Australia's private rental market: changes (2001-2006) in the supply of, and demand for, low rent dwellings

This Positioning Paper provides the empirical update from 2001 to 2006 on the need for, and supply of, low rent stock in the private rental market. It does so by using customised ABS data files to replicate the analysis carried out on the 2001 census (Yates, Wulff & Reynolds 2004) and, in some instances, the 1996 census (Wulff & Yates 2001). The primary focus, however, concerns the most recent census period, 2001 to 2006. It also contains extensive original empirical analysis and, as such, does not reflect a conventional AHURI Positioning Paper. This follows the practice established in the previous report whereby the Positioning Paper aims to provide results on shortages as quickly as possible to the policy community. To the extent that interventions will be required in the private rental market to address shortages of affordable private rental properties for low-income households, the results presented here will help inform policy makers of the level and spatial distribution of the demand for such properties. The outcomes of the research will have implications for the National Rental Affordability Scheme, among other government policies