The latest 2016 Census results reveal that an increasing number of Australians are living in rental accommodation, rather than paying off or owning their own home. This phenomenon appears within every state and territory in Australia and as the table below shows, in just five short years, an extra 261,740  homes are now being rented, rather than being bought or owned outright.

Rental property increases, 2011 to 2016

State or Territory	Rented Properties 2011	Rented Properties 2016	Increase (Count)	Increase (Percentage)
Victoria	506,297	597,848	91,551	18%
New South Wales	731,207	814,549	83,342	11%
Queensland	508,569	560,272	51,703	10%
Western Australia	226,959	240,450	13,491	6%
Australian Capital Territory	39,704	45,320	5,616	14%
South Australia	169,678	179,508	9,830	6%
Northern  Territory	28,835	31,652	2,817	10%
Tasmania	49,593	52,853	3,260	7%
Other Territories	387	515	128	33%
TOTAL	2,261,231	2,522,971	261,740	12%

Source: ABS, 2011 and 2016 Census Data.

While the increasing reliance on rentals is disturbing, a deeper investigation into the Census data reveals that the number of people living in those households is also increasing. This suggests that families and non-related parties who can’t afford to buy and pay off their home are being forced in sharing rental properties to keep a roof over their heads and make ends meet.

In the states that have the largest rental property increases, the Census data reveals that Victoria has a 43% increase in households with 7 people and a whopping 46% increase in households with 8 people or more over the last 5 years.

New South Wales isn’t far behind. There has been a 30% increase in households with 7 persons and a 35% increase with households with 8 persons or more over the same period.

Nationally, the Census data also shows that the number of persons in a rental household is also on the rise with the greatest percentage increases in 7 and 8 or more person households, as shown in the table below.

Rental property householders in Australia 2011 to 2016

Number of persons with rented households in Australia	2011	2016	Percentage increase
One Person	644,733	692,930	7.5%
Two Persons	694,559	771,727	11.1%
Three Persons	382,832	438,637	14.6%
Four Persons	281,267	331,036	17.7%
Five Persons	127,948	148,842	16.3%
Six Persons	54,308	63,495	16.9%
Seven Persons	16,145	19,802	22.7%
Eight or more Persons	13,543	16,077	18.7%

Source: ABS, 2011 and 2016 Census Data.

The Census data provides a much needed wake up call to all levels of government about the need to create an integrated approach to deal with housing affordability and there’s no hiding from the numbers.

The rising number of rented households is a major concern, given home ownership provides a basis for financial independence, especially later in life. The rising number of people per rented property is frankly alarming – it shows that related and non-related parties are living together in an effort to keep a roof over their heads.

I find the lack of an integrated government policy on housing affordability to be a policy failure by all current governments. Their efforts are piece meal and not one of them has set a housing affordability target: How many Australians should be able to afford to buy and pay off a home? The refusal to set a target shows they’re just not serious about helping young Australians in particular buy and pay off a home.

We should collectively challenge policy makers at all levels of government to set housing affordability targets and implement policy from those targets. I doubt though that they currently have the political will, given topics like negative gearing having become political footballs, rather than a policy setting for what’s in the national interest.

Governments are robbing Young Australians of a secure and independent financial future and that hurts every Australian, given the impacts it will create. I believe we’re at the dawn of changing Australian society permanently, creating future generations of permanent renters – KLAMPPs – Kids Living Amongst Massive Property Prices.

That’s why we need to create a non-political entity to advise the government on how to be improve housing affordability. I propose we create a National Housing Affordability Planning Organisation (NHAPO). NHAPO would have access to high-level economic analysis and could then work with existing city-based groups such as The Greater Sydney Commission along with infrastructure bodies such as infrastructure Australia as well as Federal, State, Local Governments and their Departments. NHAPO should be given the power to set interim and long-term housing affordability targets for each city with a focus on infrastructure to make the cities more liveable and more capable of dealing with immigration and population growth. NHAPO would also need to have the authority to convert the planning into action.  This process also needs to get greater consensus among local communities where change will occur and those who will need to build the developments. So a very open and continuous process of consultation and communication will be required. I believe that having clearly articulated housing affordability goals will aid local communities in better understanding the reasons for change.

Life Values helps Young Australians buy and pay off a home with their Own It coaching and advice program. We realise though that we can’t help everyone, that’s why we’re also lobbying for change.