Perth's leasing market is facing a supply shortage crisis
There were 2,839 properties for rent in Perth at the end of February, according to reiwa.com data.
"This marks the sixth consecutive month we’ve seen listings sit below 3,000. Perth desperately needs an influx of rental stock in the market to provide renters with more housing options,” REIWA president Damien Collins said.
Perth’s median rent price held at the five year high of $400 per week in February, which is on par with January and $40 more per week than February 2020.
Reiwa.com data shows 258 Perth suburbs saw an increase in rent during February. The suburbs with the biggest increase in median rent were Subiaco (up $23 to $723), Scarborough (up $20 to $520), Ellenbrook (up $10 to $370), Belmont (up $10 to $380) and Greenwood (up $10 to $410).
There were 186 Perth suburbs that recorded an increase in leasing activity during the month.
Beeliar saw the biggest increase in leasing, with activity up 29 per cent in February compared to January. Other suburbs to perform well were Innaloo (up 22 per cent), Greenwood (up 14 per cent), Gosnells (up nine per cent), Rivervale (up eight per cent) and Canning Vale (up four per cent).
It took a median of 19 days for a lessor to find a tenant for their property in February.
“Median leasing days are the lowest they have been since June 2013. Like we are seeing in the sales market, with so few available listings, tenants are having to act very quickly to secure a rental,” Mr Collins said.
“Perth is in desperate need of more rental stock to help ease the rental shortage. In order to do this, we need to entice investors back to the market."
“While the end of the rental moratorium later this month will remove one of the barriers for investors, more needs to be done to encourage residential property investment in WA and ensure there are enough rentals in the market to keep up with tenant demand,” Mr Collins concluded.
