New research commissioned by RentRabbit.com.au has found the top 20 rental markets in South Australia that are desperate for more stock.
The quarterly RentRabbit.com.au Rental Crisis Report identifies the top 20 suburbs in South Australia where tenants desperately need more rental accommodation to come onto the market, because the suburbs:
- Have incredibly low vacancy rates
- Have low average weekly household incomes
- Are below-average in terms of socio-economic status
The research began by analysing every rental house market in South Australia, before filtering out suburbs that:
- Contained more than three vacant rental properties
- Had a vacancy rate above 1.5%
- Were above-average in terms of socio-economic status
That left a small list of South Australian suburbs. To establish a top 20 ranking, these suburbs were then ranked based on their average weekly household income (from lowest to highest).
Of the 20 suburbs, 12 were in Adelaide and eight in regional areas. All the suburbs had a vacancy rate under 1%, while most had a vacancy rate of 0%.
(When a suburb has a vacancy rate of 0%, that doesn’t mean the suburb literally has no vacant rental properties. Rental properties are regarded as ‘officially’ vacant when they’ve been on the market for 21 days or more. When a suburb has a vacancy rate of 0%, it means all rental properties are being filled in less than 21 days of being listed for rent.)
RentRabbit.com.au co-founder Ben Pretty said a lot of tenants are facing desperate conditions right now.
“Many renters in South Australia are being faced with a triple whammy – they live in socio-economically disadvantaged areas, they have low household incomes and it’s incredibly hard for them to find rental accommodation,” he said.
“Some of these renters are living in suburbs that have a vacancy rate of 0%, which means rental properties are being snapped up the moment they become vacant. Unsurprisingly, in the vast majority of these suburbs, rents have increased over the past year, often by double-digit percentages.
“The RentRabbit.com.au Rental Crisis Report is designed to highlight the rental crisis facing significant numbers of people. Yes, it really is a crisis. For the sake of renters living in those suburbs, we hope that more rental stock comes onto the market soon.”
Top 20 ranking
| Rank | Suburb | Postcode | Vacancy rate (1 year ago) | Vacancy rate (now) | Average weekly household income |
| 1 | Elizabeth South | 5112 | 1.5% | 0.5% | $696 |
| 2 | Elizabeth North | 5113 | 3.5% | 0.5% | $699 |
| 3 | Port Pirie West | 5540 | 0.5% | 0.0% | $712 |
| 4 | Elizabeth Vale | 5112 | 0.8% | 0.4% | $731 |
| 5 | Goolwa | 5214 | 0.9% | 0.0% | $734 |
| 6 | Davoren Park | 5113 | 1.2% | 0.6% | $756 |
| 7 | Victor Harbor | 5211 | 0.3% | 0.3% | $765 |
| 8 | Christie Downs | 5164 | 0.4% | 0.0% | $770 |
| 9 | Elizabeth East | 5112 | 0.9% | 0.4% | $777 |
| 10 | Woodville Gardens | 5012 | 0.0% | 0.0% | $782 |
| 11 | Wallaroo | 5556 | 0.8% | 0.4% | $791 |
| 12 | Hackham West | 5163 | 0.0% | 0.0% | $792 |
| 13 | Encounter Bay | 5211 | 0.0% | 0.0% | $797 |
| 14 | Smithfield Plains | 5114 | 0.4% | 0.0% | $814 |
| 15 | Evanston | 5116 | 1.0% | 0.5% | $823 |
| 16 | Mannum | 5238 | 1.4% | 0.0% | $832 |
| 17 | Smithfield | 5114 | 1.4% | 0.0% | $834 |
| 18 | Barmera | 5345 | 1.6% | 0.0% | $841 |
| 19 | Renown Park | 5008 | 1.9% | 0.0% | $854 |
| 20 | Waikerie | 5330 | 0.0% | 0.0% | $869 |
Key stats on the top 20 suburbs
1. The house market of Elizabeth South (Playford)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 1.5% |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.5% |
| Vacancy rate – change | -1.0 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $260 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $280 |
| Median weekly rent – change | 7.7% |
| Average weekly household income | $696 |
| SEIFA score | 1 |
2. The house market of Elizabeth North (Playford)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 3.5% |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.5% |
| Vacancy rate – change | -3.0 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $260 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $280 |
| Median weekly rent – change | 7.7% |
| Average weekly household income | $699 |
| SEIFA score | 1 |
3. The house market of Port Pirie West (Mid North)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 0.5% |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.0%* |
| Vacancy rate – change | -0.5 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $175 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $165 |
| Median weekly rent – change | -5.7% |
| Average weekly household income | $712 |
| SEIFA score | 1 |
4. The house market of Elizabeth Vale (Playford)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 0.8% |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.4% |
| Vacancy rate – change | -0.4 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $260 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $310 |
| Median weekly rent – change | 19.2% |
| Average weekly household income | $731 |
| SEIFA score | 1 |
5. The house market of Goolwa (Fleurieu – Kangaroo Island)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 0.9% |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.0%* |
| Vacancy rate – change | -0.9 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $295 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $345 |
| Median weekly rent – change | 16.9% |
| Average weekly household income | $734 |
| SEIFA score | 1 |
6. The house market of Davoren Park (Playford)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 1.2% |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.6% |
| Vacancy rate – change | -0.6 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $265 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $290 |
| Median weekly rent – change | 9.4% |
