Understanding Australia's rental squeeze and its impact on your renter’s insurance

For rent sign under a beat up old arrow sign, both affixed to a brown brick building.
Photo by Lance Grandahl on Unsplash

Australia's rental market is tighter than ever, with a new report from Domain showing the vacancy rate hitting an all-time low of just 0.7% in February 2024. What does this mean? Simply put, finding a place to rent is getting harder, with fewer available properties than we've seen in a long time.

Every major city is feeling the squeeze, with vacancy rates at record lows. This means fewer choices for everyone looking to rent. In Perth and Adelaide, finding a rental is especially tough, with both cities facing the most competition. 

On the brighter side, places like Darwin and Canberra, even though still tight, offer a bit more breathing room compared to others.

Good news on the horizon

But there's a bit of good news too. The race for each rental property is not as fierce as before, with fewer people competing for each listing now compared to last year.

This slight ease in competition could hint at some changes on the horizon, possibly making it a bit easier to find a rental in the future.

“While the vacancy rate hits a record low, it's crucial to consider the bigger rental market picture. The number of prospective tenants per rental listing is easing, indicating falling competition between renters. This supports the trend of slowing rental growth, suggesting demand is pulling back. This could be an early indicator of an increase in vacancy rates sometime this year,” said Domain’s chief of research and economics, Dr Nicola Powell.

Why this makes renter's insurance more crucial

In a market where options are limited, you might end up settling for a place that wasn't your top choice. Perhaps it's a bit older or in a less secure area. 

This is where renter's insurance comes into play. Also called contents insurance for renters, renter’s insurance is your safety net, ensuring that your belongings are protected no matter where you end up living. 

In times like these, when the perfect rental is harder to come by, having insurance to cover your valuables against theft, damage or other unexpected events is more important than ever.

Final thoughts for renters

With the rental market shifting, it's a good time to think about protecting yourself and your belongings. Renter's insurance is that layer of protection, giving you peace of mind no matter where you end up renting. 

As the market begins to change, reviewing and possibly updating your insurance coverage ensures you're prepared for any situation.

Still need renter’s insurance? Check out some of these excellent content insurance policies as vetted by Mozo.

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Last updated 7 October 2024Important disclosures
Important information on terms, conditions and sub-limits.
  • Home Cover - Contents

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
    Monthly payments
    cost extra
    Calendar icon
    Yes
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    No
    New for old
    replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
    Details
  • Contents Insurance

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
      Optional Extra
    Monthly payments
    cost extra
    Calendar icon
    Yes
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    No
    New for old
    replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
    Details
  • Contents Insurance

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
    Monthly payments
    cost extra
    Calendar icon
    Yes
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    No
    New for old
    replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
  • Contents Insurance

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
    Monthly payments
    cost extra
    Calendar icon
    No
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    No
    New for old
    replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
    Details
  • Home & Contents Insurance

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
    Monthly payments
    cost extra
    Calendar icon
    Yes
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    No
    New for old
    replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes

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