Families and renters across Western Australia are being pushed to the financial brink, forced to pay an astonishing extra $20,000 per year compared to just a few years ago, as the state's rental crisis spirals out of control. New data has laid bare the staggering increase in living costs for tenants, triggering urgent calls for government intervention, including the implementation of rent caps.
The Staggering Data Behind the Crisis
Analysis of the latest rental figures paints a dire picture for households. The median weekly rent for a house in Perth has surged to $650, a massive jump from $430 per week recorded in September 2020. For a typical family renting a house, this translates to an additional $11,440 per year out of their budget.
The situation is even more severe for those in units, where the median rent has climbed to $580 per week, up from $380 over the same period. This increase forces unit renters to find an extra $10,400 annually. Combined, these hikes mean the average WA renter is now shouldering roughly $20,000 more in annual rent than they were just four years ago, a financial blow that is crippling household budgets.
Families on the Edge and Mounting Pressure for Action
This unprecedented surge is having devastating real-world consequences. Advocacy groups report a sharp rise in families facing homelessness, with many forced to choose between paying rent, buying groceries, or covering essential medical bills. The stress and uncertainty are taking a significant toll on mental health and community wellbeing.
In response to the escalating crisis, there is growing and forceful pressure on the WA State Government to take immediate action. Community advocates, unions, and social service organisations are united in their call for the introduction of rent caps or freezes to provide immediate relief to struggling tenants. They argue that without such market intervention, the situation will continue to deteriorate, pushing more West Australians into poverty and housing insecurity.
Government Response and the Road Ahead
While the government has acknowledged the severity of the rental affordability crisis, its current measures have been criticised as insufficient to stem the tide. Policies have focused on boosting supply in the long term and offering limited rebates, but critics say these do nothing to address the urgent, short-term price shock hitting existing renters.
The debate now centres on whether the government will adopt more direct market controls, like those seen in other jurisdictions. With the next state budget on the horizon, all eyes are on Premier Roger Cook and Housing Minister John Carey to see if they will implement emergency measures such as capping rent increases to a percentage tied to inflation, a move that would offer tenants much-needed predictability and protection.
As the cost-of-living crisis deepens, the $20,000 annual rental hike has become the most painful symbol of housing unaffordability in Western Australia. The coming months will be a critical test of the government's willingness to intervene directly in the market to protect vulnerable renters and stabilise the housing sector for all.
