Anglicare Report Reveals Severe Rental Challenges
New England North West is experiencing a rental affordability crisis, as highlighted in Anglicare Sydney’s 2026 Rental Affordability Snapshot released on 30th April.
Now in its 16th year, the report shows that many families and individuals in the region struggle to find affordable housing, despite being employed full-time.
During the weekend of 14th-15th March, 381 private rentals were listed in the area, with only 10% affordable for those on income support payments, a decrease from 12% in 2025.
For minimum wage earners, significant challenges arise since 56% of rentals remain inaccessible, and just 4.5% of rentals are affordable for a single person working full-time on the minimum wage.
Rob Stokes, Group Executive of Housing, stated: “The great Australian dream used to be having a house to call your own… Now people are lucky to find a rental that doesn’t immediately tip them into financial distress.”
No rentals are affordable for single individuals on the JobSeeker payment, Youth Allowance, or single parents with two children on JobSeeker.
A person on the Disability Support Pension can only afford 0.8% of rentals. This stark reality highlights the urgent need for policy changes.
Call for Government Action
Anglicare urges the government to address this growing crisis by increasing social and affordable housing supply and providing financial support for renters.
Recommendations include delivering an additional 10,000 new social dwellings annually, increasing JobSeeker and Youth Allowance payments, and expanding funding for crisis and transitional accommodation.
Stokes emphasised the urgency: “The time has come to stop circular debates about supply vs demand and instead make policy changes to ensure every Australian has the opportunity to have housing security.”
The Snapshot’s findings reveal a troubling trend: the number of available rentals remains far below pre-Covid levels, indicating a persistent supply-demand imbalance in the market.
Anglicare calls on the government to seize this Budget cycle to make meaningful changes, ensuring every Australian can access safe and secure housing.
Over the years, Anglicare has witnessed the rental affordability issue escalate and spread. The great Australian dream is transforming into a nightmare for many, and it is only worsening, according to the data presented in the report.
The disparity between demand and supply continues to challenge renters, making it crucial for policy reforms to address these critical housing issues.
Last updated: 29 June 2026, 12:16 pm
