Brett Warren , National Director – Metropole Group
Australia’s rental market is roaring back to life, with fresh data revealing the sharpest quarterly rent rise in over a year amid record-low vacancy rates.
Cotality’s latest Quarterly Rental Review shows national rents jumped 1.4% in Q3, the strongest quarterly growth since mid-2024.
Sydney and Brisbane led the charge, with annual rental growth accelerating by 1.5 and 1.7 percentage points respectively.
In Sydney, vacancy rates for units hit a record low of 1.35%, while broader dwelling vacancies fell to 1.64%, which is a clear sign of undersupply, especially in the inner and middle-ring suburbs where lifestyle and infrastructure are already in place. Investors targeting well-located apartments could benefit from strong rental yields and long-term capital growth.
Brisbane continues to shine as a growth corridor, with affordability, infrastructure investment, and population growth driving demand. The city’s rental market is tightening, and with the Olympics on the horizon, strategic purchases now should pay off handsomely.
Melbourne, while more balanced, is quietly regaining ground. As migration rebounds and lifestyle seekers return, we’re seeing renewed interest in family-friendly suburbs and boutique developments.
For homebuyers, especially those with generational support or long-term plans, this environment offers a chance to buy into rising markets before affordability erodes further. And for investors, the combination of low vacancy, rising rents, and constrained supply is a classic setup for portfolio growth.
In a market defined by scarcity and momentum, strategic guidance has never been more critical.
At Metropole, we’re not just tracking the trends – we’re interpreting them, helping clients cut through the noise to uncover real opportunities.
Whether it’s identifying high-yield suburbs in Brisbane, unlocking value in Sydney’s tightening unit market, or timing a move in Melbourne’s rebounding corridors, our approach is grounded in data, experience, and foresight. For investors and homebuyers alike, the window to act is narrowing. The fundamentals are shifting, and those who move with clarity and confidence will be best placed to benefit.
