New data from National Shelter and SGS Economics and Planning shows that rents are continuing to rise across the state, becoming unaffordable in a number of suburbs. The Liberals must take the housing crisis seriously and ensure Tasmanians can find an affordable home.
The research shows that 39% of rentals in Nipaluna/ Hobart are out of reach for the average rental income – up from 8% from four years ago. Rent has also risen in most of the major suburbs, with rents becoming unaffordable in Brighton, Taroona, Huonville, Kingston, Old Beach, Bellerive and Midway Point. In the regions, 17% of rent is unaffordable, compared to 0% four years ago.
For years now, the Liberals have continued to sit on their hands as rents have gone through the roof. It’s facilitated a cost of living and housing crisis where finding an affordable home is becoming almost impossible. It’s just not good enough – a safe and affordable home isn’t just a basic need, it’s a fundamental human right.
Lutruwita/ Tasmania has some of the weakest rental laws in the country, which allow tenants’ rents to be increased unfairly. The Greens have tried to improve the rights for renters, but every time Labor has picked the Liberals over renters and joined together to vote against it.
The Liberals have sat back and done nothing as long-term rental homes are converted to short-stay hotels at ever increasing rates. They fail to adequately invest in building the promised new public housing stock, obsessed with a stadium that will cost more than a billion dollars.
With rents becoming more unaffordable for Tasmanians, the Rockliff Government must finally act on real solutions to the housing crisis. It’s time to give renters real rights, rein in short-stay and build more public houses.
