Almost 40 percent of Australians have struggled to pay their rent or mortgage in the 12 months.
A survey by Master Builders Australia, conducted less than three weeks ago, showed the housing crisis was still front of mind for many Australians.
It also showed more people had cost of living concerns, with 2 in 3 respondents saying it was the most important issue for them, up from 45 percent in May last year.
One in four surveyed said housing was the most important issue for them, which was up from eight percent from November, 2023.
Master Builders Australia’s CEO Denita Wawn said the results were sombre with households and businesses hurting.
Ms Wawn said housing and cost of living needed to be front and centre during the upcoming Federal election campaign.
“We’ve seen the housing crisis worsen over the last 18 months with more than one in three Australians now going without essentials like food or medicine to pay their rent or mortgage,” she said.
“This Christmas, while many will be decorating their homes, a large share will be trying to keep their home.”
Ms Wawn said insights from the nationwide survey, conducted between November 11 and 18, were:
- 2 in 3 say cost of living is the most important issue for them.
- 1 in 4 say housing is the most important issue for them.
- 90 percent say it’s difficult to afford to buy or rent property in Australia.
- 70 percent say the Albanese Government has not done enough to address housing issues.
- 85 percent agree there is a shortage of housing in Australia.
- 7 in 10 say the housing crisis is damaging the quality of life in their community.
- 7 in 10 say the housing crisis has gotten worse over the last 12 months.
- 68 percent of renters who want to buy a home fear they won’t achieve it within the next 5 years.
- More than 1 in 3 Australians have gone without essentials like food, medicine or education to pay for their rent of mortgage in the last 12 months.
- 39 percent have struggled to pay their rent or mortgage in the last 12 months.
- 65 percent say the Federal Government is most responsible for addressing the housing crisis.
She said all housing policy solutions tested were supported by at least half of the respondents showing Australians wanted effective policy solutions.
“85% of voters agree we don’t have enough homes in Australia and the research shows that a swathe of solutions should be on the table to fix this.”
Ms Wawn said the majority of Australians think the Federal Government had more to do to solve the housing crisis.
“Getting more skilled tradies both domestically and from overseas, speeding up planning approvals, simplifying workplace laws, bringing in an industry watchdog to hold unlawful unions to account, and building more critical infrastructure are just some of the policies that have majority community support.”
