Rental stress

Housing and home

Rental stress

Having access to affordable, safe and sustainable housing affects social and economic participation. Rental affordability is based on rental supply and demand and is affected by employment and income levels.

Rental stress

This measure shows the proportion of low-income renter households paying more than 30% of their income on rent. These households are considered to be in rental stress.

In 2019-20 (the last year for which relevant data are currently available), 27.7% of low-income rental households in the ACT were in rental stress. This was lower than the national rate of 42%. It was the lowest rate among all states and territories.

The availability of affordable housing options and rental assistance programs may impact the proportion of low-income rental households in rental stress. This includes private and social housing options.

In 2019-20, the rate was lower than previous results dating back to 2014 when 36.5% of ACT low-income rental households were in rental stress.

ABS, Household Income and Wealth, Australia.

Line graph of percentage of low-income renter households in rental stress in the ACT, every other financial year from 2013-14 to 2019-20. In 2019-20, 27.7% of low-income renter households were in rental stress compared to 42.7% in 2017-18.

Low-income renter households are those with an income in the bottom 40% of equivalised disposable income.