BY ISABEL EVERETT
Newcastle’s residential rental vacancy rate has fallen to the lowest of all NSW major cities, according to new data from the Real Estate Institute of NSW.
The Institute’s March 2021 survey has found a vacancy rate of 0.7 per cent in Newcastle, compared to 1.6 per cent in Wollongong and an average of 4 per cent in Sydney.
Newcastle MP, Tim Crackanthorp says the end of JobKeeper and a moratorium on rental evictions in March, are seeing the housing crisis worsen.
“There's been widespread reporting of locals being priced out of their areas as result of pandemic-driven regional migration, rental bidding and offers of significant upfront payments,” Mr Crakanthorp said.
“Having locals pushed out of the market by new residents who can offer a lot more money has an enormous impact on these individuals and the support services who assist them."
Kelly Hansen, CEO of Nova for Women and Children, says ongoing under-investment in social housing and the pandemic has created a perfect storm.
“This is an emerging humanitarian crisis – people without shelter, utilising precious funds to get by, unable to sustain a standard of living."
“We are exhausted, attempting to address the un-addressable, with those experiencing homelessness having to jump through unnecessary hoops and meet unrealistic obligations only to find themselves no closer to resolving their housing crisis.”
Meanwhile, State Labor is introducing legislation which would end ‘no grounds’ evictions, but would add three new grounds for eviction to the nine already in place – need to occupy premises, significant renovations and danger.
Image Credit: Perfect Agent
