Property rental rates increased in most of Australia’s eight capital cities over the past year, according to new data from SQM Research.
The two main exceptions were Sydney and Darwin, which experienced falls in median weekly rents for both houses and units (see tables below).
Perth also experienced a fall in unit rents, although house rents increased.
By contrast, house and unit rents climbed in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra.
Australia’s two smallest capitals produced the biggest annual changes in rents:
- Hobart – rents jumped 10.9 per cent for houses and 9.3 per cent for units
- Darwin – rents slumped 6.6 per cent for houses and 4.6 per cent for units
Median rents for houses
| City | Weekly rent | Annual change |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $710 | -3.0% |
| Melbourne | $535 | 4.0% |
| Brisbane | $455 | 2.7% |
| Perth | $433 | 4.0% |
| Adelaide | $392 | 3.2% |
| Hobart | $429 | 10.9% |
| Canberra | $636 | 5.1% |
| Darwin | $498 | -6.6% |
Median rents for units
| City | Weekly rent | Annual change |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $508 | -2.3% |
| Melbourne | $405 | 2.5% |
| Brisbane | $373 | 2.0% |
| Perth | $321 | -0.4% |
| Adelaide | $299 | 2.7% |
| Hobart | $355 | 9.3% |
| Canberra | $461 | 6.8% |
| Darwin | $391 | -4.6% |
