Older Australians are being pushed to the margins of the housing market, with Anglicare Australia’s latest Rental Affordability Snapshot showing there are almost no affordable rentals for people on the Age Pension.
The Rental Affordability Snapshot analysed 49,000 rental listings and found that:
- Just 0.2% of rentals are affordable for a single person on the Age Pension
- A couple on the Age Pension can afford 0.7% of listings
- Most of these listings are rooms in share houses, not suitable long-term housing.
Anglicare Australia Executive Director Kasy Chambers said the results show a system that is failing ordinary Australians.
“Older Australians are being locked out of housing right when they need security the most,” said Anglicare Australia Executive Director Kasy Chambers.
“This is the stage of life when people should be able to settle, access care, and stay connected to their communities. Instead, many are facing rental stress or the risk of homelessness.
“We’re asking people in their 60s, 70s and beyond to compete for share houses just to keep a roof over their heads. That’s not what a fair system looks like.
“Australia’s retirement system has always assumed that people own their home. Now that assumption is breaking down. A growing number of older Australians are renting into retirement, and the system is not set up for them.”
Anglicare Australia says the results reflect deeper problems in Australia’s housing system.
“For years, governments have stepped back from building homes and instead relied on the private market,” Ms Chambers said.
“At the same time, tax settings have encouraged housing to be treated as an investment rather than a place to live. The result is a system that works for investors, not for older people trying to get by.
“We need to build more homes that people can actually afford, including public and community housing,” Ms Chambers said.
“We also need to fix the settings that are pushing up rents and locking people out.
“Without action, more and more older Australians will be left to the mercy of the market.”