Australia

Qld may have ‘hoarded’ housing demand

Queensland’s housing demand is set to outpace population growth as the number of households increases as the size shrinks, new research shows.

The University of Queensland report comes two days before state governments, social services and industry groups consider solutions to the acute housing crisis.

UQ demographer Elin Charles-Edwards, Ph.D., said census data showed that the number of households grew faster than the state’s population between 2016 and 2021.

However, the number of people living in the average home fell from 2.6 to 2.5 over the same period.

This is largely due to baby boomers moving in with other people, including children, partners, or unrelated children and adults under the age of 19.

Dr Charles Edwards says that while the action may be in response to the pandemic, policymakers need to understand that housing demand is likely to be rising beneath the surface. .

“People must be at the center of any good housing policy,” she wrote in a report released Tuesday.

“Queensland’s population continues to age and demand for housing will outpace population growth.”

Elderly and young people moving in with others or staying in family homes has been a short-term solution to housing shortages, but is not sustainable for many, the report says. was.

The number of households in October 2021 fell below researchers’ expectations, despite a decline in the number of older and younger household heads and a reduction in household size.

“Further research is needed to understand the driving forces behind these changes,” writes Dr. Charles Edwards.

“However, it is important to recognize that these changes are likely to reflect future housing demand that needs to be realized in the short to medium term.”

The report comes as the government launches an investigation into how short-term rental markets such as AirBNB and Stayz are impacting the housing market.

Deputy Prime Minister Stephen Miles said industry groups will lead research into the sector’s positive and negative impacts on housing affordability and availability in urban and rural areas.

The Queensland Social Services Council has called on the government to ensure plans for more social and affordable housing are developed at its summit on Thursday.

QCOSS chief executive Aimee McVeigh said more than 10,000 people seek professional homeless services each month, and there are about 46,000 people on waiting lists for public housing.

“As we head to the housing summit, we need to keep in mind people living in cars, tents, motel rooms, people young and old couchsurfing, people sleeping on the streets,” she said. said.

Qld may have ‘hoarded’ housing demand

Source link Qld may have ‘hoarded’ housing demand

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