The Rental Affordability Index (RAI) is a long-running measure that compares rents to household incomes, offering a clear picture of rental stress in communities nationwide. Since 2015, it has become an essential reference point for government, industry and community organisations.

This year, Housing All Australians is proud to partner with SGS Economics & Planning and National Shelter to deliver the 11th installment of the report. Download it here.

Each year, this national research sheds light on how affordable (or unaffordable) renting has become across Australia, and what that means for households already doing it tough.

Housing is essential economic infrastructure, and this latest installment of the RAI confirms that our housing crisis now reaches far beyond people on low incomes. Australians across the spectrum are feeling the strain, and so is the economy.

Why the RAI matters

For decades, most research on housing affordability has centred on the cost of buying a home. What Australia lacked was a consistent, long-term way to track what was happening in the rental market, and how affordability was shifting over time.

The RAI was designed to fill that gap. It shows where rental pressures are intensifying, which groups are most affected, and how affordability varies across cities, regions and household types. This is increasingly important as more Australians find themselves unable to enter the property market and reliant on renting for longer periods.

Renters, on average, have lower household incomes than homeowners. That means fluctuations in rental prices disproportionately affect them, and the RAI helps ensure these pressures are visible, measurable and understood by decision-makers.

By shining a light on these trends, the RAI supports smarter policy, better planning, and ultimately, a more secure housing future for all Australians.

To explore the full report, interactive map, and dashboard, click here.