Sophie Foster
Updated 12 May 2026, 5:05am
First published 12 May 2026, 5:00am
Nathan Birch has warned that thousands of his landlords plan to lift rents if negative gearing is impacted by the budget.
A real estate boss who manages around 7,000 rental homes has warned Australians could face rent increases of up to 30 per cent if negative gearing is scrapped in the federal budget.
Nathan Birch, founder of Blink Property, warned thousands of his landlords have revealed they were preparing to lift rents if negative gearing was changed or removed.
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The inside of one of Nathan Birch’s properties on the Central Coast which fetched over $1000 a week a decade ago.
“For Aussie battlers doing it tough, that means a $400 rental will become $550 almost immediately post the Budget announcement… if changes to negative gearing come into effect,” he said.
Mr Birch warned the impact could be severe for vulnerable renters already under pressure from rising living costs.
“This will be catastrophic for so many Australians, and the Government really needs to consider the wave of homelessness that could follow, particularly for our most vulnerable, including those on the pension or disability support who have no options at all to raise their income.”
Around 90 per cent of Blink Property’s homes under management were entry level rentals in the poorest areas across the country with rents averaging around $400 per week, he said.
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Nathan Birch is the founder of Blink Property.
Mr Birch said many “mum and dad” investors could be caught in the middle, including “rentvestors” who rent where they live while also owning investment properties.
“When policy changes like this come into play, their own rents go up, leaving them no choice but to raise the rent on their investments,” he said.
He also pointed to Australia’s migration levels as an added pressure on the rental market, warning record inflows were intensifying competition for housing.
According to official figures, migration reached 57,000 in January 2026, which he said would compound rental demand if investor activity slowed.
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