The housing crisis is being is having a wide-ranging impact on communities, according to new independent research – a problem expected to be compounded by the impact of Gunnedah shire’s proposed special rate variation of 37.67 per cent – capped at 32.25 per cent for residential, business and farmland.
The nation-wide research survey of 1600 voters was conducted in November and revealed 2 in 3 people believe the cost of living is the most important issue for them.
A further 1 in 4 say housing is the most important issue for them, 90 per cent say it’s difficult to afford to buy or rent property in Australia.
At least 85 per cent of those surveyed agree there is a shortage of housing in Australia; and 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.
Ben Hennessy from Hennessy Real Estate in Gunnedah, said the rate rise proposal would add more fuel to a worsening housing crisis.
“Landlords will understandably be wanting to pass on that (rate rise) increase to tenants,” Mr Hennessy said.
“We’re already facing the affordability issue for tenants with renting in Gunnedah and landlords are struggling with mortgages because of the (bank) rate rises we’ve seen.
“There’s going to be a flow on effect with rental prices continuing to move upwards.
“There’s already a lack of supply in the housing chain, that’s going to have an effect at a grassroots level.”
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