Rents have skyrocketed across Townsville in the past year. Picture: Evan Morgan
Townsville rents continue to soar with fresh data revealing annual growth of up to 25 per cent in hardest hit suburbs, pricing some the region’s most vulnerable out of the market.
The latest figures from PropTrack showed Townsville tenants across 29 suburbs were paying more to rent a house last month than in February 2024.
In the unit rental market, 17 suburbs saw annual rent increases of up to 18 per cent.
The median house rent for the greater Townsville region was sitting at $530 per week in February, up from $480 12 months previously, while the median rent jumped from $390 to $425 per week in the same time.
Jools Munro from Explore Property Munro & Co said high demand and a lack of housing were responsible for Townsville’s surging rents.
“The pressure on the rental market is remaining very strong and it’s not going to stop,” she said.
“This is a supply issue, an issue of not future proofing what needed to be done.
“And demand is high, especially in affordable zones.
“With a property for rent under $500 a week, the volume of applications is enormous.”
Jools Munro of Explore Property Munro & Co.
According to the latest REIQ quarterly rental data, the vacancy rate in Townsville was sitting at 1.2 per cent in December.
Ms Munro said while soaring rents were hurting many Townsville residents, seniors were the age bracket most impacted.
“They’re doing it tough,” she said.
“We had a senior fellow who was on Job Seeker payments, so he was getting $1004 a fortnight.
“That’s $502 a week.
“We can only rent something to him for one third of his income, but you can’t even rent a room for under $300 per week.
“Seniors then go into the private (rental) world and are taken advantage of.”
The home at 1 Corymbia Ave, Bohle Plains, is for rent for $680 per week. Picture: realestate.com.au
Ms Munro said while young tenants were happy to “pile in together” to get a rental, it was much harder for older renters.
“Recently we had a son who had go guarantor for his mum on her house and we’ve had senior parents go guarantor for adult renters because they don’t meet the (income threshold),” she said.
PropTrack data showed rents skyrocketed the most in Mundingburra in the year to February, up 25 per cent from a median of $440 per week to $550 per week.
West End was in second place with the average house rent up 15.8 per cent to $550 per week in February, while third was Vincent with an annual rent increase of 15.7 per cent to $480 per week.
Rounding out the top five were Cosgrove, up 14.7 per cent to $565, and Bohle Plains, up 13.5 per cent to $590.
The PropTrack data showed Railway Estate had the greatest rise in unit rents, up 18.6 per cent annually from $350 to $415 per week on average.
This was followed by North Ward, where the median unit rent increased 10.3 per cent to $430 year-on-year, Currajong, up 10.2 per cent to $350, Townsville City, up 9.6 per cent to $515, and Hermit Park, up 8.8 per cent to $370.
The home at 19 Werona St, Mundingburra, is for lease for $600 per week. Picture: realestate.com.au
TOWNSVILLE”S HIGHEST RENT INCREASES – HOUSES
| Suburb | Rent_Feb_2025 | Rent_Feb_2024 | YOY Increase |
| Mundingburra | $550 | $440 | 25.0% |
| West End | $550 | $475 | 15.8% |
| Vincent | $480 | $415 | 15.7% |
| Cosgrove | $565 | $493 | 14.7% |
| Bohle Plains | $590 | $520 | 13.5% |
| Burdell | $560 | $500 | 12.0% |
| Hermit Park | $480 | $430 | 11.6% |
| Wulguru | $500 | $450 | 11.1% |
| North Ward | $650 | $588 | 10.6% |
| Bushland Beach | $580 | $525 | 10.5% |
(SOURCE: PropTrack)
| Suburb | Rent_Feb_2025 | Rent_Feb_2024 | YOY Increase |
| Railway Estate | $415 | $350 | 18.6% |
| North Ward | $430 | $390 | 10.3% |
| Currajong | $350 | $318 | 10.2% |
| Townsville City | $515 | $470 | 9.6% |
| Hermit Park | $370 | $340 | 8.8% |
| Aitkenvale | $380 | $350 | 8.6% |
| Douglas | $450 | $420 | 7.1% |
| South Townsville | $470 | $440 | 6.8% |
| Belgian Gardens | $450 | $425 | 5.9% |
| West End | $370 | $350 | 5.7% |
(SOURCE: PropTrack)
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