Illawarra renters are suffering ‘housing stress’ according to a new report that shows renters from the region’s southern suburbs through to the north are spending more than 30 per cent of household income on rent.
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Adrian Pisarski from National Shelter, said the SGS Economics and Planning report showed what had been known anecdotally for ages.
In Wollongong’s northern 2515 postcode which stretches from Thirroul to Clifton, the report revealed rent was ‘severely unaffordable’, with the average household contributing 48 per cent of their income on rent.
The most affordable Illawarra postcode was 2502 taking in Cringila, Lake Heights, Primbee and Warrawong, where the average household contributed 31 per cent of income on rent – a rate considered to be ‘unaffordable’.
Housing stress is considered to have been reached once a household spends more than 30 per cent of income on rent.
“Many middle income households are finding it hard to make ends meet, Mr Pisarski said.
“These households ultimately then don’t have disposable income to spend on key items like health, transport, education and food.”