15 Park Rd, Hillside is listed for rent.
A tenant’s union has called out the federal government for increasing rental assistance by about $20, believing they were offering “crumbs disguised as cakes”.
The Albanese government announced on the weekend it was raising Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 10 per cent from September 20, which gives renters up to $23 extra a fortnight to put towards their lease commitments.
It comes after the federal government also increased rent assistance by 10 per cent in its May budget.
RELATED: Melbourne tenants cop $2900 extra charge in rent in past 12 months
Inner city rental homes few and far between as tenants flee CBD
Vic suburbs where the most landlords are selling homes
PropTrack data shows Melbourne rental prices have increased by 10.6 per cent in the 12 months to June this year, with median house and unit weekly lease sitting at $580 and $550, respectively.
4/305 Riversdale Rd, Hawthorn East is listed for rent.
The two-bedroom apartment can be leased for $550 a week.
The Renters and Housing Union (RAHU) secretary Harry Millward said this policy continued the Labor government’s offering of “crumbs disguised as cakes” to tenants across the nation.
“This amounts to little more than a transfer of money from government to landlords, via our pockets as renters,” Mr Millward said.
“When 86 per cent of parliamentarians own at least one investment property, it’s unsurprising that this is their solution.”
MORE: Aussie housing crisis inflamed by ’world’s most generous tax breaks’
Tenants Victoria director of community engagement Farah Farouque said a modest increase in Commonwealth Rent Assistance would offer some limited relief for renters on very low incomes, who continued to confront spiralling rents.
“The Federal and state governments also urgently need to invest in more public and community housing and boost other Centrelink payments,” Ms Farouque said.
“Housing is a human right and an essential service. In our wealthy country, too many people are falling through the gaps.”
18 Torbreck Ave, South Morang is listed for rent.
The three-bedroom house can be leased for $580 a week.
Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA) chair Nicola McDougall said anything that helped tenants with higher rents at the moment was good.
“The percentage change in those rental assistance programs I’m sure will help with the rising costs of living across the country, but also rents,” Ms McDougall said.
“The one thing that (rental providers) desire the most is a long-term tenant who looks after the property like their home and stays over the long term.”
Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox.
MORE: Aus already 74k homes behind schedule, $3bn in jeopardy
Two out of five: Vic fails building test, costing buyers $10k a home
Grim figure shows how Melbourne has fallen behind Adelaide
sarah.petty@news.com.au
English (US) · 