Published Monday, 19 January, 2009 at 09:55 AM
Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten
NO RESPITE FROM INCREASING RENTS
The cost of renting a two-bedroom unit in Queensland has jumped 9% in the past 12 months according to new data prepared by the Residential Tenancies Authority.
The data shows the median weekly rent for a two-bedroom unit in Queensland increased from $275 in the December 2007 quarter to $300 per week in the same quarter in 2008.
Similarly, the cost of renting a three-bedroom home increased 10% over the same time period to $330 in 2008 from $300 in 2007.
Housing Minister Robert Schwarten said the figures confirmed the tough conditions in the private rental market.
“When you look at the trends over the past five years, you can see that the close to 400,000 Queensland households that rent have been doing it tough,” Mr Schwarten said.
“In December 2003 the median rent for a two-bedroom unit in Queensland was $180 per week so over five years the rent has skyrocketed 67%.
“The median rent for a three-bedroom house jumped 57% in five years, being $210 per week in 2003.”
Mr Schwarten said almost all the major towns and cities in Queensland recorded increases in the past 12 months.
In Emerald, the median rent for a two-bedroom unit rose 51% from $245 per week to $370 per week in the past year while Brisbane recorded an increase of close to 13% ($310pw to $350pw).
Three-bedroom houses in Mount Isa increased from $390 per week to $450 in the past 12 months.
Mr Schwarten said new tenancies legislation passed by the State Parliament in December and due for enactment from July 1 included a number of measures designed to enhance protection of tenants but also balanced the interests of landlords.
“These new laws were designed to respond to the evolving private rental market and no-one can say the private rental market hasn’t changed since the previous tenancy laws were introduced in 1994 and 2002,” he said.
“Under the new laws the frequency of rent increases is limited to six monthly, rent bidding is outlawed and the notice period to terminate a tenancy at the end of a fixed term without grounds has increased from two weeks to two months,” he said.
“These are significant changes providing tenants with an increased level of protection in the Queensland rental market.”
“The rights of lessors have also been improved with the inclusion of new grounds of entry to rental properties to check on repairs and whether significant breaches have been remedied.”
Editor's note: Data tables available at http://www.rta.qld.gov.au/median_weekly_rents.cfm
Media contact: Scott Chandler on (07) 3237 1832
The data shows the median weekly rent for a two-bedroom unit in Queensland increased from $275 in the December 2007 quarter to $300 per week in the same quarter in 2008.
Similarly, the cost of renting a three-bedroom home increased 10% over the same time period to $330 in 2008 from $300 in 2007.
Housing Minister Robert Schwarten said the figures confirmed the tough conditions in the private rental market.
“When you look at the trends over the past five years, you can see that the close to 400,000 Queensland households that rent have been doing it tough,” Mr Schwarten said.
“In December 2003 the median rent for a two-bedroom unit in Queensland was $180 per week so over five years the rent has skyrocketed 67%.
“The median rent for a three-bedroom house jumped 57% in five years, being $210 per week in 2003.”
Mr Schwarten said almost all the major towns and cities in Queensland recorded increases in the past 12 months.
In Emerald, the median rent for a two-bedroom unit rose 51% from $245 per week to $370 per week in the past year while Brisbane recorded an increase of close to 13% ($310pw to $350pw).
Three-bedroom houses in Mount Isa increased from $390 per week to $450 in the past 12 months.
Mr Schwarten said new tenancies legislation passed by the State Parliament in December and due for enactment from July 1 included a number of measures designed to enhance protection of tenants but also balanced the interests of landlords.
“These new laws were designed to respond to the evolving private rental market and no-one can say the private rental market hasn’t changed since the previous tenancy laws were introduced in 1994 and 2002,” he said.
“Under the new laws the frequency of rent increases is limited to six monthly, rent bidding is outlawed and the notice period to terminate a tenancy at the end of a fixed term without grounds has increased from two weeks to two months,” he said.
“These are significant changes providing tenants with an increased level of protection in the Queensland rental market.”
“The rights of lessors have also been improved with the inclusion of new grounds of entry to rental properties to check on repairs and whether significant breaches have been remedied.”
Editor's note: Data tables available at http://www.rta.qld.gov.au/median_weekly_rents.cfm
Media contact: Scott Chandler on (07) 3237 1832