| Average weekly household income | $756 |
| SEIFA score | 1 |
7. The house market of Victor Harbor (Fleurieu – Kangaroo Island)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 0.3% |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.3% |
| Vacancy rate – change | 0.0 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $350 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $420 |
| Median weekly rent – change | 20.0% |
| Average weekly household income | $765 |
| SEIFA score | 2 |
8. The house market of Christie Downs (Onkaparinga)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 0.4% |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.0%* |
| Vacancy rate – change | -0.4 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $330 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $370 |
| Median weekly rent – change | 12.1% |
| Average weekly household income | $770 |
| SEIFA score | 1 |
9. The house market of Elizabeth East (Playford)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 0.9% |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.4% |
| Vacancy rate – change | -0.5 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $270 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $310 |
| Median weekly rent – change | 14.8% |
| Average weekly household income | $777 |
| SEIFA score | 1 |
10. The house market of Woodville Gardens (Port Adelaide – West)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 0.0%* |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.0%* |
| Vacancy rate – change | 0.0 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $355 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $375 |
| Median weekly rent – change | 5.6% |
| Average weekly household income | $782 |
| SEIFA score | 1 |
11. The house market of Wallaroo (Yorke Peninsula)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 0.8% |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.4% |
| Vacancy rate – change | -0.4 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $270 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $265 |
| Median weekly rent – change | -1.9% |
| Average weekly household income | $791 |
| SEIFA score | 1 |
12. The house market of Hackham West (Onkaparinga)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 0.0%* |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.0%* |
| Vacancy rate – change | 0.0 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $320 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $360 |
| Median weekly rent – change | 12.5% |
| Average weekly household income | $792 |
| SEIFA score | 1 |
13. The house market of Encounter Bay (Fleurieu – Kangaroo Island)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 0.0%* |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.0%* |
| Vacancy rate – change | 0.0 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $340 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $400 |
| Median weekly rent – change | 17.6% |
| Average weekly household income | $797 |
| SEIFA score | 2 |
14. The house market of Smithfield Plains (Playford)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 0.4% |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.0%* |
| Vacancy rate – change | -0.4 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $280 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $305 |
| Median weekly rent – change | 8.9% |
| Average weekly household income | $814 |
| SEIFA score | 1 |
15. The house market of Evanston (Gawler – Two Wells)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 1.0% |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.5% |
| Vacancy rate – change | -0.5 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $300 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $345 |
| Median weekly rent – change | 15.0% |
| Average weekly household income | $823 |
| SEIFA score | 1 |
16. The house market of Mannum (Murray and Mallee)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 1.4% |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.0%* |
| Vacancy rate – change | -1.4 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $260 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $310 |
| Median weekly rent – change | 19.2% |
| Average weekly household income | $832 |
| SEIFA score | 1 |
17. The house market of Smithfield (Playford)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 1.4% |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.0%* |
| Vacancy rate – change | -1.4 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $295 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $315 |
| Median weekly rent – change | 6.8% |
| Average weekly household income | $834 |
| SEIFA score | 1 |
18. The house market of Barmera (Murray and Mallee)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 1.6% |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.0%* |
| Vacancy rate – change | -1.6 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $250 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $280 |
| Median weekly rent – change | 12.0% |
| Average weekly household income | $841 |
| SEIFA score | 1 |
19. The house market of Renown Park (Charles Sturt)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 1.9% |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.0%* |
| Vacancy rate – change | -1.9 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $370 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $450 |
| Median weekly rent – change | 21.6% |
| Average weekly household income | $854 |
| SEIFA score | 2 |
20. The house market of Waikerie (Murray and Mallee)
| Vacancy rate – March 2021 | 0.0%* |
| Vacancy rate – March 2022 | 0.0%* |
| Vacancy rate – change | 0.0 percentage points |
| Median weekly rent – March 2021 | $250 |
| Median weekly rent – March 2022 | $250 |
| Median weekly rent – change | 0.0% |
| Average weekly household income | $869 |
| SEIFA score | 2 |
