BY HOLLY FISHLOCK
Four Hunter suburbs have been included in the list of areas experiencing the highest rental pain in New South Wales.
The January Suburbtrends Rental Pain index looks at rental availability, affordability, vacancy, and price trends to score suburbs out of 100.
Beresfield-Hexham, Waratah-North Lambton, Raymond Terrace, and Belmont-Bennett's Green all received rental pain scores of 95 or over out of 100.
Beresfield-Hexham was ranked sixth in the state with a rental pain index rating of 99. Waratah-North Lambton with 97, Raymond Terrace with 96 and Belmont-Bennett's Green with 95.
Suburbtrends founder Kent Lardner says one of the greatest challenges facing renters is affordability.
"Affordability is measured as the percentage of household income being allocated to rent. If we look across those worse suburbs, the majority of our region is now allocating 33% or more of their weekly income for rental payments."
Mr. Lardner argues not enough is being done to solve the issue of affordability. He's encouraging Hunter residents to explore alternative housing options.
"What I'm advocating is a stronger focus on motor home parks and caravan parks. If we look at the American situation, around 6% of Americans live in mobile home parks, while less than 1% of Australians live in caravan parks. We've got around 410,000 sites currently and I think we can double that."
