Australia’s Rental Affordability Hits Record Low, Property Consultancy Cotality Says

Australia’s rental accommodation affordability has plunged to a record low as surging prices outpace wage growth, fueling inflationary pressures that forced the Reserve Bank to raise its key interest rate last week.

Households renting spent a record-high average of 33.4% of their pre-tax income to keep a roof over their head in the third quarter of 2025, the most recent data available, property consultancy Cotality said Wednesday. That compares with a 10-year average of 29.2%.