Where vacancy rates are bucking the national trend

National vacancy rates have decreased by 1 per cent over the last 12 months to 1.1 per cent, with as few as 39,000 vacant properties existing nationwide.

Despite the rental market appearing all doom and gloom, the latest quarterly RentRabbit Better Renting report pinpointed 20 tenant-friendly Australian suburbs where vacancy rates are bucking the trend as the pendulum swings back in favour of tenants.

To qualify as tenant-friendly, a suburb needs to have over 1,000 properties and be located within 250 kilometres of the relevant state capital city. Vacancy rates must have increased by a minimum of 0.5 per cent over the last 12 months, while weekly rent either decreased or remained the same.

The suburbs were spread nationwide, with eight in NSW, four in Victoria, and three in both Queensland and Western Australia, while South Australia and Canberra both boasted one each.

The six housing markets and 14 unit markets reported all had vacancy rates of above 2 per cent, with weekly rents ranging from $225 in Russell Island (Qld) right up to $1,500 in Castlecrag (NSW). 

RentRabbit co-founder Ben Pretty said that overall, it was quite alarming that only 50 suburbs nationally qualified as tenant-friendly. 

“Throughout much of Australia, the data shows that vacancy rates are low, vacancy rates are falling, and rents are rising,” he said.

“Thankfully, though, there are some markets where vacancy rates are increasing and rents are decreasing, which means tenants aren’t completely out of options.

“That said, I am concerned about the future. Now that the international border has reopened, our population growth is likely to return to pre-pandemic levels. Unless we see a corresponding increase in the supply of rental properties, the number of tenant-friendly suburbs is likely to decrease.”

Here are RentRabbit’s top 20 tenant-friendly Australian suburbs:

1. Coolbinia, WA (House)

May 2021: $580 (Vacancy rate: 0 per cent)

May 2022: $510 (Vacancy rate: 7 per cent)

Vacancy rates have increased 7 percentage points

2. Essendon West, Vic (Unit)

May 2021: $500 (Vacancy rate: 0 per cent)

May 2022: $435 (Vacancy rate: 3.9 per cent)

Vacancy rates have risen by 3.9 percentage points

3. Barwon Heads, Vic (House)

May 2021: $650 (Vacancy rate: 2.6 per cent)

May 2022: $600 (Vacancy rate: 5.9 per cent)

Vacancy rates have jumped 3.3 percentage points

4. Prairiewood, NSW (House)

May 2021: $510 (Vacancy rate: 1 per cent)

May 2022: $470 (Vacancy rate: 4.1 per cent)

3.1 percentage points vacancy rate increase

5. Gwelup, WA (House)

May 2021: $750 (Vacancy rate: 0 per cent)

May 2022: $650 (Vacancy rate: 2.9 per cent)

Vacancy rates have grown by 2.9 percentage points

6. BellfieldBellfield, VIC Bellfield, VIC, Vic (Unit)

May 2021: $750 (Vacancy rate: 0 per cent)

May 2022: $650 (Vacancy rate: 2.9 per cent)

Vacancy rates have increased 2.9 percentage points

7. Castlecrag, NSW (House)

May 2021: $1,600 (Vacancy rate: 1.2 per cent)

May 2022: $1,500 (Vacancy rate: 3.7 per cent)

Vacancy rates have jumped 2.5 percentage points

8. Beacon Hill, NSW (Unit)

May 2021: $510 (Vacancy rate: 0.5 per cent)

May 2022: $480 (Vacancy rate: 2.7 per cent)

Vacancy rates have climbed by 2.2 percentage points

9. North Narrabeen, NSW (Unit)

May 2021: $540 (Vacancy rate: 0.6 per cent)

May 2022: $520 (Vacancy rate: 2.5 per cent)

Vacancy rates have grown by 1.9 percentage points

10. Nagambie, Vic (Unit)

May 2021: $300 (Vacancy rate: 2.6 per cent)

May 2022: $230 (Vacancy rate: 4.4 per cent)

1.8 percentage points increase in vacancy rates

11. Russell Island, Qld (Unit)

May 2021: $250 (Vacancy rate: 1.7 per cent)

May 2022: $225 (Vacancy rate: 3.5 per cent)

Vacancy rates have jumped 1.8 percentage points

12. Mullaloo, WA (Unit)

May 2021: $650 (Vacancy rate: 1.1 per cent)

May 2022: $590 (Vacancy rate: 2.7 per cent)

Vacancy rates are up 1.6 percentage points

13. Speers Point, NSW (Unit)

May 2021: $470 (Vacancy rate: 2 per cent)

May 2022: $450 (Vacancy rate: 3.5 per cent)

Vacancy rates have risen by 1.5 percentage points

14. Putney, NSW (Unit)

May 2021: $650 (Vacancy rate: 2.2 per cent)

May 2022: $580 (Vacancy rate: 3.7 per cent)

1.5 percentage points vacancy rate increase

15. Deakin, ACT (House)

May 2021: $825 (Vacancy rate: 2.9 per cent)

May 2022: $820 (Vacancy rate: 4.4 per cent)

Vacancy rates have jumped 1.5 percentage points

16. Windang, NSW (Unit)

May 2021: $330 (Vacancy rate: 0.7 per cent)

May 2022: $320 (Vacancy rate: 2 per cent)

Vacancy rates have grown 1.5 percentage points

17. Tempe, NSW (Unit)

May 2021: $360 (Vacancy rate: 1.8 per cent)

May 2022: $320 (Vacancy rate: 3.1 per cent)

1.3 percentage points rise in vacancy rates

18. Henley Beach South, SA (House)

May 2021: $750 (Vacancy rate: 1.3 per cent)

May 2022: $680 (Vacancy rate: 2.5 per cent)

Vacancy rates have increased by 1.2 percentage points

19. Heathwood, Qld (Unit)

May 2021: $440 (Vacancy rate: 1.8 per cent)

May 2022: $400 (Vacancy rate: 3 per cent)

Vacancy rates have climbed by 1.2 percentage points

20. RobertsonRobertson, NSW Robertson, QLD, Qld (Unit)

May 2021: $400 (Vacancy rate:  1.5 per cent)

May 2022: $365 (Vacancy rate: 2.6 per cent)

1.1 percentage points jump in vacancy rates