Residents in regional NSW are facing the highest rent increases in the state, prompting warnings that homelessness will continue to surge in the regions.
In the past year rents are up 12% in Tamworth, 10% in the Murray Region, and 8.1% in the Hunter, according to SQM Research data. Seven of the top 10 areas for rent increases are outside Sydney.
"Rents soared in the regions during the Covid-19 pandemic and now we are seeing them take off once more," said Homelessness NSW CEO Dominique Rowe.
"This gives us great concern that more people will be forced into homelessness because they cannot afford the roof over their heads.
"In regional areas there is already a dire shortage of social housing, and homelessness services are severely unfunded and overwhelmed. When you add surging rents into the mix, we've got a recipe for disaster."
It comes after a report by ACOSS, released during anti-poverty week, found that rising rents were a major cause of increased poverty rates.
The number of people sleeping rough across the state has soared 66%, from 1,314 in 2020 to 2,192 in 2025. Many of the places with highest increases in rough sleeping are regional, including Inverell, Nambucca, and Bathurst.
"Homelessness and rough sleeping are rising rapidly in many regional areas. The government must invest more in homelessness services and urgently build more social housing which is at historically low levels," said Ms Rowe.
Area |
Rent increase in past year |
Tamworth |
12% |
Murray Region |
10% |
Hunter Region |
8.1% |
Lower North Shore |
6.1% |
Sutherland Shire |
5.7% |
Wollongong |
5.4% |
Riverina |
5.4% |
Upper North Shore |
5.3% |
Central Coast |
4.6% |
North Coast |
4.4% |
Source: SQM Research Weekly Rents Index |
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