Finding an affordable and appropriate rental is “near impossible” for many in SA.
It has become almost impossible for South Australians most in need to secure a safe and stable rental property, sobering new figures reveal.
Low-income earners are either severely restricted or completely locked out of affordable housing, according to Anglicare Australia’s 2026 Rental Affordability Snapshot.
It has prompted industry leaders to call on all levels of government and the sector to step in and make much-needed improvements together.
The snapshot was taken on March 14 and showed large groups of individuals and families competed for just 1990 private rentals advertised in Adelaide and surrounding areas.
While that was a modest 8 per cent improvement on supply compared to the previous year, those on low incomes and single people were significantly disadvantaged when it came to securing them.
An Anglicare report reveals the dire reality for low-income earners in SA’s rental market.
Only five of those properties advertised – or 0 per cent – were affordable for households on income support payments, which was down 74 per cent year-on-year.
A single person on minimum wage could apply for just five homes that were both affordable and appropriate, 11 fewer than last year, while a single person with two children – one under 5 years of age and another under 10 – on minimum wage and parenting payments could access 13 (1 per cent).
Like last year, there were no properties affordable and appropriate for singles on parenting payments (with one or two children), disability support pensions, Jobseeker or Youth Allowance.
Believe Housing Australia, Anglicare SA’s housing arm, manages several affordable housing properties that are rented at below market value to eligible people on low to moderate incomes.
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Believe Housing Australia housing services executive general manager Stacey Northover said the snapshot proved even full-time work was not enough for low-income earners to secure affordable homes in the private rental market.
“While building activity and increases in rental supply are positive indicators for the state’s economy, these headline figures can obscure the reality for those at the bottom of the market, where housing affordability continues to worsen and more people are being locked out.”
Believe Housing Australia’s has made five key recommendations in a desperate bid to stop the crisis worsening, including ensuring incomes and income support kept pace with the cost of housing.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas visited an affordable housing development in Prospect last year. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards.
“For people on income support and low wages, the level of income is the single biggest factor shaping access to housing,” Ms Northover said.
“The Snapshot shows that even small increases in rent can eliminate what little access exists to South Australian homes.
“Increasing the adequacy of Commonwealth payments, alongside fair indexation of wages at the lower end of the labour market, is essential.
“Without this, people will continue to be priced out of even the most modest rental options.”
The Snapshot also recommended state and federal concessions should be targeted to those most in need, while policy settings must respond to a worsening housing crisis.
South Australian Council of Social Service chief executive Dr Catherine Earl said the snapshot captures the “near impossible” situation for low-income earners and urged the government to further expand its public housing efforts.
“We know that one of the best ways to help more South Australians on lower incomes gain entry into the rental market is for an increase in the stock of public and community housing at prices that they can afford,” she said.
“In its first term the Malinauskas government began addressing a decades-long decline in public housing by re-establishing the SA Housing Trust and achieving a net increase in available stock.
“For its second term, we would like to see the government further expand its public housing efforts so that many more South Australians have access to safe and secure housing while also reducing pressure on the private rental market.
Aqib and Zubia, with their daughter Maryam, struggled to find an affordable and appropriate rental before securing a home in Believe Housing Australia’s Woodville West affordable housing complex. Picture: David Klar.
“We are also hoping for further reforms to rent laws to make renting fairer and easier once people are renting.”
Aqib and Zubia were among many South Australians struggling to find a rental property before securing one in Believe Housing Australia’s Woodville West affordable housing complex.
Living in a tiny single-bedroom unit with their premature newborn daughter, Maryam, they desperately needed a bigger home.
“We were looking at any suburb in Adelaide,” Aqib said.
“We didn’t care which suburb we needed to move to, but we only had a limited budget so we would go where that took us.
“I ran to every open inspection I could, one after the other, but we didn’t get any call backs, no positive responses.”
The young family was left with one wage as Maryam required additional medical attention.
Constant searching finally paid off, as they are very happy with their new home.
“It is unbelievable here,” Aqib said.
“We are close to the city, we are close to the hospital, and we take Maryam to the local park every day.
“We have a garden, we love this neighbourhood, and we thank Believe Housing Australia every day.”
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