11/09/2026
Recently, the federal government's budget modelling suggested rent increases from recent housing policy changes would average around $2 per week. It's a modest number - and it got us thinking about how rent increases have actually looked in our market.
Years ago, it was completely normal to not increase rent at all if a property was already sitting at market value, or to put through modest $5-$10 per week increases. That's simply not what we're seeing anymore. In most areas we work in, we're seeing far larger jumps - and it's being driven by the market itself, not any single policy change.
A good example: we recently leased a property that had gone through a 23% rent increase over two years. That's a very different number to $2 a week.
For owners, it's a reminder that market rents can move quickly, and getting an accurate, up-to-date appraisal matters more than ever. For tenants, it's a tough reality that's putting real pressure on budgets. Either way, it's worth understanding what's actually happening in the market, not just the modelling.
