What happened
National quarterly rental growth slowed to 0.5% in September 2026, pulling the annual pace down to 5.5% with median rents at $713 per week. Data highlights that national vacancy rates climbed to 2.1% from 1.7% in March, while Sydney quarterly rents declined 0.4% to $843 per week.
Why it matters here
Household affordability limits are constraining further rent hikes just as elevated mortgage rates squeeze investor margins. Landlords carrying large variable or interest-only loans are facing net negative cash flows, as rental yield increases fail to keep pace with the cumulative impact of RBA rate rises.
What to watch
Quarterly rental market updates from major property research firms to track whether capital city vacancy rates continue rising through the end of the year.
Source
latitudeaccountants.com.au