Rental Affordability Snapshot 2025
| On the weekend of 15th - 16th March 2025, Anglicare agencies across Australia conducted a Rental Affordability Snapshot, based on rental listings data provided by REA Group and displayed on the realestate.com.au website. Anglicare Sydney conducted the part of the Snapshot covering Greater Sydney, the Illawarra, Southern Highlands and the Shoalhaven. The Snapshot defined an affordable rental property as one which required up to 30% of a household's income in rent. Exceeding the 30% benchmark is seen as an indicator of housing stress. |
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Key Findings
13,334
private rentals were
advertised for rent in
Greater Sydney and
the Illawarra.
The number
of listings has
not returned to
pre-pandemic
levels
Of 13,334 advertised rental properties...
6
appropriate for a
couple on the Age Pension
2
appropriate for a family with
2 children on JobSeeker
21
appropriate for a single person
on the minimum wage
0
appropriate for a single parent
on Parenting Payment
Rentals affordable and appropriate for households on the minimum wage have decreased by 84% over 5 years*.
Janelle, now in her 60s, was living with her son and daughter-in-law but when they had another child, Janelle knew it was too crowded, she needed her own place. With nowhere else to go Janelle found herself at a women's refuge, visting 2-3 new rental listings a week as required. As a single pensioner supplementing her income as a driver, Janelle knew she would struggle in the rental market.
However, the thing that still keeps her up at night was the situation the other women at the refuge faced. In order to meet their requirements Janelle would use her car to drive around the other women who were often on their own or with children and without any way of getting to visit rental listings.
Janelle was offered a unit in Anglicare's social housing,
which she now calls her home.
"I couldn't be happer. My wellbeing has improved, emotionally I feel really good. The people are friendly, the workers from the managers to the ladies, everybody is so nice. The security is good, I feel safe, which is so important.
Janelle (Anglicare Social Housing)
The proportion of affordable and appropriate rentals for low-income households in Greater Sydney and the Illawarra was low
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In 2025 9 out of 18 regions had NO affordable and appropriate rentals for households on income support payments |
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Which regions of Sydney and the Illawarra had the most and least affordable rentals for low-income earners?
Regions with largest number of affordable
rentals – 2025
1. Sydney - Blacktown
2. Southern Highlands & Shoalhaven
3. Sydney - Outer West & Blue Mountains
4. Sydney - Outer South West
Regions with NO affordable rentals – 2025
1. Sydney - City & Inner South
2. Sydney - Northern Beaches
3. Sydney - Ryde
4. Sydney - Sutherland
Advertised share houses continue to increase but remain unaffordable for people on JobSeeker
On the Flatmates website the number of share houses advertised in Sydney and the Illawarra has doubled in the last two years, but the proportions which are affordable for single people on the minimum wage and Age Pension remain low. There was virtually nothing affordable for a single person on JobSeeker.
Before she moved to Anglicare, Fran was paying 80% of her Disability Support Pension in rent, leaving very little for anything else like food and petrol to go and see her mum. Fran just had to live the best she could, but it was getting very desperate and there weren’t many affordable rental properties. Fran would show up to a new rental listing and would have to compete with 20 or 30 other people for one property.
Then Fran’s social worker introduced her to Anglicare’s social housing where she now lives.
Since I moved here it's been beautiful. Now I think ”Wow! I can actually spend money on myself!” which is lovely. I love the closeness of the community here, I have yet to meet everyone but everyone I meet is very nice and we look out for each other. My Anglicare Support Co-ordinator has been very good to me. He always says he's just a phone call away and that's exactly how he treats people.
Fran (Anglicare Social Housing)
Rental Affordability Snapshot Report 2025
Greater Sydney and the Illawarra
Regional Report 2025
Breakdown of Results by Statistical Area - Greater Sydney and the Illawarra (2025)
Click this link if you would like to read Rental Affordability Snapshot reports from previous years
Inspired by the gospel of reconciliation in Jesus Christ, Anglicare's vision for reconciliation is a nation in which Australia's First Peoples are restored in dignity, respect, empowerment and opportunity.