By Jeremy Sollars
The Southern Downs region is in the top 10 local government areas in Queensland for “rental vulnerability”, a new study has revealed.
The latest Rental Vulnerability Index, commissioned by Tenants Queensland, goes beyond a simple measure of affordability, and looks at social and economic pressures affecting the state’s renters.
The index shows people living on the outskirts of Brisbane and regional Queenslanders are struggling to pay their rent.
The index delved into the availability of rental housing that was affordable based on the area’s incomes, social housing and marginal tenures such as boarding houses, as well as personal indicators such as unemployment, low education, disability, single-parent households and young and old renters.
It identified clusters of indicators to find regions of “rental vulnerability”.
Also of concern is the increasing number of elderly people who are also struggling to pay their rent, particularly in Bundaberg, Gympie, Moreton Bay and the Fraser Coast.
During the past five years, the proportion of people older than 65 who were renting had generally increased, with the highest proportions living in the regions.
Queensland’s top 10 most vulnerable rental local government areas…
1. Bundaberg
2. South Burnett
3. Moreton Bay
4. Fraser Coast
5. Somerset
6. Gladstone
7. Gympie
8. Southern Downs
9. Mackay
10. Logan
