long-term rentals.
Everybody’s Home has been vocal in calling for the government to step up and provide more affordable housing.
Azize notes that countries that have managed to avoid or resolve their housing crises are those where the government plays an active role in housing provision, rather than leaving it entirely to the private sector.
For our readers, the rental market can be particularly challenging. Many are looking to downsize or find more manageable living arrangements, only to be met with high prices and stiff competition. It’s a stark reminder that the housing market is not just a young person’s struggle but affects Australians of all ages.
We invite you to share your experiences and thoughts on the rental market. Have you faced similar challenges in finding a place to rent? What solutions do you think could help alleviate the rental crisis in Australia?
Also read: A $550 three-bedroom rental is up for grabs—what’s the catch?
